Keto-Friendly Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta Recipe
Looking for a dish with bold, bright, satisfying Italian flavor? This keto-friendly sun-dried tomato pesto pasta recipe has it all. Once you try this dish, you’ll be amazed at how something this indulgent can be keto-friendly and low-carb.
The secret is in the pasta. We swapped traditional pasta for It's Skinny Fettucine. The results are an unbeatable dish you can enjoy any time—even on weeknights because it's ready fast and won’t send you into a carb-crash.
All About the Pesto
Pesto is an Italian staple. It has been around since Ancient Rome when the idea of crushing herbs, cheese, garlic, and nuts was used for flavoring many different dishes.
The word pesto comes from the Genoese word pestâ, which means to pound or crush. Traditionally, that's precisely how the delicious sauce was made—crushing the flavorful ingredients with a mortar and pestle.
Genoa is located right on the Mediterranean, making it an ideal spot for growing basil… as everyone knows, basil is the key the perfect pesto.
Sun-dried tomatoes—another Italian favorite—pair very well with basil's fresh, herby notes. You get a little natural sweetness from the tomatoes, deep richness from olive oil, and a little kick from the garlic.
Though we have other pesto recipes, this one will surely become a staple in your kitchen. It's so easy and so satisfying! This dish is the perfect solution for your Italian food cravings but won't leave you tired or too full.
That’s because It’s Skinny gives you the comfort of your favorite pesto pasta without added carbs. Each pack of It’s Skinny has only 9 calories and ZERO net carbs. It’s the perfect option for making any dish keto-friendly.
It’s Skinny: A Healthy Way to Pasta
Pasta is one of the most loved foods out there. We love noodles, and throughout the world, different cultures use noodles and pasta in various recipes.
So, if you're following keto or another low-carb diet, you might be missing your pasta fix. Even if you're watching calories, pasta is an indulgence that typically gets cut from the regular dinner lineup.
But not anymore! With It's Skinny, you can have all the delicious pasta you want while still keeping yourself on track.
It’s Skinny is gluten-free, too, making it an excellent option for those who avoid gluten due to allergies or intolerances. It's plant-based and made from a special type of radish-like root called Konjac.
While Konjac root might not be such a common ingredient in the United States, it’s been used in Asia for a long time. Thanks to the fantastic stats and high levels of glucomannan fiber, it's considered a superfood, which has been shown to keep blood sugar levels steady (hence, helping you avoid the post-noodle carb crash).
We've made It's Skinny in all your favorite pasta shapes, so mixing and matching our noodles with your recipe repertoire is easy.
Choose your favorite pasta shape:
· Couscous
· Orzo
From there, your cooking options are wide open. One thing's certain: you won't need to spend all day in the kitchen. These noodles are easy to work with. Drain the liquid, set the pasta aside, and then add them to your sauce and other ingredients at the end of cooking. In just about three minutes, you have a gourmet-level noodle dish that is deceptively simple.
The great thing about It’s Skinny noodles is how they take on the flavors of surrounding ingredients (like traditional pasta). So there’s no aftertaste or strange smell (a complaint some folks have about other pasta swaps and shirataki noodle brands).
Instead, you get simple, quick, delicious noodles—just like you crave and expect for your recipes.
Since It’s Skinny is gluten-free, plant-based, and low-carb, it’s the ideal meal option for almost any diet (or no diet at all). It’s healthy, fast, and filling. It’s Skinny is an ideal choice for a pre-workout meal, a date night, or a solo dinner at home.
If you are ready to cook up something special, get It’s Skinny today. We have a variety of delicious pasta options to help you make all your favorite meals low-carb, keto-friendly, and delicious.
Customizing Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Can you use this pesto in other dishes? You bet! Sun-dried tomato pesto is delicious on anything you want to slather it on. You can go with a vegetarian variation on this dish or add chicken for extra protein.
No matter how you make it, this is bound to be one of your favorites. Here are a few ideas for customizing your recipe.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian or vegan?
This pesto recipe is easy to make dairy-free. Simply swap out the Parmesan for nutritional yeast for a similar cheesy flavor and pesto texture. Leave out the optional chicken; you will have a dairy-free, vegan choice perfect for plant-based people and omnivores.
Make this dish even more filling by adding mushrooms or even sauteed tofu. Almost anything pairs well with pesto, so experiment and see what you like.
What vegetables go well with this recipe?
Sun-dried tomato pesto pasta is easily its own meal. You don't necessarily need to add side dishes or other ingredients. However, many of us like to bulk up our meals with a few extra vegetables to get additional vitamins, fiber, and nutrition.
Sauteed zucchini is a great choice for this dish. Asparagus is another popular option that plays well with pesto. Spinach and broccoli are also delicious here. Roasted red peppers or artichokes are wonderful. When it comes to adding veggies, you can really include anything you like. Cauliflower? Yes! Eggplant? You bet!
Can I leave out the pinenuts?
Pinenuts give pesto its unique flavor and texture, but they may be harder to find. You can swap in sunflower seeds for a simple, allergen-friendly riff on this pesto. You’ll get a similar texture and great flavor.
You could also swap the pinenuts for walnuts or cashews. These nuts offer a comparable flavor profile but may be easier to find (and more budget-friendly). Aside from the fresh basil, you can keep all the pesto ingredients on hand in your pantry for whenever you crave this yummy sauce.
How to Make Keto-Friendly Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto
If you’re ready to mix up this delicious, keto-friendly pasta, you don’t need to set aside a bunch of time. It comes together fast with staple ingredients you probably have right in your pantry.
Here are the details if you're ready to make keto-friendly sun-dried tomato pesto pasta.
Ingredients:
· 1 pack It’s Skinny Fettuccine
· ½ cup of sun-dried tomatoes (drained)
· 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
· 1 clove of garlic
· ¼ cup of fresh basil
· 3 tablespoons of pine nuts
· 2–3 tbsp olive oil (add more for a thinner consistency)
· 1 tbsp lemon juice
· Salt and pepper to taste
· 1 cup of cooked chicken chopped or shredded (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1: Drain It’s Skinny pack, rinse, pat dry, and set the noodles aside.
Step 2: In a food processor or blender, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan, garlic, basil, pine nuts, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Pulse until thoroughly mixed. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil until your pesto reaches the desired consistency.
Step 3: In a skillet, warm 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add the chopped cooked chicken, if using. Saute until heated. Add the It's Skinny pasta to the skillet and heat it for 2-3 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in the sun-dried tomato pesto. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or lemon juice as needed. Garnish with fresh herbs and additional grated Parmesan. Enjoy!
