Why I Love Kirkland Basil Pesto
I love my homemade Basil Pesto with Lemon, but when you don’t have basil to make pesto this Kirkland Basil Pesto from Costco is pretty great! And this post has 18 amazing recipes for using Pesto any time of year!
PIN Why I Love Kirkland Basil Pesto to try some recipes later!
This post is about Why I Love Kirkland Basil Pesto! If you’re a regular reader, you know I love to make basil pesto in the summer, and I think my recipe for Basil Pesto with Lemon can’t be beat. But sometimes fresh basil isn’t available, you don’t want to bother making pesto from scratch, or you want to make recipes with pesto in the dead of winter.
For times when making pesto at home just isn’t happening, I’m a huge fan of Kirkland Basil Pesto from Costco, and this is product that I’ve been buying for years. And just in case you’re wondering, Costco has never given me any pesto or paid me to write about it here, but I’m excited to add it to my list of Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks!
If you’re also a pesto fan, keep reading to see my favorite recipes with basil pesto. And most (but not all) of the pesto recipes are are low in carbs, and quite a few are Keto. Click a recipe link and use the diet-type icons under the recipe title to see what diets that recipe is suitable for. I hope you enjoy trying some new ideas for cooking with pesto!
Why do I love Kirkland’s Basil Pesto so much?
Unlike tiny jars of pesto that you see in the grocery store, Kirkland Basil Pesto comes in a big 22 ounce jar, big enough to make quite a few recipes using basil pesto. And I think the flavor of this pesto is just perfect for a purchased pesto and I love to have it in the fridge to add a tablespoon or two to marinades, soups, pasta sauces, or salad dressing whenever I want a pop or pesto flavor.
Can you Cook with Kirkland’s Basil Pesto?
I’ve heard from many readers through the years asking about a warning on the label of Kirkland’s Basil Pesto that says “Product should not be heated.” But I’ve cooked with this pesto for years and years with no problem. And since Pesto is actually a sauce to be used with pasta, I’m quite sure that warning means that when you’re using this pesto as a pasta sauce, you shouldn’t put the pesto into a pan and heat it (just add it to the hot pasta.) Please don’t worry about using this as an ingredient in a dish that will be heated!
How do I store the Kirkland Pesto?
This pesto keeps a long time in the fridge and it can be frozen if you don’t use pesto that frequently. I like to freeze it in ice cube trays or in the small size of Souper Cubes (affiliate link) and then pop out the cubes and store in a Ziploc bag in the freezer. That way it’s so easy to pull out a few cubes of pesto when you need some.
Where can you buy Kirkland Basil Pesto?
You can buy my favorite brand of pesto at Costco of course, and that’s the best place to get it. But if you don’t live near Costo, the Kirkland Basil Pesto is available at Amazon (affiliate link), although it’s definitely less expensive when you buy it at Costco.
Favorite Recipes Using Basil Pesto:
Easy Baked Pesto Chicken is one of the most popular recipes on the blog, and I know quite a few families who tell me this is also kid-friendly!
This amazing Baked Salmon with Pesto and Tomatoes is something I make all year long.
Zucchini Pesto Pasta uses Fiber Gourmet Light Penne (affiliate link) and the recipe has lots of zucchini and not so much pasta to make it a low-carb dish that’s great for a family dinner.
Pesto Chicken Salad is quick and delicious for a salad that can be made with leftover chicken and this is perfect to make with rotisserie chicken with it’s too hot to cook.
Baked Chicken Stuffed with Pesto and Cheese is another combination with pesto and chicken that’s been hugely popular, and this is great for a special low-carb meal.
Chicken Pesto Soup is a delicious Instant Pot Chicken Soup that has pesto stirred in at the end, and if you like the combo of chicken + pesto you’ll love this soup!
Summer Squash with Pesto and Parmesan is another favorite of mine.
Lemon Pesto Chicken Kabobs can be cooked on a stove-top grill pan when it’s not grilling weather and if you like pesto you’ll make this over and over.
More Delicious Recipes Using Pesto:
- Zucchini Pasta Salad (with zucchini noodles)
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Italian Sausage, Tomato, and Pesto Soup
- Asaragus with Pesto
- Pesto Spaghetti Squash
- Zucchini with Pesto
- Lemon Pesto Rice Recipe
- Baked Fish in Foil with Pesto and Tomatoes
- Baked White Fish with Pine Nut, Parmesan, and Pesto Crust
- Pesto Meatloaf
About Products Featured for Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks:
I purchased the Kirkland Basil Pesto myself and Costco has no idea whatsoever that I’m writing about their product. I love to feature products that are really a wow for me, and items featured as Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks are things I’d happily buy over and over. And so that readers know that my opinions are completely unbiased, I don’t accept review products from the many companies who offer to send them to me. You can see the complete list of products I’ve chosen to feature at Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks.
20 Comments on “Why I Love Kirkland Basil Pesto”
I love Kirkland Pesto too. It’s been my go- to for years. I just bought a jar of lemon pesto from Trader Joes. I want to try on chicken for an aocasional change.
I’ve been thinking about trying that Trader Joe’s Lemon Pesto!
My Costco doesn’t sell it and I live in a major area.
Oh drag. I’m so sorry to hear that. I wonder why that would be?
Have you had any trouble finding this pesto at Costco? I haven’t seen it at my store in several weeks.
I shop at two different Costcos and they both seem to have it.
Wow! Waste of time! Thought this was an actual recipe for the pesto, not just how to use the stuff. Geez!
I’m confused about how you think I got the recipe from Costco for their pesto? That would be quite a feat.
Have you ever tried making a creamy pesto sauce (for fettuccine or linguine, say with grilled chicken) using the Costco pesto sauce? I had attempted mixing a 1/4 or 1/3 of the jar with a heavy creme, but it did not come out as well as hoped. Any suggestions?
I haven’t tried that. But I might try it with cream cheese, Marscapone cheese, or something like that which is a bit thicker.
I make pesto cheesey bread. I buy a French bread and score it, then fill the openings with melted butter, parmesan and asiago cheese (or any other mixture), and pesto. Wrap in tin foil and bake for 20 minutes. Yum!
That has to be delicious!
Not sure, it does contain cheese but it’s Parmesan cheese so I’d guess the shelf life is pretty long. I would refrigerate a few hours, then open and taste to see if it still tastes okay. If it does, I bet it’s fine. But I haven’t ever done this so I can’t say for sure. Maybe check Google to see if it’s mentioned there.
One thing you could do is freeze in ice cube trays, which would kill any bacteria. Then thaw a few cubes when you need to use some.
I don’t really know the answer. It has cheese , but if it was only in the cupboard for a day or two it might be okay. Sorry, I don’t feel qualified to give a more definite answer than that.
I usually buy Trader Joe's (Trader Giotto's Pesto alla Genovese) jarred pesto and just love it.
I'll have to try the Costco jarred pesto. How long (approximately) is a "very long time" in the refrigerator?
Tracey it has a "use by" date on the jar. I haven't ever noticed exactly how long it stays good, but a few months at least.
I totally agree with you here, Kalyn, we always have this pesto in the house, not only is it delicious but a great price!
Glad you agree Diane!
Yep, I have a jar of this in my pantry at all times (except summer). Thanks for including one of my recipes; I love pesto year-round, and this pesto is a great value and great flavor.
Agree Lydia; I think this is the best store-bought pesto I've had and especially for the price!