Creamy Pesto Pasta
on Sep 08, 2023
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This is a perfect dinner to make for your whole family! For me, the less time it takes to make the dinner, the better. This dinner is perfect, because it hardly has any cook time! In this recipe, I use my spinach pesto which adds a good dose of veggies as well! I hope you love this dinner as much as I do!
What You Will Need:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 10 oz pasta of your choice
- Salt to taste
- Mozzarella balls
How To Make
- Boil the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add your pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until it reaches your desired level of doneness. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent sticking. When it’s done, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Heat Olive Oil and Pesto: In a large skillet or saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the pesto and sauté it for about 2 minutes. This will help release the aromatic flavors of the pesto and infuse them into the sauce.
- Add Heavy Whipping Cream: After sautéing the pesto, pour in the heavy whipping cream. Stir well to combine the pesto and cream. Allow the mixture to heat through for another 2 minutes, but be careful not to let it come to a boil. We want it creamy, not curdled!
- Season with Salt: Don’t forget this essential step! Taste your sauce and add salt as needed to suit your palate. The salt will enhance the flavors and balance the richness of the cream and pesto.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Once your creamy pesto sauce is perfectly seasoned, add the drained pasta to the skillet. Gently toss the pasta in the sauce until it’s well coated. The pasta will soak up all the creamy goodness, making every bite delicious.
- Garnish and Serve: For an extra special touch, you can garnish your Creamy Pesto Pasta with mozzarella balls. These little bursts of cheesy goodness not only add flavor but also make your dish look restaurant-worthy.
- Enjoy! Your Creamy Pesto Pasta is now ready to be enjoyed. Serve it hot, perhaps with a side of garlic bread or a crisp green salad. Your family will be coming back for seconds, guaranteed!
What Pesto Should I Use?
You can use any store bought or homemade pesto! My favorite pesto of all time to use, and the one I used in this recipe is my spinach pesto. It is SUPER easy to make and adds a ton of spinach to the meal which is a big plus when you are cooking for a toddler. You can find my spinach pesto recipe here!
Storage
You can store this creamy pesto pasta in the fridge for 3-4 days! If you want to freeze, you can freeze for up to 3 months.
Creamy Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup pesto
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 10 oz pasta
- salt to taste
- mozzarella balls
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to the instructions on the package.
- Heat olive oil and pesto over medium heat for about 2 minutes.
- Add heavy whipping cream and heat for 2 more minutes.
- Salt to taste. Don't skip this step, it makes a big difference!
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and mix well. Top with mozzarella balls.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
