How to Use pesto in a Sentence

pesto

noun
  • Top the bread with pesto.
  • Top with more pesto and divide among bowls.
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Spoon kale pesto evenly over squash.
    — C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Spread crusts with pesto and add chicken and cheese.
    — Maddy Bendgen, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Italian pine nuts are the star of trofie with pesto.
    — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
  • And small amount of pesto goes a long way in terms of flavor.
    — Consumer Reports, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2018
  • Braise or sauté the greens or add them raw to salads or pesto.
    — Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
  • Use the frozen pesto cubes within 6 months.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2026
  • Pasta lovers won't be able to get enough of this creamy pesto sauce.
    — Elizabeth Berry, Woman's Day, 21 Dec. 2022
  • As of late last year, flavors like maple and pesto were in this phase.
    — Samantha Bomkamp, chicagotribune.com, 19 May 2017
  • The side of basil pesto to dip your fries in made this dish even better.
    — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2023
  • Your ship is trapped in a mile-wide whirlpool that grinds whales into pesto.
    — Anthony Lydgate, WIRED, 6 Sep. 2022
  • Top the beans with the bread crumbs, dollop with the oregano pesto and serve.
    — Tara Duggan, SFChronicle.com, 15 Mar. 2020
  • Use nondairy Parmesan and pesto.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
  • In place of tomato sauce, pesto, or olive oil, use onion jam as your base.
    — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Then spread the pesto on one side of the bread, place some cheddar on top of that.
    — Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2022
  • Then spread the pesto on one side of the bread, place some cheddar on top of that.
    — Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
  • The same goes for the ramps—this pesto works just as well with spring onions or garlic.
    — Sandor Katz, Saveur, 1 May 2024
  • But when pesto is in the area, that’s certainly not the case.
    — Alex Delany, Bon Appetit, 12 Sep. 2017
  • Rest the salmon on top of the potatoes and drizzle around the plate with pesto.
    — Nancy Miller, The Courier-Journal, 20 Mar. 2018
  • Transfer the pesto to a bowl set over ice, then fold in the pine nuts and a pinch of salt.
    — Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Chris’s kale pesto is another banger.
    — Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 May 2026
  • In a small bowl, combine pesto, half the lemon juice, plus the lemon zest and capers.
    — Ashleigh Spitza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 June 2018
  • Store the pesto in a container in the fridge or freeze for later use.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 8 May 2025
  • Stir in the pesto and enough of the pasta water to make a loose mixture.
    — Karoline Boehm Goodnick, BostonGlobe.com, 11 June 2018
  • The students picked the basil and turned it into pesto for the pasta.
    — Sergio Carmona, Jewish Journal, 14 June 2018
  • Both of the kids tried pesto for the first time and absolutely loved it.
    — Jasmine Purdie, Parents, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Add the pesto and ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.
    — Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • While the dough is resting, make the pesto and confit the tomatoes.
    — Nancy Miller, The Courier-Journal, 29 May 2018
  • Combine the pesto with a big scoop of mayo for an extra creamy dressing.
    — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pesto.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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