Creamy Pesto Sauce

You only need a handful of simple ingredients for this Creamy Pesto Sauce, and it’s ready in about 20 minutes. It’s an easy sauce recipe when you’re craving pasta for dinner.

I love easy recipes, and quick and simple pasta dishes are among my favorite recipes on this site. And today, I have a super easy sauce recipe for you: creamy pesto sauce. It’s perfect with pasta.

Like the others, this pesto sauce recipe is easy – 20 minutes easy, plus it’s so 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.

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 parsley and lemon juice add a pop of freshness. You could also garnish with some chopped fresh basil leaves.

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.

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 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.

Variations

I love this recipe because 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 homemade pesto.

• Roasted Garlic Pesto – I love the flavor of roasted garlic in this version.
• Spinach Parsley 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.

Side Dish Ideas

Because it’s 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 or garlic toast is always good.
• Or, keep things light with a tossed salad with a tangy dressing.
• Add veggies like roasted broccoli, sautéed green beans, or roasted zucchini.

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

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

Happy Cooking,

More Easy Sauce Recipes

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

• Easy Pasta Sauce
• Arrabbiata Sauce
• Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
• No Cook Tomato Sauce with Cherry Tomatoes

📣 Do you love this recipe? I would love to know! Leave a comment below the recipe, along with your recipe star rating.

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.

Post updated from the archives. First published in February 2021.