Vegetable Pesto Pasta

This Vegetable Pesto Pasta is a vegetarian one pot meal! It's made in a skillet with orzo, broccoli, peas, artichokes, lemon, and basil pesto.

This Pesto Vegetable Pasta is packed with fresh veggies and made entirely in a skillet on the stove top. It's bursting with flavor and perfect for the spring and summer months!

When it comes to weeknight dinners, it doesn't get any better than one pot meals. This dish only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and won't leave you with a mountain of dishes in the sink. As an added bonus, it's healthy and flavorful.

It's made with fresh veggies like garlic, onions, broccoli, and snap peas that are simmered in a skillet along with orzo pasta, vegetable broth, and basil pesto. Marinated artichokes are added at the end of the cooking process along with lemon juice and Parmesan cheese.

Orzo pasta is great because it fits easily into the skillet and absorbs the flavors of the dish as it cooks. It becomes creamy as it cooks, giving the dish a nice texture as well.

This is the perfect meal to enjoy during the spring and summer months. It's packed with seasonal green vegetables and the addition of artichokes and lemon juice brightens it up even more.

Jump to:

• What Is Orzo Pasta?
• Which Vegetables Go Well With Pesto Pasta?
• Ingredients For Vegetable Pesto Pasta
• Why Add Artichokes To Pasta?
• How To Make Pesto Vegetable Pasta
• How Long Does Skillet Pasta Take To Cook?
• What To Serve With Skillet Vegetable Pasta
• How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Vegetable Pesto Pasta

What Is Orzo Pasta?

Orzo is a type of pasta that is shaped like a grain of rice. It's made from flour just like any other type of pasta even though its shape might suggest otherwise.

Orzo is used extensively in Mediterranean and Italian cuisines. It's perfect for light pasta dishes, salads, soups like this Vegetable Orzo Soup, and healthy meals like these Greek Stuffed Peppers.

It looks a lot like Arborio rice but the two are not the same thing. Arborio rice is actually a type of rice and is used to make dishes like risotto. Arborio rice is gluten free whereas orzo pasta is not.

Orzo pasta is great because it only takes about 10 minutes fully cook, making it a great choice for weeknight meals. It also tends to absorb the flavors of whatever are added to it.

This recipe is gluten free, so I opted for gluten free orzo pasta. Gluten free orzo may be available in specialty or health food grocery stores, or available for purchase online.

Feel free to use regular orzo if gluten is not an issue for you. Regular orzo pasta is available in the pasta aisle of your local grocery store.

Which Vegetables Go Well With Pesto Pasta?

Fresh vegetables are such a great way to add flavor to any pasta dish. This orzo pasta is flavored with jarred basil pesto and pairs nicely with crispy green veggies like snap peas and broccoli.

The fresh veggies help to provide the pasta with great flavor, texture, and color. You can choose any crispy green vegetables to use in place of the ones recommended, such as asparagus, zucchini or summer squash.

It's important to choose vegetables that have a similar cooking time. Snap peas, broccoli, asparagus, and zucchini all have a similar cooking time and texture when cooked.

This pasta is flavored with garlic and onions, but you can sub shallots in place of the onions if you prefer. Shallots are slightly sweeter and have a more mild flavor than onions, making them a great substitute.

Ingredients For Vegetable Pesto Pasta

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 6 cloves Garlic
• 1 small Onion (any color) (can sub 2 shallots)
• 2 cups Snap Peas (chopped) (equals 1 lb. snap peas)
• 2 cups Broccoli Florets (equals 1 small head broccoli)
• ½ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• 4 cups Vegetable Broth
• 3 Tbsp. Jarred Basil Pesto
• 12 oz. Gluten Free Orzo Pasta (or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free)
• 1 cup Marinated Artichokes (chopped)
• 2 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
• Lemon Zest
• ½ cup Parmesan or Asiago Cheese (grated)
• Fresh herbs such as Basil or Parsley for garnish (optional)

Why Add Artichokes To Pasta?

Artichokes are a great ingredient to add to any pasta dish. They provide a bright and tangy flavor in addition to a bit of brininess along with added texture.

When it comes to pasta, I recommend your favorite brand of marinated artichoke hearts. Marinated artichoke hearts are cooked, cut into halves or quarters, and already flavored. Jarred artichokes are much easier to work with than fresh artichokes and help to cut down on cooking time.

Artichokes are one of those vegetables that reminds me of spring and every year during the warmer months I find myself craving some cold spinach artichoke dip with toasted crostini.

You can find quartered, marinated artichoke hearts in the Italian section or canned and jarred foods section of your local grocery store.

How To Make Pesto Vegetable Pasta

As far as pasta recipes go, this one is super easy to prepare and made using only a few ingredients. The whole dish is ready in about 30 minutes.

It's made in a skillet on the stove top with sauteed garlic, onions, snap peas, and broccoli. The sauteed veggies are then combined with vegetable broth, jarred basil pesto, and orzo pasta. The whole thing is simmered until the pasta is al dente.

Marinated artichokes, lemon zest and juice, and grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese is added near the end of the cooking time. The pasta becomes creamy, the vegetables are tender, but not mushy, and the whole thing has a bright, tangy flavor.

It's best to use a large skillet (a 10 or 12 inch cast iron skillet is great) to ensure that all of the ingredients fit while cooking.

1. Start by mincing 6 cloves of garlic and 1 small onion (any color). You can also use ½ a large onion (any color) or sub 2 shallots in place of the onion.
2. Chop 1 lb. of snap peas or snow peas into thirds (equals 2 cups of chopped peas).
3. Cut 1 small head of broccoli into florets (equals 2 cups broccoli florets).
4. Roughly chop 1 - 1 ½ cups of marinated artichoke hearts.
5. Place a large skillet (a 10 or 12 inch skillet is recommended) on the stove top and heat to medium.
6. Once heated, add 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet.
7. Add the minced garlic and onions (or shallots). Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring often.
8. Add the chopped peas and broccoli to the skillet along with ½ tsp. each of kosher salt and pepper. Sauté the veggies for 5-6 minutes on medium-high heat, stirring often.
9. Add 12 oz. of gluten free orzo pasta (or regular orzo pasta if not gluten free) to the skillet, stirring until incorporated. Sauté the pasta and vegetables for 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
10. Add 4 cups of vegetable broth and 3 Tbsp. jarred basil pesto to the skillet. Stir until completely combined.

How Long Does Skillet Pasta Take To Cook?

As mentioned, the orzo pasta only takes about 10 minutes to cook.

It's important to keep an eye on the pasta and stir it often as it's cooking in order to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.

When it comes to gluten free pasta, it's very important to cook just until al dente. Gluten free pasta can overcook easily, which creates a gummy texture, so make sure to keep an eye on the pasta as it cooks in the skillet.

The orzo will plump up and absorb the liquid and the texture of the pasta will become creamy as it cooks. It's best to cook the pasta on medium-low heat and stir it often with a wooden spoon or spatula.

1. Once all of the ingredients have been added to the skillet, bring the pasta to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a low boil, and cook for 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
2. After the pasta is al dente, add the chopped marinated artichokes along with the zest of 1 lemon and 2 Tbsp. of lemon juice. The lemon may be zested using a Microplane or small zester.
3. Add ½ cup of grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese to the pasta.
4. Stir all of the ingredients until completely combined.
5. Continue to cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the pasta is fully cooked, the vegetables are tender, but not mushy, and the cheese has melted.

What To Serve With Skillet Vegetable Pasta

Once the pasta is fully cooked, it's ready to serve.

Feel free to garnish the pasta with some extra lemon zest, grated Parmesan or Asiago cheese, and some fresh herbs such as basil or parsley for extra color and flavor.

This is a great vegetarian dish to serve on its own, or it may be topped with some roasted, sauteed, or grilled shrimp or chicken if you prefer.

I love to serve healthy pasta dishes like this one with a bright and tangy side salad like a simple green salad or Caesar salad. Alternately, a hearty salad like this Italian green bean salad, pickled beet feta salad, or marinated tomato salad are great options.

It's also perfect served with some roasted vegetables like this Parmesan roasted cauliflower, garlic roasted green beans, or air fryer parsnips.

Looking for more vegetarian recipes? Don't miss these!

• Spring Vegetable Risotto
• Mushroom Olive Pasta
• Vegetarian Mediterranean Pasta
• Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
• Eggplant Parmesan
• Garden Vegetable Lasagna

How Long Does This Pasta Last In The Fridge?

Any leftover vegetable pasta may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Make sure to allow it to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

Can It Be Frozen?

For optimal taste and texture, I do not recommend freezing this pasta. It's best enjoyed right away or within a few days.

Love one pot pasta? Check out these recipes!

• One Pot Veggie Pasta
• Ground Turkey Spinach Pasta
• Skillet Vegetable Lasagna
• Cajun Chicken Orzo

Looking For More One Pot Pasta Recipes? Don't Miss These!

One Pot Spinach Pea Pasta

Tomato Chickpea Pasta

Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta