Creamy Pesto Sauce for Pasta
This creamy pesto sauce is made with basil pesto, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and cream for a rich, flavorful sauce that’s perfect for pasta. It’s ready in about 20 minutes and easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Today, I have a super easy sauce recipe for you: creamy pesto sauce. The pesto adds a punch of brightness that balances out the richness of the cream. It’s pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. It’s perfect with pasta.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 15 minutes
- Made with simple ingredients
- You can use homemade pesto or store-bought pesto
- It’s a rich and creamy pasta sauce that’s not too heavy
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.
Variations: You can use any kind of pesto to make this creamy pesto sauce. Try roasted garlic pesto, parsley spinach pesto, beet tops pesto, carrot tops pesto, or red pesto.
How to Make It
- 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.
- Add a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice, toss again, and serve. It’s best enjoyed when it’s made.
- 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.
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.
More 20 Minute Pasta Recipes
- Creamy Garlic Mascarpone Pasta – super simple, creamy, and comforting
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta – a quick pasta recipe with fresh lemon
- Zucchini Orzo Pasta with Chickpeas – light and satisfying and so easy to make
- Ravioli with Asparagus and Mushrooms – super light sauce and simple ingredients,
Creamy Pesto Sauce for Pasta
Creamy pesto sauce made with basil pesto, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and cream. This easy 20-minute sauce is perfect for pasta, ravioli, gnocchi, and more.
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Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 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
- Boil 8 ounces of pasta according to package instructions.
- While the pasta cooks, melt 8 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large pan. Add 1/2 cup of cream and whisk the two together.
- Add 1/4 cup of pesto and 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and whisk to combine. Cook the sauce (don't let it boil) for a couple of minutes before adding 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese and 2 tablespoons parsley. Stir until the cheese melts into the sauce.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat it in the sauce. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top, toss again, and serve.
Notes
Use your favorite homemade pesto or store-bought to make it really easy.
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.
The recipe makes four small servings. You can add cooked shrimp or chicken at the end to make it more filling or serve the pasta as is with salad, garlic bread, or cooked veggies on the side.
Nutrition Estimate
Calories: 553kcal | Carbohydrates: 44.5g | Protein: 10.8g | Fat: 37.2g | Saturated Fat: 19.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 81.6mg | Sodium: 248.7mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 2.5g
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More Recipes with Pesto
- Easy Pesto Chicken Pizza – an easy pizza night with pesto, chicken, and cheese.
- Pesto Pasta Salad – a fresh and easy pasta salad perfect for potlucks and cookouts.
- 4 Ingredient Pesto Meatballs – a simple appetizer or dinner shortcut with lots of flavor.
- Pesto Cucumber Avocado Wraps – a light lunch packed with fresh ingredients.
So simple and so delicious. I hope you give this creamy pesto pasta recipe a try!
Happy cooking,
Post updated from the archives. First published in February 2021.
Great sounding recipe April. I’m making this really soon.
This is fantastic!!!! My daughter and I found this recipe and it was awesome!! Quick, easy and our family of seven loved it!!!
So glad you all enjoyed it!
this looks awesome! if you used store bought pesto, which one do you recommend?
I don’t have a specific brand recommendation, but definitely use a refrigerated pesto and not one that is shelf stable.
Loved it! Used a little less butter than the recipe called for, and didn’t have parsley. But it turned out great!
So glad you loved it!