Pesto Pasta Recipe

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Pesto Pasta is quick, easy, and bursting with flavor! In under 20 minutes and with just a handful of ingredients, you’ve got a dish that tastes straight out of a restaurant.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: Healthy, Italian, Vegetarian

Keyword: pesto pasta

Servings: servings

Author: Chelsea Lords

Cost: $6.12

Equipment

Large pot

Ingredients

1 cup basil pesto packaged or homemade—see note 1
16 ounces penne pasta plus pasta cooking water
Salt and pepper
Fresh lemons optional but recommended
Parmesan cheese optional but recommended

US - Metric

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling, add 1 tbsp salt. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Before draining, scoop out and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain pasta, shake off excess water, but do not rinse under cold water.
Meanwhile, prepare pesto if making homemade. Measure out 1 full cup and add to a large ceramic/glass bowl (do not return to the hot pot—the pesto could brown). Once pasta is cooked and drained, dump it on the pesto in the bowl. Drizzle on 1/2 cup pasta cooking water and use tongs to toss the pasta in the pesto. Continue to toss until the pasta is evenly coated. Add more pasta water if needed to make it cohesive and creamy.
Season to taste with salt and pepper; serve immediately topped with Parmesan cheese. I like to get a block of Parmesan and grate it finely with a fine grater. Lots of lemon on top is also delicious! Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Note 1: To make sure your pesto pasta is bursting with flavor, use a high-quality pesto. You can make your own pesto, and if you choose that option, you've got to try this pesto recipe (it's the best I've ever tried!).

But—if you’re looking to save some time, I recommend a refrigerated, freshly-made basil pesto from your grocery store. Look for it near the refrigerated fresh pasta and gourmet cheese. Rana's® Basil Pesto is hands-down my fave.

Storage: Keep leftover Pesto Pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. When reheating, warm pasta on low heat in a skillet and gradually add water to the sauce until the desired consistency is reached. Or reheat in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. Add more salt if needed, and consider squeezing fresh lemon juice for extra flavor.

Nutrition