This easy, creamy Pesto Mayo Sauce combines mayo, pesto, and lemon juice to give you an addictively delicious condiment to spread on a sandwich, drizzle on a salad, and more!
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Pesto is a perfect sauce as-is. Herby, savory, nutty, and cheesy—what’s not to love? The only way you could possibly make it better is to stir it into mayonnaise to create this addictive Pesto Mayo Sauce!
I’m a firm believer that the right sauce is the key to transforming everyday dishes into mouthwatering meals, which is why I’ll always make room in my fridge for pesto mayo. It’s delicious on almost anything, from sandwiches to grilled veggies to pizza to salads. And when it’s my turn to host the party, I’ll make sure to serve it with crostini, green bean fries, or French bread pizza for dipping.
Last but not least, this 3-ingredient sauce is a breeze to customize to suit your taste. Want extra heat? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes. Prefer a different pesto? Use your favorite kind! Whatever you like, I can’t encourage you enough to make this super simple sauce and keep it in your fridge at all times.
If you love pesto as much as I do, make sure you check out these 30+ Creative Ways To Use Pesto, too!
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise – We, of course, need mayo for the rich and smooth base of the sauce. Or, if mayo isn’t your thing, substitute Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter flavor and boost of protein or vegan-friendly mayonnaise for egg-free pesto mayo.
- Pesto – Pesto sauce gives this creamy dipping sauce an herbaceous, garlicky, and savory flavor. You have a few options here: (1) stick with basil pesto for a classic Italian flavor; (2) use kale pesto, arugula pesto, carrot top pesto or broccoli walnut pesto for extra nutrition; or (3) use sun dried tomato pesto for an extra savory twist.
- Lemon juice – Some freshly squeezed lemon juice balances the flavors and adds a bright and tangy contrast.
How to make pesto mayo
Add the mayo, pesto sauce, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to a small mixing bowl.
Whisk the ingredients together until thoroughly combined and smooth. Serve it right away with your favorite meals or keep it in the fridge for later.
Tips and tricks
- Feel free to adjust the amount of pesto to suit your taste buds. Start with two tablespoons, then add more if you’re craving a bolder basil pesto flavor.
- Instead of whisking by hand, blend the mayo, pesto, and lemon juice in a small food processor or blender for an ultra-smooth, airy, and luxurious consistency.
- Let the pesto mayo sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld and intensify.
- Is the sauce too thick? Whisk in a small amount of water until it’s thinned to your liking. Or, if it’s too thin, add more mayo to thicken it.
Ways to use pesto mayo
This versatile condiment is a must-have in your fridge at all times because it’s delicious on everything, like:
- Sandwiches and wraps: Spread it on your bread of choice before layering deli meats, roasted veggies, and cheese on top. Or, spread it on the outside of your grilled cheese before frying to make the bread extra crispy and flavorful.
- Finishing sauce: Brush it onto smoked burgers, chicken breasts, salmon filets, or pork chops during the last few minutes of cooking, or drizzle it over a homemade pizza for extra gourmet goodness.
- Summer salads: Use it as the creamy, flavorful dressing for your favorite warm-weather salad recipes—think potato salad, chicken salad, macaroni salad, and pasta salad.
- Dipping sauce: Serve the sauce with carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, cucumber slices, and other crudités for dipping; with fresh naan, pita chips, or pasta chips for a satisfying snack; or on the side of pizza, chicken tenders, shoestring fries, zucchini fries, falafel, and toasted ravioli.
- Cooked vegetables: Drizzle the sauce over smashed potatoes, hasselback potatoes, air fryer sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, blanched asparagus, eggplant, or zucchini.
Storing and freezing
The leftover basil pesto mayo can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 5 to 7 days. It also freezes well for about 1 month. Place the leftovers in the fridge to thaw overnight, then give it a really good stir before serving.
More creamy homemade sauces to try
Did you make pesto mayo sauce?
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Full Recipe
Pesto Mayo
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 – 3 Tablespoons pesto
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Stir to combine.
- Enjoy.
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