Luca-Inspired Trenette al Pesto Recipe

Easy Trenette al Pesto recipe inspired by Disney Pixar’s Luca! Made with fresh basil, potatoes, and green beans. A comforting Italian dinner the whole family will love.

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Luca-Inspired Trenette al Pesto Recipe

If you’ve watched Disney Pixar’s Luca, you probably remember that mouthwatering scene where Giulia brings out a big bowl of Trenette al Pesto for Luca and Alberto. It looked so fresh, so comforting, and so full of Italian summer magic — I had to recreate it!

This is an easy-to-make pasta recipe that feels like a warm hug from the Italian Riviera. Made with fresh basil, green beans, gold potatoes, and a rich parmesan pesto sauce, it’s the perfect dinner idea for Disney fans, pasta lovers, and anyone craving a cozy, no-fuss meal.

🍽️ Serves: 4

🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes

🔥 Cook Time: 30 minutes

• 3 cups fresh basil leaves

• 2 tablespoons minced garlic

• ½ cup fresh parmesan

• ½ cup Locatelli pecorino romano

• ⅓ cup pine nuts (optional – skip if allergic!)

• 3 gold potatoes, peeled and diced

• 2½ cups fresh green beans, ends trimmed

• 1 lb trenette pasta (linguine works just fine too!)

• 2 teaspoons salt

• ½ cup olive oil + 1 tablespoon

• In a large pasta pot, bring water to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

• Once boiling, add your diced potatoes and cook for about 4 minutes.

• Add in the trenette pasta (or linguine). Cook for 8 minutes, then stir in the fresh green beans.

• Continue cooking until the pasta is al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water, then drain the rest and set the pasta mixture aside.

• In a food processor (or go traditional with a mortar and pestle!), blend together:

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • Fresh basil

  • Garlic

  • Parmesan and pecorino

  • Pine nuts (if using)

  • ½ cup olive oil

• Blend until smooth. If the pesto is too thick, add a little more olive oil.

• In a large serving bowl, add 1/3 cup pasta water and a few heaping spoonfuls of your homemade pesto.

• Toss in the pasta, potatoes, and green beans. Mix well to coat everything in that beautiful green sauce.

• Serve warm and enjoy!

If you haven’t seen Luca yet, it’s one of the most heartwarming animated films in recent Disney history. Set in the colorful seaside town of Portorosso, the movie follows Luca, a young sea monster who experiences life on land for the first time. With his best friend Alberto, they dream of adventure, Vespas, and bowls of pesto pasta.

This recipe is inspired by the exact dish served in the movie, and it totally captures the warm, nostalgic, small-town Italy feel that made Luca so magical.

Can I use store-bought pesto?
Yes, but fresh homemade pesto really makes a difference in flavor!

Is there a nut-free version?
Absolutely. Just leave out the pine nuts — the cheese and basil still shine.

Can I use a different pasta?
Yes! Linguine or fettuccine are great substitutes if you can't find trenette.

If you’re short on time, prep the pesto ahead and store it in the fridge! It keeps beautifully for up to 3 days and makes a magical spread on crusty bread too.

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