Creamy Pesto Pasta (Printable)
Luscious pasta with fresh basil pesto and rich creamy sauce, ready in 30 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 14 oz penne or fettuccine
02 - Salt for pasta water
→ Creamy Pesto Sauce
03 - 1 cup heavy cream
04 - 1/2 cup whole milk
05 - 3/4 cup basil pesto
06 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Garnish
10 - Extra Parmesan cheese for serving
11 - Fresh basil leaves for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
02 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Pour in heavy cream and milk, stirring to combine. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
04 - Add basil pesto and Parmesan cheese. Stir until sauce is smooth and heated through. Season with black pepper.
05 - Add drained pasta to skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until sauce reaches desired creaminess.
06 - Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want something special but dont have hours to spend cooking
- The combination of homemade style sauce and fresh pesto tastes like something from an Italian restaurant, yet its surprisingly simple
02 -
- Saving pasta water is non-negotiable because the starch helps bind the sauce to the pasta instead of leaving it slippery and separated
- The sauce thickens quickly as it cools, so serve immediately or have a splash more milk ready to loosen it up
03 -
- Warm your cream slightly before adding it to the hot pan to prevent any curdling or seizing
- Grate your Parmesan from a wedge if you can find it, the flavor difference is remarkable