Best 6 Simple Creamy Pesto Pasta Recipes

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Craving a creamy, flavorful pasta dish that's easy to make? Look no further than simple creamy pesto pasta! This classic Italian dish combines the vibrant flavors of basil pesto with the richness of cream, creating a velvety sauce that coats perfectly cooked pasta. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can have a delicious and satisfying meal on the table in no time. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting out, this recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite for busy weeknights or casual weekend meals. So gather your ingredients and get ready to indulge in the delightful simplicity of creamy pesto pasta!

Let's cook with our recipes!

EASY CREAMY PESTO



Easy Creamy Pesto image

I use pre-made or prepared pesto. Pesto concentrate also works great. Very simple and really tasty sauce. Great over pasta, veggies, and chicken. Enjoy!

Provided by sarah

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes     Pasta Sauce Recipes     Creamy

Time 10m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons pesto, or more to taste

Steps:

  • Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream. Add flour and mix well to remove clumps. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Stir sour cream and pesto into the saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring, until flavors combine, 2 to 3 minutes more.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 345.2 calories, Carbohydrate 4.5 g, Cholesterol 105.3 mg, Fat 35.4 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 20.2 g, Sodium 740 mg, Sugar 0.1 g

CREAMY PESTO PASTA BAKE RECIPE BY TASTY



Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake Recipe by Tasty image

Here's what you need: fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, cold water, heavy cream, salt, pepper, fusilli pasta, cherry tomato, grated parmesan cheese, mozzarella ball

Provided by Tasty

Categories     Dinner

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 cups fresh basil
2 cloves garlic
½ cup pine nuts
¾ cup grated parmesan cheese, grated
¾ cup olive oil
¼ cup cold water
½ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
12 oz fusilli pasta, al dente
1 cup cherry tomato, halved
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
8 oz mozzarella ball

Steps:

  • To make the pesto, mix basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, cold water, heavy cream, salt, and pepper in a food processor for about 30 seconds. Add in olive oil. Process until combined, set aside.
  • Cook fusilli to very al dente, or about 3-4 minutes before the package instructs for cook time, then drain pasta.
  • Halve cherry tomatoes.
  • In a skillet or casserole pan, mix fusilli, cherry tomatoes, and pesto.
  • Top with grated parmesan and mozzarella balls.
  • Bake at 400° Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until mozzarella has melted.
  • Garnish with additional parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1234 calories, Carbohydrate 71 grams, Fat 89 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 42 grams, Sugar 6 grams

CREAMY RAMP PESTO PASTA



Creamy Ramp Pesto Pasta image

Ramps are one of those items that seem so appealing at the market but can be a challenge to use when you get them home. This dish solves the problem. Because the recipe comes from Rachael Ray, who made her name teaching a generation to get dinner on the table in 30 minutes, it's quick to make once you have the ramps blanched. The pesto comes together fast, so you can make it while the pasta is boiling. The creaminess of the ricotta tempers the ramps, which can vary in their pungency. Pink peppercorns are berries, not true peppercorns. They add a lovely look to the finished pasta and bring a more delicate fruitiness and a quieter heat than black pepper; if you can't find them, black pepper will do just fine.

Provided by Kim Severson

Categories     pastas, main course, side dish

Time 30m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 large bunch of ramps (about 1/2 pound), cleaned, roots trimmed, bulbs and stems separated from leaves
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup shelled pistachios (preferably the bright green Sicilian variety), lightly toasted
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt, to taste
3/4 cup bufala ricotta, fresh cow's milk ricotta or mascarpone (6 ounces)
1 pound fusilli lunghi or bucatini
Freshly ground pink peppercorns, for serving (or use ground black pepper)

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil for pasta. Set aside an ice-water bath in a medium bowl.
  • Blanch the ramp leaves in boiling water for 15 seconds. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into the ice bath. Drain the leaves and dry on a kitchen towel. Tops should be bright and vibrant green in color.
  • Add the blanched leaves to a food processor with 1/4 of the ramp bulbs and stems, plus the lemon zest and juice, the pistachios and the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Pulse to finely chop, and stream in the olive oil until the pesto comes together into a thick sauce. Taste and, if desired, add more bulbs and stems, a few at a time, then add salt to taste and pulse to combine. (Reserve the remaining bulbs and stems for use in dressings, sautéed vegetable dishes or eggs.)
  • Place the ricotta or mascarpone in large mixing bowl.
  • Salt the pasta water and cook pasta about 1 minute less than package directions for al dente. Just before draining, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water and add to the ricotta or mascarpone to soften and loosen the cheese. Add the ramp pesto and stir to combine. Drain pasta, add to sauce and toss to coat. Transfer pasta to a serving dish or individual bowls, and top with a generous amount of pink peppercorn.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 516, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 63 grams, Fat 22 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 18 grams, SaturatedFat 6 grams, Sodium 414 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams

SIMPLE PESTO PASTA



Simple Pesto Pasta image

Simply noodles with a pesto and butter sauce. You could add chopped cooked chicken or shrimp to make a fuller meal.

Provided by MOMof5

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 15m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 4

½ (16 ounce) box dry fettuccine pasta
¼ cup butter, or to taste
3 tablespoons minced garlic
¼ cup pesto

Steps:

  • Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil; cook the fettuccini at a boil until cooked through yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Transfer the fettuccini to a bowl.
  • Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook the garlic and pesto in the melted butter until warmed, 2 to 3 minutes; pour over the fettuccini and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 392 calories, Carbohydrate 44.4 g, Cholesterol 35.5 mg, Fat 19.9 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 10.9 g, SaturatedFat 9.5 g, Sodium 204.7 mg, Sugar 2 g

SIMPLE CREAMY PESTO PASTA



Simple Creamy Pesto Pasta image

Make and share this Simple Creamy Pesto Pasta recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Neonprincess

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 30m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 tablespoons butter
100 g mushrooms, sliced
60 g prosciutto or 60 g ham, chopped
2 tablespoons pesto sauce
500 g penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup milk
salt and pepper, to taste
1/3 cup grated cheese (cheddar, parmesan, whatever takes your fancy)

Steps:

  • Put pasta on to boil.
  • While the pasta is cooking, melt the first lot of butter and saute mushrooms, garlic and proscuitto (or ham). Remove from pan, keep warm.
  • Melt second lot of butter. Add flour and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
  • Stir in stock and milk and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens.
  • Add the mushrooms, proscuitto and cheese.
  • Stir until cheese is melted.
  • Add the pesto, salt and pepper.
  • Toss hot pasta with sauce and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 645, Fat 18.7, SaturatedFat 10.3, Cholesterol 44.3, Sodium 284, Carbohydrate 107.6, Fiber 14.1, Sugar 1.1, Protein 15

CREAMY PESTO PASTA



Creamy Pesto Pasta image

Make and share this Creamy Pesto Pasta recipe from Food.com.

Provided by CorriePDX

Categories     < 30 Mins

Time 20m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

8 ounces dried rigatoni pasta
1 onion, chopped (about 6 ounces)
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon butter or 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 (8 ounce) package neufchatel cheese
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup fresh basil leaf, chopped
parmesan cheese, grated
salt
pepper

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in about 3 quarts boiling water until just barely tender to bite, 7 to 9 minutes. Drain.
  • Meanwhile, in a 10- to 12-inch nonstick frying pan, combine onion, garlic, and butter. Stir often over medium-high heat until onion is limp, about 5 minutes.
  • Add neufchâtel cheese and stir until melted, about 3 minutes. Stir broth and wine into pan and mix until blended. Add basil and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes.
  • Add pasta to sauce and stir until pasta is coated with sauce. If sauce gets too thick, stir in a little water to thin. Spoon onto plates. Add parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 414.1, Fat 17.1, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 93.5, Sodium 390.7, Carbohydrate 47.3, Fiber 2.8, Sugar 2.6, Protein 15.4

Tips:

  • Use fresh basil: Fresh basil leaves provide the best flavor for pesto. If you can't find fresh basil, you can use dried basil, but the flavor will be less intense.
  • Don't over-process the pesto: Pesto should be chunky, not smooth. Over-processing will make the pesto bitter.
  • Use a good quality olive oil: The olive oil you use in your pesto will make a big difference in the flavor. Use a flavorful, extra-virgin olive oil.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment: There are many different ways to make pesto. Try adding different nuts, cheeses, or herbs to create your own unique recipe.

Conclusion:

Pesto is a delicious and versatile sauce that can be used on pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more. It's easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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