My family loves pesto, it’s always a winning flavor in our house. This creamy pesto pasta is a new take on a classic recipe and has been a favorite weeknight dinner. We add a splash of heavy cream and butter to add a little bit of saucy richness that makes every bite taste restaurant-quality.
We love to serve this pesto pasta with a side salad as a quick 15 minute dinner, or bring it as a side dish to a potluck or neighborhood gathering. It’s great served with easy baked salmon and stovetop steak as protein options too for a more filling meal.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- 15-minute pasta recipe. This truly is a 15-minute recipe from start to finish when you use store-bought or pre-prepared pesto.
- Affordable recipe for the whole family. With just a handful of approachable ingredients, this is a lunch or dinner recipe that won’t break the bank.
- Versatile to pair with all different side dishes and proteins. You can make this pasta a main course or serve it as a side dish. Regardless, we always find it’s a crowd-pleaser.
Tips for Busy Cooks
This creamy pesto pasta works so well with all different proteins. We’ve added shredded rotisserie chicken, salmon, shrimp, and even steak for a comforting, hearty meal.
Key Ingredient Notes
- Short pasta – We recommend using a short noodle with ridges to help adhere the sauce better.
- Butter adds richness to every bite.
- Basil pesto – You can use our homemade pesto recipe or buy a store-bought pesto for ease.
- Heavy cream – The ingredient responsible for making this a creamy pasta recipe. A little bit goes a long way.
- Fresh lemon zest adds brightness to every bite.
- Grated parmesan cheese – We all love parm on top of our pasta to finish as a salty bite.
How to make creamy pesto pasta
Step 1: Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta cooking water.
Step 2: Drain the pasta, then mix in butter, pesto, heavy cream, and lemon zest. Toss to combine.
Step 3: Stir in fresh Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Reserve some of the starchy pasta cooking liquid to help bind the sauce. This helps the pesto adhere to the noodles to make them extra flavorful.
- Make homemade pesto or use a high-quality storebought brand to save on time. Both work well, we love to make our homemade pesto and then freeze it in an ice cube tray for an easy weeknight meal.
- Swap the heavy cream for half and half as a lighter option. It will still be rich in flavor but a little bit lighter overall.
- It’s best to grate the Parmesan cheese fresh. It has the best flavor and texture this way.
What to serve with creamy pesto pasta
Whether it’s a main course or a side dish, this is a pasta recipe that’s so versatile on any menu. Here are some dishes we’ve served it with in the past:
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of hot water to loosen the sauce and heat through.
We don’t recommend freezing the pasta as it will change the texture once it thaws.
If you want to prep this creamy pesto pasta in advance, you can make the pesto from scratch and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. This makes weeknight meal prep time about 5 minutes.
FAQs
Yes, that’s how we make our pesto pasta creamy both in texture and flavor.
You want to make sure you stir in the pesto with the noodles off of the heat. If the pesto is heated, then it will turn brown.
Yes, that’s what we use in our recipe, but you can also use homemade pesto as well. This pasta is also delicious with sun-dried tomato pesto.
More easy pasta recipes
- Pasta with mussels
- Creamy white wine scallops pasta
- Intant Pot chicken alfredo pasta
- Chicken sausage and pasta recipe
Creamy Pesto Pasta (One Pot)
Ingredients
- 1 lb short pasta Note 1
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup basil pesto Note 2
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
- Grated parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta cooking water.
- Drain the pasta, then mix in butter, pesto, heavy cream, and lemon zest. Toss to combine.
- Top with fresh Parmesan cheese and enjoy!
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Notes
Storing Tips:
– Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of hot water to loosen the sauce and heat through.
– We don’t recommend freezing the pasta as it will change the texture once it thaws.
– If you want to prep this creamy pesto pasta in advance, you can make the pesto from scratch and keep it covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. This makes weeknight meal prep time about 5 minutes.
Nutrition
* Disclaimer: All nutrition information are estimates only. Read full nutrition disclosure.
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