I received Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
I love just about everything about fall: the crisp autumn air, the changing of the leaves, the hoodies and boots, and, last but not least, the comfort food. In terms of comfort food, pasta is top of that list. My family loves pasta so much, so I’m constantly changing things up and getting away from the traditional red sauce. This is where Barilla comes in. Not only do they make amazing pasta and marinara, they also make pesto that can make any meal go from dull to delicious.
Since 1877, four generations of the Barilla family have been producing amazing foods in Parma, Italy. Their recipe might be a tightly held secret, but they love sharing their pasta and sauces with the world. Barilla pesto sauce delivers a burst of Italian flavor to a wide range of dishes inspired by the Italian lifestyle and the Mediterranean diet.
You can find their line of pasta and sauces in most grocery stores, just look for the iconic blue box. Or, in the case of their sauces, the blue lid and label. We recently did a restocking of our pastas and sauces now that we’re focused on hearty fall meals, and I found some new family favorites in their Rustic Basil Pesto and Creamy Genovese Pesto sauces.
When you think pesto, you probably think pasta, right? But did you know that there are dozens of ways to use pesto, including grilled cheese, as a topping over salmon, and even just as a dip. Try it on pizza, on panini sandwiches, on chicken, veggies and so much more.
I’m sure you’ve noticed that pesto comes in a much smaller jar than traditional marinara or red sauces. You might be tempted to purchase two bottles of pesto for each meal, but what you will find is that a little goes a long way. One 6.2-ounce jar of pesto mixes well with 16 ounces of pasta, so don’t be fooled by its smaller size. So, go ahead and buy the extra jar, but use it for another delicious meal instead.
Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto
Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto Sauce is made with high-quality ingredients like Italian basil and fresh grated Italian cheese, giving it a delicious creamy texture. I love traditional pesto so much, but the Creamy Genovese Pesto is such a fun twist on classic pesto sauce and it can make your pesto dishes next level.
The creamy and smooth texture of the Creamy Genovese Pesto is just so incredibly versatile. It’s an amazing option for stirring into pasta and grains, but the creaminess also makes it feel like a treat you could eat with a spoon. It’s now been established as a pantry staple around here, perfect for weekday nights when we’re running low on time, as well as dips for parties and snacks.
As delicious as their Barilla’s sauces are, I also love that Barilla minimizes the handling of ingredients in order to preserve the natural color of basil and the fresh aroma of Italian cheese. They rapidly prepare their recipe in as little as three hours from the start of ingredient preparation to the tightening of the lid, ensuring your pesto will be fresh and delicious.
Creamy Genovese Pesto, two ways
We tried the Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto two different ways, and both were huge hits here.
As a dip: For an easy and quick snack or appetizer, simply pair pesto with veggies, pita bread, or crackers. It’s incredibly delicious, and takes almost no time since pesto doesn’t even need to be heated first. My kiddos devoured the pesto with crackers, and now it’s one of their go-to after school snacks that they can make on their own.
Another spin on the Creamy Genovese dip would be to serve with fresh baked bread. Simply cut the top of the fresh bread into squares, leaving the bottom crust intact. Rip off chunks of bread and dip into the creamy pesto and you have the perfect appetizer or after dinner snack. If you’re feeling extra, just add some cheese to the bread and everyone will be talking about it for weeks. I promise. Check out our pull-apart cheesy bread recipe for inspiration,
As a pasta topping: for our second pesto meal, we went with a traditional pesto pasta. We used cooked Barilla ziti noodles and added chicken, sweet peppers, and then the Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto. We then topped the pasta with cheese and watched it get devoured. It was so delicious, and so incredibly easy to make. I’m keeping this in my back pocket for quick meals when we’re running from event to event.
Another spin on the Creamy Genovese pasta is serving as a cold pasta salad. I was so glad I made a double batch because it made for a great lunch the next day. It was perfect for sending in lunchboxes since they have no way to heat up foods at school and work. At home, I also ate it cold, but I added some chili crisp to the top for a different kind of heat. If you like spicy, I highly recommend it.
Looking for more Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto recipes? You will love the Barilla.com site that has recipes, pairings, tips and tricks to make meals easy and delicious.
