This 15-minute Pesto Pasta is creamy, comforting, and ultra-satisfying! A super easy pesto cream sauce is made with only 4 ingredients, before being tossed with your pasta of choice. The herby and creamy flavors make this a vegetarian dinner that the whole family will love!
Looking for more easy pasta recipes? Try my Broccoli Pasta next!
About This Recipe
This creamy pesto pasta is one of those pasta recipes that takes less time to cook than the pasta itself. The sauce is made simply by simmering basil pesto, cream, olive oil, and some leftover pasta water. It's finished with some fresh lemon juice for brightness, and feel free to grate on some Parmesan cheese as well.
I think this was the easiest recipe I've made in at least a few months. It's because most of the flavor comes from pesto sauce, so make sure you get a good-quality one. If you've been following my blog this week, you know I made my own batch of pesto from the basil plants in my wife's garden. Go check out my homemade pesto recipe if you haven't already.
The type of pasta you use is totally up to your preference. I personally love short pasta shapes because they cling to the sauce really well, but spaghetti or linguine tastes great as well. You could each use filled pasta like ravioli or tortellini. Gnocchi would also be amazing.
This recipe is great for family dinners, quick lunches, or even as part of your weekly meal prep.
Key Ingredients
Pasta: As I said earlier, the recipe will work with whatever pasta shape you want. I typically use rotini or fusilli, and the sauce clings to them very well. Spaghetti, linguine, bowtie, gnocchi, tortellini, and ravioli are all great options.
Olive oil: Just a bit to help create a silkier sauce.
Pesto: A good-quality pesto is a must here since it forms the base of the sauce. Homemade is the best.
Heavy cream: Gives the sauce that luxurious creamy quality.
Lemon juice: Creamy sauces and lemon juice are best pals. Lemon juice helps brighten up all the rich flavors, so the meal doesn't feel too heavy.
Instructions
STEP 1: Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain.
STEP 2: Add the olive oil, pesto, cream, and ½ cup of pasta water to a large skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until it thickens to your liking. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water to thin it out.
STEP 3: Add the cooked pasta and lemon juice to the pan. Toss until combined. Enjoy!
Creamy Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta (any type or shape)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup pesto (homemade recipe)
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain.
- Add the olive oil, pesto, cream, and ½ cup of pasta water to a large skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until it thickens to your liking. If the sauce is too thick, add more pasta water to thin it out.
- Add the cooked pasta and lemon juice to the pan. Toss until combined. Enjoy!
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