Barilla Spaghetti & Pesto: Two Easy Recipes for One Great Italian Dinner

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Barilla®. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Looking for an easy dinner recipe for pasta night? As my Italian grandmother would say, you can never, ever go wrong with spaghetti! With help from Barilla Organic Pasta & Barilla Pesto from BJ’s, it’s even easier to make a delicious Italian “ristorante-style” meal right in your own kitchen. Here’s the really great part: by adding just a couple extra things,  you’ll actually get TWO recipes out of the ingredients. One appetizer and one main course.

I have a strong sentimental attachment to spaghetti. Just the sound of the boiling water reminds me of weekend dinners with my grandparents, watching my grandmother in the kitchen as she prepared simple yet delicious meals for the whole family. I never did get her cooking gene when it comes to elaborate recipes, but I can make pretty good pasta! I love Pesto, but I always thought it would be too hard to make. With Barilla’s Pesto Sauce, I don’t have to do anything aside from open the jar. Doesn’t get much easier than that, right? #BarillaPesto Let’s check out the two recipes that I made with Barilla Pesto Sauce and Barilla Organic Spaghetti Pasta. #BarillaOrganic

Barilla Spaghetti & Pesto Dinner & Appetizer Recipe

Pesto Parmesan Spaghetti with Tomatoes

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This one-pot dinner recipe takes just about half an hour to whip up, and most of that time is spent waiting for the water to boil! Active time is just under 5 minutes.

Ingredients:

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    • Barilla Organic Spaghetti (how much depends on how many people you are feeding)
    • 1/2 cup Barilla Pesto Sauce (add more if you are making a larger batch)
    • 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
    • Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

How to make

  • Make the spaghetti according to the directions on the package
  • Drain and either put back in the pot or transfer to your serving bowl
  • Add the Barilla Pesto Sauce and stir.
  • Add the cheese and stir.
  • Toss in the tomatoes and stir.
  • Serve!

Caprese Salad Skewers with Pesto Dressing

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This little appetizer is so pretty and fun to make. You would not believe how much flavor the pesto adds to the cheese. I could eat the cheese dipped in the pesto all by itself!

Ingredients:

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  • Barilla Pesto Sauce
  • Fresh Mozzarella Cheese (the kind that comes in a big round ball) OR already-made mozzarella cheese balls
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Basil Leaves
  • Bamboo Skewers

How to Make

If you bought the big ball of mozzarella, you’ll need to make your own little ones. I used a melon scooper. They didn’t come out perfect. Then my friend said, “why didn’t you just get them already made?” Well, gee, I didn’t know they came that way! Apparently, you can ask the deli for them. So you might want to consider that.

Once you have your mozzarella in little ball form, the rest is easy. Alternate mozzarella, tomato, and basil leaf twice. Then brush with Barilla Pesto Sauce and enjoy!

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Thanks to that nice big Barilla Organic Pasta Penne/Spaghetti 6 pk that I picked up from BJ’s Wholesale Club, I have plenty of pasta left to make more creative meals all month long. I love Penne, especially with chicken and different types of cheesy sauces. Barilla Organic Pasta is Certified USDA Organic and contains no GMO ingredients. It’s their newest line and it’s made with only the highest quality ingredients. Thanks @BarillaUS!  Did you know that Barilla is Italy’s #1 brand of pasta? My sister-in-law spent a year in Italy back in college and it’s still her preferred pasta! I love that it cooks up perfectly “al dente” every time.

The Barilla Pesto Sauce 2 pk from BJ’s will go a long way to helping me think outside the marinara. I already have a bunch of ideas floating around in my head, from flatbread chicken pizza to turkey tortilla roll-ups. Pesto is so versatile! I love that Barilla Pesto Sauce is made with only the highest quality ingredients, like sweet basil, herbs and EVOO. They’re perfectly blended together to create an amazingly rich taste and thick texture that everyone will love. As you can see from the two recipes above, it’s delicious served hot or cold!

If you need a few ideas on how to use these great products, check out the Barilla Recipes Page! Don’t forget, you can find these products in your local #BJsWholesale!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Barilla®. The opinions and text are all mine.

16 thoughts on “Barilla Spaghetti & Pesto: Two Easy Recipes for One Great Italian Dinner”

  1. I love Italian recipes anytime and these easy dinner ideas looks absolutely delicious. We use Barilla noodles at home and these pastas looks so easy to prepare as well.

  2. christina aliperti

    Putting pesto on the Caprese Salad skewers is genius. That has to taste absolutely amazing!! I have to try this asap.

  3. I have to try their Pesto. Its been some time since I made pesto pasta and I think now is the right time to do so. I am going to get Barilla Traditional Basil Pesto and have a yummy pasta fest at home!

  4. How cute are those skewers?! I love that idea for a fun appetizer. My husband and I were recently out at a restaurant that had broiled their spaghetti with a little bit of cheese and put that on the tables instead of bread. I thought it was so clever!

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