Creamy Pesto Pasta (Printable)
Luscious pasta with fresh basil pesto and rich cream sauce
# What You 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 (store-bought or homemade)
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 instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
02 - Meanwhile, 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. Let simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
04 - Add basil pesto and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the sauce is smooth and heated through. Season with black pepper.
05 - Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired creaminess.
06 - Serve immediately, topped with extra Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The sauce comes together faster than you can boil water, making it perfect for those nights when takeout feels like the only option
- Something magical happens when pesto meets cream, it transforms into the kind of rich restaurant quality sauce that makes people think you spent hours simmering
02 -
- I once forgot to save pasta water and tried using regular tap water instead, which thinned the sauce into something sad and watery, so do not be like me
- The sauce will look too thick at first, but keep adding that starchy water slowly, it will transform into something velvety and perfect
03 -
- Low heat is your friend when working with cream, high heat can cause it to separate into an unappetizing mess
- If the sauce looks grainy, keep whisking vigorously off the heat, it usually comes back together beautifully