Nut Free Pesto

This creamy Homemade Nut Free Pesto Sauce Recipe is full of flavor and super delicious. This easy pesto recipe is loaded with flavor and packed with nutrients. I keep a stash of this homemade sauce in my freezer at all times! You can have a delicious batch of fresh pesto ready to go in less than 10 minutes. 

Years ago I did the autoimmune protocol and really struggled with finding ways to make food more flavorful. On the protocol I could not have a variety of things like nuts or dairy. Adding sauces into the mix made my meals so much more flavor! If you like this nut free sauce, check out my other nut free sauces on my blog like my Garlic Aioli, Lemon Dill Aioli, Red Chimichurri, AIP Nomato Sauce, Breakfast Burrito Sauce, and Whole30 BBQ Sauce.

Jump to:

• Why I Love This Recipe
• Vegan Pesto Ingredients
• Recipe Substitutions and Variations
• How To Make Nut Free Pesto
• Chef’s Tips
• Recipe FAQs
• Other Nut Free Recipes You Will Love
• Are you interested in a list of my go to healthy alternatives?
• Nut Free Pesto

Why I Love This Recipe

• This delicious pesto is such a versatile sauce, it goes well with just about anything! From fish, chicken, to tacos. I sometimes even like to use it as salad dressing or sauce to go over hot pasta like I did in my AIP Pesto Shrimp Recipe or my Orzo Pesto Salad.
• Unlike traditional pesto sauce, this recipe is naturally dairy free, gluten free, soy free, nut free, grain free, vegan, paleo,  Whole30 friendly and free of pine nuts. It is a perfect recipe for those with nut allergies! 
• If you have a surplus of basil, you can make extra and freeze leftover pesto. I like to put in it in an ice cube tray in a zip-lock bag so I can pop out a cube at any time, especially during the winter months when basil is not in season.
• Years ago I did the autoimmune protocol and really struggled with finding ways to make food more flavorful. On the protocol I could not have a variety of things like nuts or dairy. Adding sauces into the mix made my meals so much more flavor! If you like this nut free sauce, check out my other nut free sauces on my blog like my Garlic Aioli, Lemon Dill Aioli, Red Chimichurri, AIP Nomato Sauce, Breakfast Burrito Sauce, and Whole30 BBQ Sauce.

Vegan Pesto Ingredients

• Fresh basil leaves-I like to use fresh basil from my garden. You can also buy basil plants at places like Trader Joe’s to have a large batch of fresh basil at all times. It grows rapidly and it is so much cheaper to have at home. 
• Nutritional yeast-A popular ingredient used in dairy free cooking. Nutritional yeast makes this recipe taste cheesy without cheese.
• Fresh garlic-Adds a nice touch.
• Lemon juice-Do NOT skip this key ingredient. 
• Extra virgin olive oil-My go to fat for making homemade pesto. 

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• Fresh herbs-You can add other fresh herbs like parsley into the mix. 
• Spinach pesto-If you would like to add spinach into the mix you can add baby spinach to the blender. You may need to add more oil to get everything well mixed. 
• Parmesan cheese-If you are not dairy free, you can add parmesan cheese instead of nutritional yeast. 
• ​Pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds-If you miss that nut like texture, you can throw some seeds into the mix. 
• Avocado oil-You can use in place of olive oil, note this will change the flavor a little bit. 

This recipe has not been tested with any other substitutions or variations. If you try something else out please let me know how it turns out in the comments below!

How To Make Nut Free Pesto

Chef’s Tips

• Tip #1: I like to make homemade pesto and freeze it. To do that I use these big silicone ice cube trays. I pour in the sauce then cover the tray with a ziplock bag and place it in the freezer. 
• Tip #2:To thaw-Pop the cube out prior to using and place in a skillet or in the fridge overnight.

Recipe FAQs

Other Nut Free Recipes You Will Love