Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
Updated June 28, 2019
Turn zucchini into noodles for a fun summer meal. Learn how cook “Zoodles” for a healthy pasta alternative, and use all that summer zucchini! Add fresh pesto to your zucchini pasta noodles for a simple and healthy dish that the entire family will love!
Easy Zucchini Pasta
I have another zucchini recipe for you today! I hope you are applauding with excitement and not rolling your eyes. I know I have been on a zucchini kick lately, Grilled Zucchini Nachos and Zucchini Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies, but tis the season for zucchini!
I think you will love this zucchini recipe, Zucchini Noodles with Pesto. It only takes 15 minutes to make and there is no cooking involved! This easy zucchini noodle recipe is great for lunch or dinner! It is a summer staple at our house.
How to Make Zoodles
Zucchini noodles, or “zoodles” aren’t hard to make. All you need is zucchini, which shouldn’t be a problem this time of year, and an Insprializer, mandoline or julienne peeler. Slice the zucchini into noodles so it looks like pasta. That is it! Zucchini pasta! Easy as pie…actually easier because pie really isn’t easy to make. I don’t know who came up with that saying.
I tossed the zucchini pasta noodles with some fresh basil pesto that I made the day before. I added a few cherry tomatoes from our garden and we had a fresh, healthy, and beautiful lunch…without breaking a sweat.
How to Cook Zoodles
We enjoyed the Zucchini Noodles with Pesto raw, but if you want to cook them, you can. Just add the zucchini pesto noodles to a skillet and sauté them up over medium heat. It only takes 1-2 minutes. Don’t over cook the zucchini noodles or they will be soft and mushy and you don’t want that. These zucchini noodles are good cold or hot. I like them both ways. I love eating leftover zucchini noodles cold, right from the fridge. They are also great for packing up for a summer picnic.
Zucchini Noodles with Pesto, the perfect simple recipe for summertime when zucchini, tomatoes, and basil are growing like crazy in the garden! This easy and healthy recipe is a summer winner! You only need 15 minutes to make this recipe! YAY!
Make the most of zucchini season and go ZOODLES:)
If you like this zucchini noodle recipe, you might also like:
- 5-Ingredient Spinach Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
- Mediterranean Zucchini Pasta Salad
- Summer Zucchini Noodle Salad
- Zucchini Noodles with Asparagus, Peas, and Basil Vinaigrette
- Sausage and Peppers with Zucchini Noodles
Zucchini Noodles with Pesto
Ingredients
- 4 small zucchini ends trimmed
- 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Cherry or grape tomatoes optional
Instructions
- Use a julienne peeler or mandoline to slice the zucchini into noodles. Set aside.
- Combine the basil and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the lemon juice and Parmesan cheese. Pulse until blended. Season with salt and pepper.
- Combine the zucchini noodles and pesto. Toss until zucchini noodles are well coated. Top with tomatoes, if using. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
- Note-if you want to cook the zucchini noodles, you can. Just add the zucchini pesto noodles to a skillet and sautรฉ them up over medium heat. It only takes a few minutes.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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I love zuke noodles! They’re my favorite! I make peanut sauce with them and take them in that direction, or with red sauce, and I love your pesto. Mmm, so good!
This is great! I’ve been having a real garden glut of zucchinis (or courgettes as I call them here in England), with the weather we’ve been getting they’re turning into marrows!
from Em x
This looks great, and so healthy! I’ve been having a real garden glut of zucchinis (or courgettes as I call them here in England) They’re all turning into marrows with the hot and wet weather we’ve been having!!
from Em x
So yummy and fresh! Glad you took the time to snap a few photos for the blog ๐
What a fun way to eat zucchini. I think I will surprise my husband with this recipe for dinner.
I love zucchini noodles, it’s so light and healthy! What a wonderful refreshing recipe!!
I definitely need to try this! It’s so colourful!
Looks so good!! I think I would try cooking them a little like you wrote. I wish you could come cook healthy food for me every day!!
Love that this requires no cooking! ๐
I love the idea of zucchini noodles but I’m doubtful my 9 year old dining companion would tolerate them, especially when coated with pesto.
I will definitely share this recipe with my farm CSA members though! Thanks so much…
Oh my gosh, this is so pretty!! I love pesto and zucchini noodles so this is just perfect! YUM!
Oh how yummy!! Love that it’s healthy!
I’m getting so hungry just looking at this! I love the colors!
I love the zucchini noodle idea with the pesto. I just made a lot of basil pesto yesterday, because I had so much basil in my garden and didn’t know what to do with it. I am going to make the noodles tonight, add some shrimp and that will be dinner. Yumm!
Oh my goodness! We really ARE culinary cousins or sisters or something? This is too funny ๐ Loving your take on cucumber noodles. Great minds think alike ๐
Love this alternative to pasta!
I am totally making these today Maria! beautiful!
This is not only a great and healthy recipe, but it’s so beautiful too!
This is the perfect way to use up all of that zucchini. And pesto is one of my family’s favorites. It’s a win-win.
I’m loving all of your zucchini recipes. I don’t get tired of zucchini. I’m trying this one today.
This will be coming out of kitchen soon!!
I love making zucchini pasta. I love using a spiralizer to make mine and then it really comes out looking like pasta plus it’s easy and fun! I don’t typically link to things I blog about, but if you want to see how it’s done here’s a video I created using my spiralizer, and making a similar recipe.
http://www.vickibensinger.com/2013/07/no-carb-zucchini-pasta.html
Loving your recipes for back to school! I tried the zucchini coconut choc chip cookies and the No Bake Peanut Butter, Pretzel, Choc Chip granola bars and my kids loved them! Thank you! Today’s recipe looks great, too! I love knowing that my kids are eating more natural foods for healthier bodies.
Please visit my website www. homeopathicmamma.com if you are interested in more natural skin care products and beautiful market baskets handmade in Morocco!
I look forward to trying more of your recipes!
Here’s to a healthier, more beautiful life!
Mamma
This is summer perfection! Gorgeous, Maria!
Maria, I love how bright and green this is!! Definitely NOT rolling my eyes. Love it!!
I’ve made these before, and you’re right, super easy! I frequently do half zucchini/squash noodles and half pasta to cut down on calories! super tasty!
This looks delish!!! I will be making it soon ๐
I usually don’t leave comments but I had to because coincidentally I know where the term “easy as pie” comes from. It comes from back in the day where all food was cooked over an open fire, no ovens. Cake was very difficult to bake this way, but pie was much more manageable. That being said, I have no idea where the term “piece of cake” comes from lol.
Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks:)
I would love to get a julienne peeler for veggies! And if you took these photos super quick and on the fly, I’m impressed, because they’re just as gorgeous as your photos usually are ๐
zucchini noodles are the BEST!
Love how beautiful these noodles look. Perfectly light and healthy.
Since I’m trying to go low-carb, I’ve got to hop on this terrific looking trend! Your zucchini noodles look scrumptious, Maria!
This is gorgeous! I just love the color. Summer in a bowl!
This recipe looks fabulous in pictures and sounds delicious! Definitely need to make this soon ๐
Zucchini noodles?!! I love this so much!
clearly I don’t do enough with pesto.
this is very creative Maria!
How fun is this?! What a great way to use up both zucchini and fresh pesto this time of year!
This looks amazing…now if I only had some zucchini that everyone is talking about!!! Glad you and Kelley took a break…I agree sometimes it becomes a chore. I honestly don’t blog even 1/2 of the recipes I make.
Yum! So fresh and delicious. Just a perfect summer lunch!
I am really loving seeing all these uses for zucchini, this recipe looks so yummy and healthy, can’t wait to pick up some zuch at my next farmers market now ๐
What an easy, healthy and delicious lunch idea! Love those quick and easy no cook lunches this time of year!
I absolutely adore zucchini pasta! So easy, healthy, and tasty!
So jealous that you can visit in person with other bloggers! ๐ These noodles look and sound wonderful!
Love this recipe. My kids have nut allergies and regular pesto with pine nuts is a no go at out house. We will be trying this both hot & cold!
I ADORE zucchini noodles. Obviously. Thanks for the link ๐ Have a great weekend!
I love zucchini and pesto! This looks absolutely dee-lish! xo
looks fantastic!
LOVE that you’ve given zucchini noodles the spotlight. I love the avocado cream sauce with the tomatoes, it really works so well with the raw noodles. Thanks for the post – check out my blog sometime, I love zucchini noodles so much, I started a blog dedicated to just that: http://www.inspiralized.com! Keep up the good work.
So I just bought a spiralizer recently, and have been waiting for the right occasion to use it. This definitely qualifies!! I was so happy and pleased with the texture, you really don’t miss the pasta. I made my own spinach and basil pesto (with the addition of hazelnuts, Parmesan, and lemon), and it was so good that I destroyed the leftovers the next morning ๐
sprinkle salt on noodles to remove water before frying the noodles I waited an hour to remove a lot. I would never skip this step because be noodles will be soggy.
Thank you so much for this recipe! I just purchased a spiralizer two weeks ago and I have been coming back to this post on repeat! It is so great to find a homemade pesto without pine nuts. I have made the pesto both in my food processor and also my vita-mix and it worked well in both!
Absolutely beautiful! I’m putting a link to this delicious recipe on my meal plan to subscribers! I hope it sends some new friends your way. Thank you for sharing! Love your site! ๐
How can we do zuchinni noodles like the photo?What type of tool use to have this shape in your noodles?
It looks amazing! Turning zucchini into noodles has made such a big difference on the way we can eat. It is creative, delicious, it has more texture.
I am using the WonderVeg tri-blade spiralizer
http://www.amazon.com/s?marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&me=A3JTTV0ON3DFUK&merchant=A3JTTV0ON3DFUK&redirect=true
and it definitely helped my little one eat more veggies. Because it really looks so beautiful!
Healhty recipe, I am trying it. Thanks
Hey guys! I featured this recipe on my blog.
In the post:
Tips & Tricks to Stay Fuller Longer & Curb Cravings.
http://www.tiffanyalesha.com/tiffany-alesha/tips-tricks-to-stay-fuller-longer-to-curb-cravings
Check it out & let me know your thoughts. ๐
This looks great!
Check this amazing low carb noodles for low carb diet !
The zucchini overpowered the taste of the pesto sauce when I cooked it.
Hey if you already have your own pesto made. How much would you add to zucchini noodles?
i see zuccini in the store and never know what to make of it…
thanks i will try this recipe, looks healthy
Your pesto recipe has Parmesan cheese in it, I thought on the whole 30 diet we are not to have dairy. Do you have a suggestion for a substitute for the Parmesan cheese?
You can leave the cheese out if you need to.
I became a vegetarian 5 years ago and after that I fell in love with zucchini … <3
Now, this recipe with pesto is perfect… Thanks!
Out off this world!!
Thank you so much!!’
do these “noodles” freeze well?
I haven’t put them in the freezer, let me know if you try it!
did you freeze them Jane?
I’m thinking of doing that too
Very yumy it looks like!
Thank you very much for sharing this site.
The website is very good, congratulations.
Love that this requires no cooking!
Very very good!
I have really enjoyed this dish. Thank you! Now I just need to find pesto without cheese. I cheated and bought the pre-noodled zucchini in the veggie section at food lion ๐ Next I may add chicken to make a ‘one pot’ meal.
Lovely way to use my zucchini! We have an abundance here too!
I love pesto. He does not lack in my diet.
I just made this, I’m eating it right now. Didn’t have fresh basil so I used fresh baby spinach and dried basil. Didn’t have parmesan so I used asiago. It’s really delicious and it was fast to make even with spiralizing the zucchini. Oh! darn! I should have thrown in some cooked shrimp! Great recipe thanks!๏ปฟ
You are welcome!
para mim รฉ novo, legal vamos conhecer essa receita rsrs
I love zucchini pasta, i am going to prepare this recipe this weekend! Thanks for sharing
https://potenciasexual.humbertoeana.com.br/
muito bom
Look yesterday decided to do a search for zucchini noodles, and I ended up finding your article, I enjoyed reading it, congratulations for making an article with this rich content of a lot of work
Great recipe I really enjoyed going to see how it looks, thanks for sharing with us this recipe!
Great recipe good tip I will do!
http://saudebemsaudavel.com.br
I really like pesto! I love this recipe! I would like to put it on my blog http://www.minhadietacomsaude.com.br/dieta/dieta-de-21-dias-funciona-mesmo/
Nossa flor vocรช manda muito bem eu tambรฉm tenho um blog de
como vender doces e salgados e vou sempre te acompanhar bjs.
I made this last night with a combo of yellow crookneck and black beauty zucchini. I had fresh pesto I had made the day before. I sauteed the noodles for a few mins in olive oil before tossing with pesto and tomatoes then topped with grated parmesan cheese. DELICIOUS!!
My family loved this dish! Will be a favorite for sure.
One of the best zucchini recipes I’ve ever made! First time I’ve made zucchini pasta. The pesto was fantastic! (I actually used a small amount of basil and substituted spinach for the rest. It was amazing in taste, beautiful in color, and really delicious! I’ve filed it in my recipe folder so that I can use it again! Thank you so much!
Great, we eat it on everything! So easy to make!!!
Really liked this dish, as did the family. I did sautรฉ just a little to have a different texture to match dinner. Super easy, healthy and fast!