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February 13, 2021Updated: February 24, 2021

Creamy Pesto Sauce

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pesto pasta

For a super easy creamy fettuccine pasta dish, add pesto to a cream sauce. You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this creamy pesto sauce, and it’s ready in about 20 minutes. It’s perfect for a quick dinner when you’re craving pasta.

photo of tongs pulling up pasta with sauce

Table of contents

  • Ingredients
  • How to Make It
  • Change It Up
  • Serve It with a Side Dish
  • More Alfredo Recipes

I’m no stranger to pasta recipes, and quick and simple pasta dishes are among my most favorite recipes on this site. And, today, a new one: creamy pesto sauce with fettuccine.

Like the others, this pesto pasta recipe is easy – 20 minutes easy. It’s basically a doctored-up Americanized Alfredo sauce, so it’s rich, creamy, and cheesy.

The pesto adds a punch of brightness that balances out the richness. It’s pretty darn good if I do say so myself.

recipe ingredients

Ingredients

  • Use a long pasta shape like fettuccine, spaghetti, bucatini, or linguini.
  • Butter and heavy cream is the sauce base.
  • Basil pesto – you can use homemade fresh basil pesto or store-bought to make it really easy.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese brings the cheesiness.
  • Fresh parsely and lemon juice adds a pop of freshness

How to Make It

You can make the pesto sauce while the pasta is boiling. It’s quick and easy!

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add the cream and whisk to combine. Once the cream is warmed up add the pesto and whisk again.

photo showing the butter and butter in the pan and a photo with the pesto added

Cook the sauce for a minute or two – don’t let it boil. Add the parsley and Parmesan cheese and stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.

You can keep the sauce on medium-low heat if you’re still waiting on the pasta to cook. Just give it a whisk every so often.

Once the fettuccine is al dente, drain it and add it to the pan with the sauce. Use tongs to toss it in the pesto cream sauce. It’s okay if a little of the pasta water transfers over with the fettuccine – it will just add to the sauce.

Add a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice, toss again, and serve. It’s best enjoyed when it’s made.

Change It Up

What I love about this recipe is that you can use any kind of pesto, so it’s easy to switch up. I’ve seen lots of different kinds available at the grocery store or you can make a homemade pesto.

  • Roasted Garlic Pesto – I love the flavor of roasted garlic in this version.
  • Spinach Parsely Pesto – A fresh and light pesto made with spinach, parsley, garlic, pine nuts, and asiago cheese.
  • Beet Tops Pesto – This a great way to use beet greens so they don’t go to waste.
  • For even more ideas browse my Pesto Recipes recipe round-up.

You can also add a protein like cooked chicken or shrimp to make it more filling. If you do, cook it before you make the sauce and then add the cooked chicken or shrimp to the sauce at the end with the pasta.

Or, to make it really easy – just toss in some shredded rotisserie chicken at the end.

Serve It with a Side Dish

Because its so rich, this recipe makes four servings on the smaller side. So, adding a side dish is a good idea.

  • I love some carbs on carbs so some crusty bread is always good.
  • Or, keep things light with a tossed salad with a tangy dressing.
  • Add a veggie like roasted broccoli, sautĆ©ed green beans, or roasted zucchini.

Or skip the side and treat yourself to a double serving. Just an idea.

fettuccine added to the pan with the sauce

So simple and so delicious. I hope you give this creamy pesto sauce a try!

Happy Cooking,

fettuccine and pesto sauce in a pan

More Alfredo Recipes

If you like this creamy pesto Alfredo, you need to try some of my other favorite pasta sauce recipes, too:

  • Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo | A rich and creamy roasted red pepper pasta – the sauce is made with just five simple ingredients!
  • Fettuccine Alfredo | This a classic and ready in 15 minutes.
  • Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo |You’re only five ingredients away from this comforting pasta dish. Plus, it takes less than 30 minutes to go from pan to plate.
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Creamy Pesto Sauce

creamy pesto sauce
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★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this creamy pesto sauce, and it’s ready in about 20 minutes. It’s perfect for a quick dinner when you’re craving pasta.

  • Author: April Anderson
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces fettuccine
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup pesto
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoon chopped parsley
  • Juice of a half lemon
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Boil the pasta according to package instructions.
  2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter over medium heat in a large pan. Add the cream and whisk the two together.
  3. Add the pesto and lemon zest and whisk to combine. Cook the sauce (don’t let it boil) for a couple of minutes before adding the Parmesan cheese and parsley. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.
  4. Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat it in the sauce. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top, toss again, and serve.

Notes

Pesto: Use your favorite homemade pesto or store-bought to make it really easy.

Salt: I don’t add salt because the cheese and pesto have plenty, but you might want to add more once the sauce is made. Give it a taste before you add the pasta.

Protein: Add cooked shrimp or chicken at the end to make it more filling.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
  • Calories: 553
  • Sugar: 2.5g
  • Sodium: 248.7mg
  • Fat: 37.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 19.9g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 15g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2g
  • Carbohydrates: 44.5g
  • Fiber: 2.2g
  • Protein: 10.8g
  • Cholesterol: 81.6mg

Keywords: pesto alfredo, pesto cream sauce, pesto pasta recipe

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5 Comments

About April Anderson

I’m a passionate home cook, cookbook author, recipe developer, freelance writer, food photographer, and dog mom ā¤ I garnish (almost) everything with parsley and believe you can make deliciously amazing dishes with everyday ingredients.

« SautĆ©ed Green Beans
Easy Pasta Sauce »

Comments

  1. christina says

    July 26, 2022 at 4:41 pm

    this looks awesome! if you used store bought pesto, which one do you recommend?

    Reply
    • April Anderson says

      July 27, 2022 at 12:47 pm

      I don’t have a specific brand recommendation, but definitely use a refrigerated pesto and not one that is shelf stable.

      Reply
  2. Johnny says

    March 27, 2022 at 9:09 pm

    This is fantastic!!!! My daughter and I found this recipe and it was awesome!! Quick, easy and our family of seven loved it!!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • April Anderson says

      March 28, 2022 at 12:06 pm

      So glad you all enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Joe says

    February 14, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    Great sounding recipe April. I’m making this really soon.

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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