Quick Answer: Our top pick for pesto on a charcuterie board is Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto (4.7 out of 5). Shelf-stable: DeLallo Simply Pesto Traditional Basil. Budget: Good & Gather Basil Pesto. We ranked 7 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
A spoonful of pesto turns burrata, fresh mozzarella and crostini into an Italian board. The fresh, refrigerated tubs win almost every taste test, but a good shelf-stable jar is handy to keep in the pantry. These rankings combine Sporked's 40-plus pesto test with Tasting Table's and Daily Meal's rankings.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked October 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 |
| Best shelf-stable: DeLallo Simply Pesto Traditional Basil ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
| Best budget: Good & Gather Basil Pesto ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto ($) | ★★★★½ 4.7 | Fresh-tasting pesto |
| 2. Buitoni Pesto with Basil ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | Chunky pesto for spooning |
| 3. DeLallo Simply Pesto Traditional Basil ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | A pantry jar |
| 4. Good & Gather Basil Pesto ($) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Budget boards |
| 5. Nuovo Pasta Classic Basil Genovese Pesto ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | Restaurant-style flavor |
| 6. Gotham Greens Classic Pesto ($$) | ★★★★☆ 3.9 | Short ingredient list |
| 7. Seggiano Fresh Genovese Basil Pesto ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | A splurge jar |
1. Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto
★★★★½ 4.7 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: Fresh-tasting pesto · $ budget
Top of two tests. Sporked named it the best of the best with 10 out of 10: rich, cheesy and earthy, with good olive oil and D.O.P. Genovese basil. Daily Meal ranked it first of 12 as "unbelievably fresh."
- Why we like it: Tastes homemade, at a low price per ounce.
- Keep in mind: A large jar, and it's refrigerated. Freeze what you won't use.
- Where to buy: Costco (refrigerated case).
2. Buitoni Pesto with Basil
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best for: Chunky pesto for spooning · $$ mid-range
Refrigerated. Sporked gave it 9.5 out of 10 as the best thick pesto: chunky and not too oily.
- Why we like it: Thick enough to spoon onto burrata without running.
- Keep in mind: A small tub for the price.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores, in the refrigerated pasta case.
3. DeLallo Simply Pesto Traditional Basil
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best shelf-stable · Best for: A pantry jar · $ budget
Tasting Table's top jarred pesto, with simple, high-quality ingredients at a fair price.
- Why we like it: The best shelf-stable pesto in a published test.
- Keep in mind: Jarred pesto is never quite as bright as fresh.
- Where to buy: Grocery stores and Italian aisles.
4. Good & Gather Basil Pesto
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best budget · Best for: Budget boards · $ budget
Sporked gave it 9 out of 10 as the best budget pesto: affordable, fresh and well balanced.
- Why we like it: Cheap and good.
- Keep in mind: Only at Target.
- Where to buy: Target.
5. Nuovo Pasta Classic Basil Genovese Pesto
★★★★☆ 4.0 out of 5 · Best for: Restaurant-style flavor · $$ mid-range
Refrigerated. Sporked's runner-up with 10 out of 10: very fresh, salty and garlicky, "restaurant quality."
- Why we like it: Bold, fresh flavor.
- Keep in mind: Strong garlic and salt.
- Where to buy: Grocery refrigerated pasta cases.
6. Gotham Greens Classic Pesto
★★★★☆ 3.9 out of 5 · Best for: Short ingredient list · $$ mid-range
Refrigerated, with six simple ingredients and no fillers. Daily Meal ranked it 2nd of 12.
- Why we like it: Clean and fresh.
- Keep in mind: Less widely stocked.
- Where to buy: Whole Foods and other grocers.
7. Seggiano Fresh Genovese Basil Pesto
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: A splurge jar · $$$ premium
Tasting Table's runner-up: unpasteurized, with no stabilizers, and the most expensive brand it tested. It has no cheese, so it's vegan. Sporked scored it 8.5 out of 10 for its cashew-forward flavor.
- Why we like it: Pure ingredients, and vegan.
- Keep in mind: Expensive, and no cheese.
- Where to buy: Specialty grocers and online.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4.7 |
| Buitoni Pesto with Basil | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 |
| DeLallo Simply Pesto Traditional Basil | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Good & Gather Basil Pesto | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4.2 |
| Nuovo Pasta Classic Basil Genovese Pesto | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4.0 |
| Gotham Greens Classic Pesto | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3.9 |
| Seggiano Fresh Genovese Basil Pesto | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.5 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Look for basil, extra virgin olive oil, cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano or Pecorino) and pine nuts near the top. Sunflower or soybean oil, potato and sugar are signs of a filler-heavy pesto. Check for nuts if you have allergy guests: many pestos use cashews.
Skip: Pesto as the only spread. It's oily and strong, so pair it with fresh mozzarella or burrata rather than with cheddar or blue.
Serving it: spoon pesto over burrata or a log of fresh goat cheese, or put it in a small bowl with crostini. Keep refrigerated pesto cold until shortly before serving.
For what pesto pairs with and how to serve it, see the pesto guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Pesto questions
What is the best store-bought pesto?
Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto from Costco. Sporked gave it 10 out of 10 and Daily Meal ranked it first of 12.
Is refrigerated pesto better than jarred?
Usually. The refrigerated tubs (Kirkland, Buitoni, Nuovo) won most tests. DeLallo is the best jarred pick.
Is pesto nut-free?
Not usually. Most contain pine nuts or cashews. Classico Traditional is made without nuts.
What goes with pesto on a charcuterie board?
Burrata, fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, prosciutto and crostini.
Sources
- Sporked: The Best Store Bought Pesto, Ranked
- Tasting Table: 11 Store-Bought Jarred Pesto Brands, Ranked
- Daily Meal: 12 Store-Bought Pestos, Ranked Worst To Best
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