Description
Easy Creamy Pesto Pasta is a quick and comforting dish featuring tender pasta tossed in a rich, creamy basil pesto sauce with garlic, lemon, and cream for a flavorful weeknight meal.
Ingredients
- 400g (about 14 ounces) penne or your preferred pasta
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
- 1 cup thickened cream (heavy cream)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon cooking salt (or to taste)
- Fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add the crushed garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to let it brown.
- Pour in the thickened cream and milk into the pan with the garlic, stirring to combine.
- Stir in the basil pesto, fresh lemon juice, and salt. Continue stirring until the pesto thoroughly melts into the cream mixture. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
- Once the sauce has slightly thickened, add the drained pasta directly to the skillet. Toss the pasta to ensure it’s evenly coated in the creamy pesto sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.
- Serve immediately, garnished with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Adjust salt and lemon juice to taste for a personalized flavor.
- Use homemade pesto for fresher taste, but store-bought works well for convenience.
- This recipe is best served fresh; leftovers can be reheated with a bit of milk to restore creaminess.