A great pesto pasta can pack in a lot of calories, mainly from the olive oil used. While olive oil is a very healthy oil, it can sometimes hinder weight loss because of its excessive calories. This is my favorite pesto recipe that I eat probably once a week for dinner or lunch. It’s very low calorie and is totally fat free. Instead of using olive oil, we can save a LOT of calories, simply by replacing the oil with almost zero calorie low-sodium chicken broth. The intense, delicious flavor is still present and you don’t have to feel guilty about the calories with this recipe. Perfect for lunch or as a side dish for dinner!

The health benefits of pesto are great; basil is great for healthy skin and intestinal issues.

This recipe is approximately 185 calories per serving and is fat free.

Here is my recipe for sun dried tomatoes pesto (low-calorie version!)

Ingredients:

• ½ cup of cooked pasta (I recommend whole wheat)
• 1 cup of sliced zucchini
• 2 Tbsp of chopped sun-dried tomatoes (NOT the kind packed in oil)
• ¼ cup  of fresh basil leaves
• 1 tsp of minced garlic
• ¼ tsp of onion powder
• 2-3 tbsp of low sodium chicken broth
• 1 tsp of fat-free parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. In a food processor or blender, combine the fresh basil leaves, garlic powder and onion powder and puree.
2. Add your zucchini, chicken broth and cheese to the mixture.
3. Puree.
4. If necessary, add more chicken broth to create a better sauce consistency.
5. Heat the sauce in the microwave.
6. Pour over your cooked pasta and vegetables. (Sliced carrots, zucchini, artichokes, etc. your choice!)
7. Sprinkle  chopped sun-dried tomatoes on top.
8. Enjoy!

Variations and notes:

• For even lower calories, forgo the pasta and just use sliced zucchini and carrots.
• For a great dinner, grill and slice a chicken breast and serve on top of the pasta.
• Not in the mood for pasta or veggies? Simply make the pesto and serve on grilled, toasted whole wheat bread for an awesome snack or accompaniment to any meal.

More Low Calorie Pasta Recipes

Crispy Pasta Recipe

Low-Fat Stuffed Shells Recipe

Submit Your Own Recipes

I hope you enjoyed my sun dried tomatoes pesto recipe. Have a low calorie recipe for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, dessert, etc that you’d like to share? Send in your original recipe to lowcalorieideas@gmail.com and I’ll post it and give you credit. I’ll post your first name only (no e-mail or last name) and if you provide it, your location.

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