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    Home » Recipes » Dinner » Vegetarian Dinner

    Oven Baked Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta

    Published: Sep 11, 2014 · Updated: Nov 30, 2022 by Neil 4 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe
    Oven baked pesto fusilli with a serving spoon in. Pin title text overlay at top.
    Oven baked whole wheat pesto fusilli is just a perfect recipe if you're looking for a quick healthy meal. It's just an easy simple pesto sauce combined with healthy whole grain pasta and juicy tomatoes to give you a unique taste of the Mediterranean! #neilshealthymeals #recipe #pesto #fusilli

    Oven baked whole wheat pesto pasta is just perfect if you're looking for a quick healthy meal. It's just a simple pesto sauce combined with healthy whole grains and juicy tomatoes to give you a taste of the Mediterranean.

    Oven baked whole wheat pesto fusilli in a pasta dish on a black slate.

    If you’re on your way home, late from work and need a quick and easy family recipe to put together then this, baked whole wheat pesto pasta fits that bill.

    Not only is it delicious but it's low cost too. And, to make it super easy, I've split the recipe in two parts.

    If you don't have enough time to make the home made pesto sauce, leave that out and just use a healthy shop bought pesto sauce instead.

    But, why not be really smart and make the pesto sauce before you head out to work in the morning? It literally takes just 15 minutes to make.

    Plus, leaving the pesto sauce to marinate in the fridge during the day, makes it taste so much better later!

    A serving spoon lifting a portion of oven baked whole wheat pesto fusilli from the baking dish.

    Making your own pesto sauce in this oven baked whole wheat pesto fusilli recipe is so easy and it's got no artificial ingredients in.

    Furthermore the pesto sauce I've made in this recipe is the same sauce I used for the tagliatelle with home-made pesto with just a slight change in the recipe quantities to make this a family meal, instead of a meal for 2.

    It's such a versatile sauce, I'd love to hear what other recipes you've made with it in the comments below. 🙂

    As a serving suggestion, and because this baked whole wheat pesto fusilli is pretty filling, I like to serve this recipe with some green vegetables like steamed broccoli.

    It also goes pretty well with a simple green salad too.

    This is a fantastic vegetarian recipe that I often make when I'm catering for vegetarian friends too.

    It makes an excellent addition to your list of whole wheat fusilli pasta recipes!

    Oven baked whole wheat pesto fusilli on a black slate with some cherry tomatoes at the front.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • How To Make Homemade Pesto Using A Food Processor
    • How To Make Homemade Pesto Using A Pestle And Mortar
    • How To Make Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta
    • Substitutions
    • FAQ's
    • What To Serve With Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta?
    • Equipment
    • Other Popular Pesto Recipes You Might Also Like
    • 📋 Oven Baked Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta Recipe
    • Nutrition Label
    • Rate The Recipe

    Ingredients

    • Fresh Basil Leaves
    • Pine Nuts
    • Cloves Garlic
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Grated Parmesan Cheese
    • Whole Wheat Fusilli
    • Cherry Tomatoes
    • Low Fat Grated Cheese
    • Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
    • Freshly Chopped Parsley or Basil (Optional Garnish)

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this baked pasta pesto recipe:

    How To Make Homemade Pesto Using A Food Processor

    Basil leaves, toasted pine nuts and garlic blended together in a food processor.

    Step 1

    • Blitz basil leaves, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor.
    Pesto ingredients mixed together in a small glass pyrex bowl.

    Step 2

    • Remove the blended ingredients into a seperate small bowl and mix with the oil and parmesan cheese. Season to taste.

    How To Make Homemade Pesto Using A Pestle And Mortar

    Basil leaves bashed into a pulp in a pestle and mortar.

    Step 1

    Bash the basil leaves into a pulp first.

    Pine nuts and garlic added to bashed pulped basil leaves in a pestle and mortar.

    Step 2

    Then add the pine nuts and garlic and bash them all together into a pulp.

    Lemon Juice and parmesan mixed together in a seperate bowl with the basil pesto pulp from the pestle and mortar.

    Step 3

    • Remove the ingredients into a separate bowl, add the oil and the Parmesan cheese, mix all together. Season the basil pesto sauce to taste.

    How To Make Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta

    1. Pre-heat oven to 180C Fan.
    2. Cook pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Once cooked, drain and reserve 50ml of the cooking liquid.
    3. Half the cherry tomatoes.
    4. Add the pesto and the tomatoes to the drained pasta, stir in the reserved pasta water and mix well to combine it all together.
    5. Empty the contents of the saucepan into your baking dish.
    6. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top. Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling. (Oven cooking times may vary).
    7. Once cooked remove and garnish with the chopped parsley or basil.

    Substitutions

    • Fresh Basil Leaves - essential to make the homemade basil pesto.
    • Pine Nuts
    • Cloves Garlic
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Grated Parmesan Cheese - you can use an alternative hard cheese.
    • Whole Wheat Fusilli - you can substitute penne, rigatoni, farfalle or conchiglie pasta. Use gluten free if required.
    • Cherry Tomatoes - you can substitute with plum style tomatoes or grape tomatoes.
    • Low Fat Grated Cheese
    • Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
    • Freshly Chopped Parsley or Basil (Optional Garnish)

    FAQ's

    Is Fusilli Pasta Healthy?

    Choosing to cook with whole wheat fusilli you get a larger amount of fibre and goodness than you would if you used ordinary pasta.

    How Long To Cook Whole Wheat Fusilli Pasta?

    Whole wheat fusilli pasta should take 10 - 12 minutes to cook in a pot of boiling salted water.

    What Type Of Pasta Should I Use?

    I've used fusilli pasta here but you could substitute that with other types of pasta like penne, rigatoni, farfalle or conchiglie pasta.

    How To Store Leftovers?

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for 2 - 3 days in the fridge.

    Can You Freeze This?

    Yes. Allow to cool completely first then portion any leftovers into individual containers.

    How To Reheat?

    This is best reheated on the oven, covered for 10 - 15 minutes. Allow to defrost thoroughly first.

    What To Serve With Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta?

    • Garlic bread
    • A simple green salad
    • Green vegetables like steamed broccoli.
    • Roasted vegetables like roasted brussels sprouts and green beans.

    Equipment

    For This Healthy Whole Wheat Pesto You May Need….

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through, then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Saucepans
    • Food processor or
    • Pestle and mortar
    • Pyrex mixing glass bowl
    • Baking dish
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen scale
    • Wooden spoon
    • Measuring jug
    • Kitchen knives
    • Chopping board

    This is the basic baking dish I use. As you can see it's relatively inexpensive and its perfect for oven baked recipes.

    It's durable, resistant to breakage, dishwasher and freezer safe too!

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    Other Popular Pesto Recipes You Might Also Like

    Butternut Squash Noodles with Spring Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes
    This delicious butternut squash noodles with spring pesto and roasted tomatoes dish can be ready in just over half an hour.
    Check out this recipe
    This delicious butternut squash noodles with spring pesto and roasted tomatoes dish can be ready in just over half an hour. It's a fantastic healthy, low carb alternative to pasta made with pretty much the minimum of effort, and it’s all fresh ingredients.
    Baked Salmon Pesto
    A simple, tasty, baked salmon pesto. with a creamy cauliflower mash.
    Check out this recipe
    Simple and tasty, this oven baked salmon pesto is ready in just 30 minutes and comes with a creamy cauliflower mash too. Perfect for those occasions when you're in a rush or limited with time, you'll want to add this to your quick healthy meals list!
    Pesto Pizza with Cherry Tomato and Basil Salad
    Pesto pizza with cherry tomato and basil salad makes for a delicious change from a normal pizza. It's a quick to make cheats pizza ideal for when you're short on time!
    Check out this recipe
    A delicious pesto pizza cooked sitting on a chopping board, ready to carve into slices and eat with cherry tomatoes and basil in the background for decoration.
    📋 Chicken Pesto Pasta
    Chicken pesto pasta. This delicious and easy to make homemade pesto with pasta dinner is a perfect family meal for busy weeknights.
    Check out this recipe
    A plate of cooked chicken pesto pasta with a fork to the right hand side. A frying pan of the rest of the cooked dinner in the background.

    Oven baked whole wheat pesto fusilli is just perfect if you're looking for a quick healthy meal. It's just a simple pesto sauce combined with healthy whole grains and juicy tomatoes to give you a taste of the Mediterranean.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe!
    5 from 2 votes

    📋 Oven Baked Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta Recipe

    Oven baked whole wheat pesto pasta is just perfect if you're looking for a quick healthy meal.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 545kcal
    Author: NeilsHealthyMeals

    The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.

    This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).

    If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!

    Equipment

    • Saucepans
    • Food processor
    • Pestle and mortar
    • Pyrex mixing glass bowl
    • Pasta dish
    • Measuring spoons
    • Kitchen scale
    • Wooden spoon
    • Measuring jug
    • Kitchen knives
    • Chopping board

    Ingredients

    Pesto Ingredients:-

    • 30 g basil leaves
    • 30 g pine nuts lightly toasted
    • 3 small cloves garlic
    • 50 ml extra virgin olive oil
    • 30 g grated parmesan cheese

    Pasta Ingredients:-

    • 280 g whole wheat Fusilli
    • 150 g cherry tomatoes
    • 100 g low fat grated cheese
    • 1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley or basil
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    Make the pesto sauce:-

    • If you have a food processor, blitz the basil leaves, then add the pine nuts and garlic and blitz again. If you do not have a food processor, use a pestle and mortar, or sturdy bowl and the end of a rolling pin to bash the basil leaves into a pulp first, then add the pine nuts and garlic and bash them all together into a pulp. Remove the ingredients into a separate bowl, add the oil and parmesan cheese, mix all together and put the pesto, covered, into the fridge.

    Make the pasta:-

    • Pre-heat oven to 180C.
    • Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to the instructions on the packet. Once cooked, drain the pasta, reserve about 50ml of the cooking liquid and return to the saucepan.
    • Half the cherry tomatoes.
    • Add the pesto and the tomatoes to the drained pasta, stir in the reserved cooking liquid and mix well to combine it all together.
    • Empty the contents of the saucepan into your baking dish.
    • Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top and then cover the top loosely with tin foil and bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
    • Once cooked remove and garnish with the chopped parsley or basil.
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Nutrition

    Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 73.1g | Protein: 17.4g | Fat: 20.3g | Saturated Fat: 4.6g | Cholesterol: 12.2mg | Sodium: 141.4mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 4.1g | Vitamin A: 900IU | Vitamin C: 13.2mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition Label

    Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.

    Nutrition Facts
    📋 Oven Baked Whole Wheat Pesto Pasta
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 545 Calories from Fat 183
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20.3g31%
    Saturated Fat 4.6g29%
    Cholesterol 12.2mg4%
    Sodium 141.4mg6%
    Carbohydrates 73.1g24%
    Fiber 3.9g16%
    Sugar 4.1g5%
    Protein 17.4g35%
    Vitamin A 900IU18%
    Vitamin C 13.2mg16%
    Calcium 160mg16%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Rate The Recipe

    If you’ve made this whole wheat pasta recipe, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.

    I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂

    Related

    « Pea and Mint Soup
    Grilled Fish Provencal »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rita Johnstone

      November 29, 2022 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      I made this and it was absolutely delicious but I think you left a step out in the instructions? You don't say where to add the pasta into your baking / casserole dish?

      Reply
      • Neil

        November 29, 2022 at 1:31 pm

        Hi Rita, thank you so much for your comment and message. You are completely correct, there was a step missing from the instructions. I've added it in. It's step 5. Also I updated the whole recipe for you with more details. It was on my list to do so anyway. Hope that helps you! Thanks again for taking the time to rate and comment.

        Reply
    2. Velva

      November 30, 2022 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      This would make great weekday meal! I am always looking for healthy dishes during the week. Thanks.

      Velva

      Reply
      • Neil

        December 01, 2022 at 5:52 am

        Thanks Velva! Yes this is a great weekday meal. Even better if you have the time to make your own home made pesto sauce. Thanks so much for the comment and your rating! Hope you get a chance to make this! 🙂

        Reply

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