• About
  • Contact

Gina Gibson

simple, healthy, meals

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Dinner
    • Salads
    • Desserts
    • Smoothies & Juices
  • Lifestyle
    • Mom Life
    • Travel
  • Shop
    • Kitchen
    • Home
    • Beauty
    • Dress Me
    • Baby & Toddler
  • Homemade Products

GreenVeggie Pesto Pasta

March 20, 2020 by Gina +

this Pin this

The second week of my new weekly series, simple meals from a few Trader Joe’s ingredients, couldn’t come at a better time. It’s pesto and it’s pasta, and I know most of us already have pasta on hand because there is none on the shelves. #Covid19

I started this series because while cooking mostly from scratch is fun and all, sometimes we need something super easy, but make it healthy! The market, especially Trader Joe’s, has lots of packaged, easy ingredients that just need a little jazzing up to make into a healthier, quick meal.

I keep saying TJ’s, but the ingredients can be found at pretty much an supermarket. It’s just easy to reference Trader Joe’s because many of us shop there frequently.

Print Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Servings: 0
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 package favorite pasta 16oz
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp pesto
  • 2 large spoonfuls trader joe's alfredo sauce
  • 1 package broccoli florets or or broccoli/cauliflower mix
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 cup pasta water

Method
 

  1. Start by boiling water in a large pot according to pasta instructions.
  2. Boil pasta. I put in extra water and boil the broccoli at the same time. This recipe is all about being easy, no need to do this separately.
  3. A minute before the pasta is done, toss in frozen peas.
  4. Drain pasta but reserve 1 cup of the water
  5. Return pasta to a pan over low heat. Stir in water, pesto, and 2 large spoonfuls of alfredo sauce. Give a good punch of salt and pepper, adjusting to taste. Enjoy!

Notes

The alfredo sauce is optional but I love the flavor it adds.  You won't use all the sauce, after all, it is a bigger jar, so make it again or freeze the sauce in an ice cube tray and pop out cubes for future meals.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

You might also like:

Default ThumbnailVeggie Pesto Pasta Vegetable Pasta Bake Pasta with Creamy Garlic Sauce and Shrimp Baked Vegetarian Pasta Bolognese

Filed Under: Dinners, Recipes Tagged With: alfredo, pasta, peas, pesto, trader joes, vegetables

Trackbacks

  1. Creamy One-Pot Sausage and Kale Pasta - Gina Gibson says:
    December 9, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    […] Pesto pasta […]

gina_gibson_

Creamy shrimp and vegetables, topped with golden, Creamy shrimp and vegetables, topped with golden, flaky puff pastry “croutons,” all made in one skillet. This Skillet Shrimp Pot Pie is cozy, packed with flavor, and comes together in under 45 minutes — totally doable on a weeknight.

This recipe is from @TestKitchen, and it’s part of why I trust their recipes so much — thoroughly tested, reliable, and made for real life. Comment “RECIPE” and I’ll send you the link to try America’s Test Kitchen and get this one. You can also find it in my bio.

Save this for your next cozy weeknight dinner. #ad #AmericasTestKitchen #EasyDinner #WeeknightDinner
Weekend breakfast sorted. Mini croissants stuffed Weekend breakfast sorted. Mini croissants stuffed with bacon, egg, and cheese, then pressed on a hot pan until the outside gets crispy and golden.

Ingredients
Mini croissants, bacon, eggs, shredded cheese

Cut the mini croissants in half. Cook the egg and bacon. Stuff each croissant with a slice of bacon, egg, and cheese. Place on a hot pan and press down to crisp up the outside.
Some fall favorite goodies here with @babbleboxxof Some fall favorite goodies here with @babbleboxxofficial 

Loved adding @diamondcrystalsalt to a rim with a sparkling Paloma. 

We had the yummiest Cajun dinner made so easy thanks to @lafishfry. Only needed to add rice, sausage and beans. 

Loved the espresso martinis from @zingzangmix 
Low sugar and just added the vodka!

We had a delicious veggie Dion combining Greek yogurt, mayo, some seasoning and @sempio.u gochujang and @yondu.usa 

Some sweet treats with the fall flavors from @werthersoriginalus

Everything was simple to cleanup thanks to @solocup
Soft, lightly spiced pumpkin muffins made mini for Soft, lightly spiced pumpkin muffins made mini for little hands — perfect for lunchboxes or school snacks, with a protein boost you’d never taste.

Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup cottage cheese (blended smooth with the pumpkin), 2 large eggs, ⅓ cup maple syrup, ¼ cup melted butter or oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease or line a mini muffin tin. Whisk together the pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, eggs, maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt, folding just until no streaks of flour remain, then fold in the chocolate chips if using. Fill each mini muffin cup about ¾ full and bake for 10-12 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. 

Makes 24 mini muffins
This Taco Skillet is cheesy, hearty, and made with This Taco Skillet is cheesy, hearty, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes. Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks  for easy recipes like this. 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375°F. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake — a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment “APPLE” and I’ll send you the full recipe!

gina_gibson_

Creamy shrimp and vegetables, topped with golden, Creamy shrimp and vegetables, topped with golden, flaky puff pastry “croutons,” all made in one skillet. This Skillet Shrimp Pot Pie is cozy, packed with flavor, and comes together in under 45 minutes — totally doable on a weeknight.

This recipe is from @TestKitchen, and it’s part of why I trust their recipes so much — thoroughly tested, reliable, and made for real life. Comment “RECIPE” and I’ll send you the link to try America’s Test Kitchen and get this one. You can also find it in my bio.

Save this for your next cozy weeknight dinner. #ad #AmericasTestKitchen #EasyDinner #WeeknightDinner
Weekend breakfast sorted. Mini croissants stuffed Weekend breakfast sorted. Mini croissants stuffed with bacon, egg, and cheese, then pressed on a hot pan until the outside gets crispy and golden.

Ingredients
Mini croissants, bacon, eggs, shredded cheese

Cut the mini croissants in half. Cook the egg and bacon. Stuff each croissant with a slice of bacon, egg, and cheese. Place on a hot pan and press down to crisp up the outside.
Some fall favorite goodies here with @babbleboxxof Some fall favorite goodies here with @babbleboxxofficial 

Loved adding @diamondcrystalsalt to a rim with a sparkling Paloma. 

We had the yummiest Cajun dinner made so easy thanks to @lafishfry. Only needed to add rice, sausage and beans. 

Loved the espresso martinis from @zingzangmix 
Low sugar and just added the vodka!

We had a delicious veggie Dion combining Greek yogurt, mayo, some seasoning and @sempio.u gochujang and @yondu.usa 

Some sweet treats with the fall flavors from @werthersoriginalus

Everything was simple to cleanup thanks to @solocup
Soft, lightly spiced pumpkin muffins made mini for Soft, lightly spiced pumpkin muffins made mini for little hands — perfect for lunchboxes or school snacks, with a protein boost you’d never taste.

Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup cottage cheese (blended smooth with the pumpkin), 2 large eggs, ⅓ cup maple syrup, ¼ cup melted butter or oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease or line a mini muffin tin. Whisk together the pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, eggs, maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt, folding just until no streaks of flour remain, then fold in the chocolate chips if using. Fill each mini muffin cup about ¾ full and bake for 10-12 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. 

Makes 24 mini muffins
This Taco Skillet is cheesy, hearty, and made with This Taco Skillet is cheesy, hearty, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes. Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks  for easy recipes like this. 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375°F. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake — a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment “APPLE” and I’ll send you the full recipe!

gina_gibson_

Creamy shrimp and vegetables, topped with golden, Creamy shrimp and vegetables, topped with golden, flaky puff pastry “croutons,” all made in one skillet. This Skillet Shrimp Pot Pie is cozy, packed with flavor, and comes together in under 45 minutes — totally doable on a weeknight.

This recipe is from @TestKitchen, and it’s part of why I trust their recipes so much — thoroughly tested, reliable, and made for real life. Comment “RECIPE” and I’ll send you the link to try America’s Test Kitchen and get this one. You can also find it in my bio.

Save this for your next cozy weeknight dinner. #ad #AmericasTestKitchen #EasyDinner #WeeknightDinner
Weekend breakfast sorted. Mini croissants stuffed Weekend breakfast sorted. Mini croissants stuffed with bacon, egg, and cheese, then pressed on a hot pan until the outside gets crispy and golden.

Ingredients
Mini croissants, bacon, eggs, shredded cheese

Cut the mini croissants in half. Cook the egg and bacon. Stuff each croissant with a slice of bacon, egg, and cheese. Place on a hot pan and press down to crisp up the outside.
Some fall favorite goodies here with @babbleboxxof Some fall favorite goodies here with @babbleboxxofficial 

Loved adding @diamondcrystalsalt to a rim with a sparkling Paloma. 

We had the yummiest Cajun dinner made so easy thanks to @lafishfry. Only needed to add rice, sausage and beans. 

Loved the espresso martinis from @zingzangmix 
Low sugar and just added the vodka!

We had a delicious veggie Dion combining Greek yogurt, mayo, some seasoning and @sempio.u gochujang and @yondu.usa 

Some sweet treats with the fall flavors from @werthersoriginalus

Everything was simple to cleanup thanks to @solocup
Soft, lightly spiced pumpkin muffins made mini for Soft, lightly spiced pumpkin muffins made mini for little hands — perfect for lunchboxes or school snacks, with a protein boost you’d never taste.

Ingredients: 1 cup pumpkin puree, ½ cup cottage cheese (blended smooth with the pumpkin), 2 large eggs, ⅓ cup maple syrup, ¼ cup melted butter or oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp baking soda, 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ½ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease or line a mini muffin tin. Whisk together the pumpkin puree, cottage cheese, eggs, maple syrup, melted butter, and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt, folding just until no streaks of flour remain, then fold in the chocolate chips if using. Fill each mini muffin cup about ¾ full and bake for 10-12 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. 

Makes 24 mini muffins
This Taco Skillet is cheesy, hearty, and made with This Taco Skillet is cheesy, hearty, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have. It bakes in the oven for an easy, hands-off dinner and comes together in under 40 minutes. Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks  for easy recipes like this. 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 small yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup uncooked white rice
1 cup blended cottage cheese
1 (15 oz) jar salsa
1 cup shredded cheddar or taco cheese blend
1 package taco seasoning
*chips, sour cream, avocado for topping and scooping

Preheat oven to 375°F. In an oven-safe skillet, cook ground beef and onion on medium heat until beef is browned.

Stir in taco seasoning. Add salsa, cottage cheese, the rice, then 1/2 cup water. Mix well.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes

Remove from oven, top with cheese. Serve with sour cream, avocado, and plenty of chips for scooping
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake — a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment “APPLE” and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Copyright © 2026 · Daphne v2 · Designed by Designer Blogs