Looking for a simple restaurant quality meal you can make at home, this easy creamy pest pasta recipe has got your name written all over it. Everyone would wipe their plate clean with this pasta dish. It is incredibly good and super easy to make!!!
Easy creamy pesto pasta recipe
I knew I had to recreate this dish after I tried it on my friend's plate on our last holiday. Pesto pasta is a humble dish yet packed with a punch of flavor, the sauce is creamy, rich, indulgent, and guaranteed to satisfy your cravings. With its perfect blend of savory and creamy flavors, this dish is the perfect comfort food for any night of the week or special occasion.
Not only is this recipe delicious, but it is also quick and easy and it literally takes 20-30 minutes to make from start to finish. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have a restaurant-quality meal in the comfort of your own home.
My homemade basil pesto sauce is only 5 minutes tops to make and maybe 7 minutes if you toast the pinenuts. The creamy sauce will be ready in an estimated time of 10 minutes and which is about the same time to cook the spaghetti to perfection until al dente. This recipe is amazing, I can't sell it enough for you and I just hope you get to try it out ASAP!
You will love the versatility of this crowd-pleasing pasta dish, you can swap basil pesto for any other pesto of choice. You can even throw in some protein such as shrimp (my absolute favorite), chicken, or tofu.
Related recipes: pesto butter, pesto butter salmon, baked basil pesto chicken, and Tortellini pesto salad.
What you will need
To make this super easy and delicious creamy pesto pasta, you will need the following handful of ingredients.
Spaghetti: honestly, any type of pasta would work for this recipe, I love it with penne pasta, farfalle, and many more. Basically, any pasta shape that can hold the sauce would work for you here.
Garlic
Butter
Low sodium chicken stock: sub with vegetable stock or broth.
Basil pesto sauce: this recipe is best made with homemade pesto sauce using fresh ingredients. However, if you cant spare five minutes to make your own then use any preferred storebought one
Single cream: You don't need double cream for this recipe as it may become too rich, single cream (half and half) will work just fine and give you the same result with less guilt on your hips.
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh basil to garnish
How to make creamy pesto pasta
This recipe is as simple as it can get, make the pesto sauce, make the creamy sauce, and toss in the perfectly cooked pasta. Here is my simple step-by-step guide, lets's get cooking
Make the basil pesto sauce: in a food processor add basil, garlic, pinenuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and black pepper and pulse until it's all combined. Set aside
Boil the spaghetti: boil a large pot of salted water. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, following the package instructions, also reserve some pasta water. Drain and set aside. While the pasta is cooking, proceed to make the sauce.
Make the creamy sauce: in a medium skillet, add butter and heat over medium heat until melted, add chopped garlic, and saute for about a minute stirring occasionally until soft and slightly golden. Then pour in single cream, and chicken stock, season with salt and black pepper to taste, stir everything together, and bring to a gentle simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the pesto sauce and continue to simmer for another 3-5 minutes. Add the drained pasta, stir, or toss to combine. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly. If the sauce is too thick, add some pasta water accordingly to lighten it to your preference.
Take the skillet off the heat and serve the pasta immediately with any protein like this air fryer turkey steak, a side of garlic bread, bacon bits, or salad. Enjoy
How to store and reheat
You can store this creamy pesto pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, simply microwave for about 1 minute or until the desired temperature is reached. Alternatively, you could also heat stirring occasionally on the stovetop over medium heat until hot all the way through. Note, you may need to add a splash of water, milk, or broth if it has thickened too much.
Watch how to make it
Tips
Here are some tips to help you make the most out of this creamy spaghetti recipe:
- To get the best flavor, make sure to use fresh ingredients, especially for the pesto, remember it is the star of the dish.
- Cook the spaghetti al dente: Cook the spaghetti until it is al dente, which means it is cooked but still firm to the bite. This will prevent it from becoming mushy/soggy when mixed with the sauce.
- Use a low heat: When making the creamy sauce, use a low heat to prevent the cream from curdling.
- Use any flavor of pesto you like, you can make pesto out of any herbs so this is your time to be you and shine through using your preferred pesto making a meal that will surely impress others.
More creamy pasta recipes you should try next
Creamy chicken and chorizo pasta
Easy Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 300 g spaghetti
- 3 garlic cloves sliced
- 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¾ cup basil pesto sauce
- ½ cup chicken stock
- 1 Cup single cream
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil and parmesan cheese to garnish
Instructions
- Make the basil pesto sauce: in a food processor add basil, garlic, pinenuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt, and black pepper and pulse until it's all combined. Set aside
- Boil the spaghetti: boil a large pot of salted water. Add spaghetti and cook until al dente, following the package instructions, also reserve some pasta water. Drain and set aside. While the pasta is cooking, proceed to make the sauce.
- Make the creamy sauce: in a medium skillet, add butter and heat over medium heat until melted, add chopped garlic, and saute for about a minute stirring occasionally until soft and slightly golden. Then pour in single cream, season with salt and black pepper to taste, stir everything together, and bring to a gentle simmer for about 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the pesto sauce and continue to simmer for another 3-5 minutes. Add the drained pasta, stir, or toss to combine. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust accordingly. If the sauce is too thick, add some pasta water accordingly to lighten it to your preference.
- Take it off the heat and serve the pasta immediately with any protein of choice with a side of garlic bread, bacon bits, or salad. Enjoy
Notes
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- ½ cup pinenuts toasted (optional)
- 2 large garlic cloves
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ cup olive oil substitute with extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
So there you have it, another easy and delicious creamy pasta dinner recipe that the whole family will love. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
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