Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

healthy pesto pasta

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 10m
Cook Time: 10m
Total Time: 20m
Servings: 6
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (5 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

477
calories
31.4g
fat
39.8g
carbohydrates
12,5g
protein
52mg
cholesterol
115mg
sodium
Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

Recipe Description

Craving a big hot bowl of pasta? Give this delicious Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta recipe a try! It’s super easy to make and comes together in minutes. I have to admit, this kale almond pesto is one of my favorite sauce recipes, especially on those cold winter nights. I make large batches of this pesto and store them in the freezer. It’s a fast and convenient ingredient to have on hand for frenetic weeknights when you need a healthy meal in a snap. 

My favorite cut of pasta for this recipe is spaghetti, but you can use whatever cut of pasta your family enjoys. To freeze this pesto, leave out the cheese. Add spoonfuls of the pesto to ice cube trays and place them in the freezer. Once frozen solid, store in resealable, freezer-safe plastic bags for up to 1 month.  

To make this Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Cook kale

    5 min
    Step 1 - Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

    In a pot of salted boiling water, add 1 large bunch of kale and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and squeeze the kale dry

  2. 2

    Toast almonds

    3 min
    Step 2 - Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

    In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast ½ cup almonds, shaking frequently, until the nuts are fragrant and browned. Be careful not to burn the nuts.

  3. 3

    Make pesto

    2 min
    Step 3 - Kale and Almond Pesto PastaStep 3 - Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

    In a food processor, combine the cooked kale, toasted almonds, 2 roughly minced garlic cloves, and 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Pulse a few times. With the processor running, slowly stream in ⅔ cup olive oil. Once all the oil is added, check the consistency of the pesto. If you like to have some texture, leave it as is. And if you prefer your pesto smoother, pulse a few more times.

  4. 4

    Add cheese

    2 min
    Step 4 - Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

    Transfer the pesto to a bowl and stir in 1 ½ ounces Parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 5-7 days.

  5. 5

    Cook pasta

    10 min
    Step 5 - Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

    Cook 1 pound pasta in boiling salted water according to the package directions. Reserve some cooking water.

  6. 6

    Finish and serve

    Step 6 - Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta

    Stir the kale pesto into the pasta and add the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce out if needed. Serve with extra cheese on top.

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (5 reviews)
Sofia Gomez
March 2, 2025
Verified

Estoy tan emocionada de haber encontrado esta receta. Preparé el pesto de col rizada para una cena y todos quedaron encantados. Simple y delicioso.

Zachary
October 10, 2023
Verified

I loved making the Kale and Almond Pesto Pasta! It was so easy and perfect for a cold night. My wife and I had it for dinner, and it reminded us of our first date cooking together. The taste is so fresh; it's now a staple in our house.

Kiki
February 17, 2023
Verified

Yum! Made this on a chilly night. The kale almond pesto was bomb and super quick to whip up after work. Loved it with spaghetti, so good! This is def gonna be a go-to for my weeknight dinners. Can't believe how easy it was. Totally vibing with this recipe!

Isabella Martin
May 10, 2022
Verified

Superb!

Athina
February 23, 2022
Verified

It's a super healthy green pasta! Thanks for sharing the recipe.

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