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These Pesto Potatoes are such a simple and savory side dish! Tender potatoes, coated with flavorful pesto and roasted to crispy perfection.
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Potatoes Roasted in Pesto Sauce
Pesto Potatoes are a fantastic side dish. Diced potatoes coated in pesto and roasted or grilled to perfection. So easy and packed with cheesy, nutty flavor! Pesto is so tasty on just about anything: pasta, sandwiches, chicken, veggies, and especially potatoes. If you haven’t used pesto much in cooking, you must try it! Whether you are looking to switch up your boring side-dish rut or trying to impress guests with your amazing culinary skills, these potatoes are for you!
Suggestions for the Perfect Pesto
Pesto originated in Genoa, Italy and is made with basil, olive oil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. You can make your own pesto or purchase it pre-made. Try our delicious homemade pesto recipe; it is my favorite! We use fresh basil, garlic, and pine nuts and the taste can’t be beat. But if you are short on time I have used a really great pre-made option at Costco in their refrigerated section. There are also dry mixes you can buy at the grocery store, but homemade is definitely the best in my opinion.
Ingredients in Pesto Potatoes
- Russet Potatoes – red potatoes, baby potatoes, or Yukon gold potatoes also work really well
- Pesto Sauce – we use our homemade basil pesto or get the big jar at Costco
- Parmesan Cheese – this adds enough savor that no salt is necessary
- Optional: Garnish with some parsley or fresh basil
To Roast or Grill?
- Roasting: We usually throw these potatoes in the oven and roast them at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes. They’re crisp, tender inside and perfectly flavorful roasted potatoes.
- Grilling: Sometimes in the summer, instead of cooking with the oven and heating up the house, we will just wrap these in foil and cook them over the grill. Just cook them over medium heat. They are ready to eat when you peel back some of the foil and potatoes are fork tender and break apart easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just double check your pesto if you are using store bought.
No, it is not necessary to boil them. But if you want them a little crisper, soak them in some cold water then pat them dry before roasting.
Soaking the potatoes in water for at least 30 minutes removes the starch giving the potatoes a more crisp outer layer as it cooks.
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What to Serve with Pesto Potatoes
We like to make zesty potatoes to accompany when we are grilling up steaks or chicken. They are great on their own but we like to dip ours in sour cream or Ranch dressing. Try them with any of these delicious recipes:
- New York Steaks
- Tri-Tip Roast
- Pesto Chicken with Bacon and Roasted Red Peppers
- Honey Mustard Nectarine Pork Kabobs
- Grilled Malibu Chicken
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
How to Make Pesto Potatoes
Pesto Potatoes
Ingredients
- 6 medium russet potatoes
- 3/4 cup Pesto Sauce we use our homemade pesto or get the big jar at Costco
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
Instructions
- Scrub (but don’t peel) potatoes and cut into large cubes then place all the pieces in a large plastic bag. Add about ¾ cup pesto sauce to the bag and shake it around until the pesto is coating all the potato pieces.
- Pour the contents of the bag out onto a cookie sheet. Arrange the potatoes so they are laying flat then sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 450 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until they begin to look lightly toasted.
Notes
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- Roasting: We usually throw these potatoes onto a sheet pan or baking sheet in the oven and roast them at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes. They’re crisp, tender inside and perfectly flavorful roasted potatoes.
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- Grilling: Sometimes in the summer, instead of cooking with the oven and heating up the house, we will just wrap these in foil and cook them over the grill. Just cook them over medium heat. They are ready to eat when you peel back some of the foil and potatoes are fork tender and break apart easily.
- For proper storage, make sure to drain the leftovers on parchment paper, and make sure they’re cooled completely. Place them in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to five days.
Nutrition Information
the perfect side! Love these!
These were fantastic! I threw them on the grill and they came out perfectly!
Such a yummy easy side to make. I love that huge pesto jar available at Costco too!
Wow. This has become a favorite in our household. “Please make the Pesto potatoes” is often heard for Sunday dinners. So easy, so flavorful and and amazing. The trick of getting the cookie sheet hot first is fantastic! Thank you for this great recipe!
i am tripling the recipe for easter gathering…..can I boil the potatoes a day prior?
We have never tried it that way so we can’t say for sure. If you try it out, let us know how it turns out!
It would be great if you would encourage people to mix it all up in a bowl instead of using single use plastic to coat the potatoes ♻️????
When do we add the Parmesan Cheese?
You sprinkle it on before you bake it.
Are all these yummy recipes in your new cookbook? I’m spending a lot of time downloading recipes; maybe I should buy the book!
There are over a hundred of our favorites from the site. And over 50 new recipes just for the cookbook!
What a brilliantly simple recipe, I think I would try it with Red Pesto too!