Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe

Try this amazing Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe! Made with just a few ingredients, this simple yet flavorful pasta is coated in delicious velvety cream sauce. This comforting dish will be perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend family gathering.

If you are looking for a new quick and easy dinner recipe, try this amazing Creamy Pesto Pasta! It’s made with a few basic ingredients, but has a lot of flavor and is coated in a delicious velvety creamy sauce.

Ingredients and Substitution

• Butter. I prefer to use unsalted butter, as it’s easier to control the amount of salt. If you decide to use salted butter, you will need to lower the amount of added salt in this recipe.
• All-purpose flour. The flour will help us to create “roux”, which will work as the thickener for the sauce. Gluten-free or almond flour will not work in this recipe.
• Milk. To make this recipe easier, I like to use just whole milk. You also can substitute it with equal parts of chicken broth and heavy cream, which will add even more flavor to the dish.
• Seasoning. For the seasoning, I add a mix of salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. To spice it up, feel free to add some red pepper flakes.
• Pesto. Basil pesto will add a delicious herby and nutty flavor to the dish. If you use a store bought one, make sure it’s made with high quality ingredients and without any preservatives.
• Parmesan cheese. Make sure to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese, as it will blend much easier than pre-grated one.
• Pasta. In this recipe, I use pipe rigate variety. Although, you can easily use any of your favorite pasta, like penne, rotini, fusilli, spaghetti, etc.
• Add-ons. Feel free to add some chicken or vegetables to this recipe.

How to make it

In a large pot, bring water to boil and generously season with salt. Cook pasta according to the instructions until al-dente. When done, drain the liquid and set the pasta aside.

Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Melt 3 tbsp butter, then add 3 tbsp all-purpose flour. Whisk it together and let it cook for about a minute or until everything is well incorporates and the mixture starts to bubble.

Add 3 cups milk, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp garlic powder.

Stir and cook on low/medium heat for about 10 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken. Make sure to stir every few minutes, so the bottom of the skillet doesn’t burn.

Then add ⅓ cup basil pesto and ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir will until combined.

When the sauce thickens and coats a spoon, add precooked pasta and fold it in. Let it cook together for a couple of minutes to bring the flavors together.

Expert Tips

• Season the pasta water. The trick to make the pasta more flavorful is to generously season the water with salt. This will help to bring up the flavors and won’t taste too bland.
• Don’t overcook the pasta. When we add pasta to the sauce, it will continue to cook and absorb the sauce. So, by cooking it to al-dente, you will get the right texture in the final dish.
• Stir the sauce. Since the sauce is creamy, it’s easy to burn it on the bottom. To avoid it, just keep stirring it every few minutes.

What to serve with Creamy Pesto Pasta

• Chicken: Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs, Cast Iron Chicken, Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast, Baked Chicken Cutlets, Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken.
• Vegetables: Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies, Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Green Beans Amandine, Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Pasta Recipes:

• Creamy Tomato Pasta Bake
• Vegetable Pasta Bake
• Creamy Vegetable Pasta
• Pink Sauce Pasta Recipe
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
• Chicken Broccoli Ziti
• Tortellini in Tomato Sauce
• Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
• Meatless Baked Ziti