I Tried 7 Store-Bought Pesto Sauces and Was Surprised by the Winner

Pesto is proof that simple ingredients make delicious food. Fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil are all you need. Those six ingredients create a versatile sauce that’s used on everything from pasta and pizza to vegetables and eggs. While I love making my own version of it at home, I know the value of store-bought pesto. It’s a time-saver for hectic work weeks (hey Pesto Chicken Bake!) and it’s great for when company is coming and I need to whip up something fast (I’m talking about you Cheesy Pesto Roll Wreath). But what’s the best kind you can buy? I put national brands to the test and here’s what I thought.

How I Judged

To keep things fair, I sampled all of the pestos blindly, transferring each to a clear bowl before trying. I also sampled each twice. First, plain, on a spoon and then again on a slice of baguette. Here’s what I considered:

• Flavor: This is the most important consideration. For me, prepared, store-bought pesto needs to taste like the ingredients that are used to make it. I want big basil flavor with just the right amount of garlic. The pesto should be well-seasoned, but not overly salty and should taste like pesto, not like anything else.
• Appearance/consistency: Perhaps this is a bit of personal preference, but I like my pesto to show obvious signs of the ingredients in it. Overly puréed pesto tastes dull and the lack of texture causes it to fall off instead of stick to food. Ideal pesto should also have a decent amount of oil in it so that it’s ready for tossing with hot pasta!

The Best Store-Bought Pesto, Taste Test Results

7th Place: DeLallo Simply Pesto, Traditional Basil

I’m not a fan of being completely rude about things, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. There’s nothing good about this pesto. It’s overly-puréed, so it’s super smooth. It tasted almost like nothing at first and then left an unappealing taste in my mouth afterward. I will never buy this pesto again. I’ll leave it at that.

6th Place: Alessi Pesto

This pesto was smooth, but not quite as bad as Delallo. It didn’t look appetizing either. It was on the browner side, which didn’t make me feel good about what I was about to taste. Sure enough, this pesto tasted stale. It was also super strong, almost pungent, and way too salty. I thought trying it on a piece of bread would help, but it didn’t. If I had to choose between this pesto and no pesto, I would choose no pesto.

5th Place: Racconto Traditional Basil Pesto

Unlike Delallo and Alessi, this pesto finally had some texture. It looked better than the others, but also seemed a little heavy on the oil. I tried it plain and on bread and both times, I felt like the flavor fell flat. It was just “meh,” with no real hit of garlic, basil, or anything. I personally wouldn’t buy it again, but I can see how this one might be enjoyable for someone who doesn’t like strong flavors. It’s pesto, but for people who don’t like pesto.

4th Place: Trader Joe’s Basil Pesto Sauce

I recently tried this pesto on a pizza and felt like it was decent, so I was hopeful I’d love it during this taste test. I didn’t love it, but obviously I didn’t dislike it either, so don’t freak out Trader Joe’s fans. I felt like the texture was a bit finer than I like and the coloring seemed a bit dark, which didn’t excite me. I tasted a bit of basil, but it seemed heavily salted, which made it hard to discern any other flavors. It was better on bread, which I think helped mellow it out a bit. I’d buy this one in a pinch, but use it for things where it wasn’t the main attraction, like as a sauce for pizza or stirred into mayo for a sandwich spread.

3rd Place: Bella Terra Traditional Basil Pesto

Finally, a pesto with a texture I liked! I could see the ingredients and even though it was a bit on the oily side, it wasn’t offensively so. The flavor was mild and subtle. It was good plain, but I also enjoyed it on bread. It tasted like pesto, which was so satisfying. Overall, it was tasty and definitely something I’d buy again. Since the flavor isn’t strong, it might be nice for more delicate uses like tossing with roasted potatoes or serving over cooked white fish.

2nd Place: Cento Basil Pesto Sauce

I should talk about appearance first, but I want to talk about flavor! Finally, this one had it! Big, basil flavor that was balanced with just the right amount of garlic and Parmesan. It was what good jarred pesto sauce should be. The texture was great, it had a good consistency and wasn’t overly puréed. This one is the one I’ll reach for when I want to grill or bake chicken or use as a topping for baked potatoes or other cooked vegetables.

1st Place Winner: Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto

This pesto is hands-down the best of the bunch. It also comes in the biggest container of the bunch, so if you love pesto, then this purchase will be well worth it. Kirkland’s pesto comes closest to homemade versions thanks to its coarse texture and big, bright flavor. I tasted everything in this one—fresh garlic, herby basil, and salty Parmesan! It was delicious! If you’re looking for a pesto that hits all the right flavors and textures, this is it! It’s perfect for pasta and really, anywhere you feel like using pesto.