How Much Sugar Is in Pesto?
0.25 cup of pesto has about 2 g of sugar, most of it added during processing rather than naturally occurring.
in 0.25 cup · about 0.5 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 2 g
- Per 100 g
- 2.6 g
- Type
- Added sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 0.5 tsp
An easy fit for a low-sugar day.
Pesto carries roughly 2 g of sugar per 0.25 cup, which works out to about 2.6 g per 100 g. That places it in the 'low' band for a typical serving.
Because this sugar is added during processing, it digests quickly with nothing to slow it down — check the ingredient label if you want to see exactly which sweeteners are used.
How pesto compares
Out of 205 everyday foods and drinks we track, pesto ranks #171 for sugar per serving — more than 17% of them.
- Oat Milk2g
- Soy Sauce2g
- Pesto (this page)2g
- Balsamic Vinegar2g
- Corn Flakes2g
Bars show sugar per serving. Tap any food to see its full breakdown.
Lower-sugar swaps
- This is already a moderate-to-low sugar choice for its category
Frequently asked questions
- Is the sugar in pesto natural or added?
- Most of it is added during processing, not naturally occurring in the base ingredients.
More foods
Learn more
Sugar values from USDA FoodData Central; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-30.