Pesto Pasta (Easy Recipe)

Do you love the creamy, cheesy flavors of pesto pasta? An do you dream about becoming a master chef that can cook up delicious Italian dishes in minutes?

If so, look no further! 

This recipe for perfect pesto pasta will have your mouth watering. It’ll also leave you feeling like a true Italian chef. 

I’ll guide you through step-by-step directions for creating this classic dish.

It uses easy-to-find ingredients, and the outcome is extraordinary. 

So what are you waiting for? Get cooking now to enjoy all the heavenly flavors that come with this delectable dish!

Pesto Pasta

Want a tasty lunch or dinner option that’s ready in 15 minutes? You have to try pesto pasta.

It’s a delicious, light meal with plenty of robust pesto and parmesan flavor. 

It looks, smells, and tastes like a gourmet meal from your favorite Italian restaurant.

Fortunately, it’s effortless to prepare and cook. You won’t need any extraordinary kitchen skills for this dish! 

As long as you can boil water, cut onions, and stir, you’re all set.

Ingredients

You can quickly pull this dish together with only seven ingredients.

(Though you may need a few more than that if you’re making homemade pesto.)

It’s fast, fresh, and fantastically good.

Here’s what you’ll need: 

• Pasta: You can choose any pasta you like for this recipe. Just be sure it’s a 16-ounce package. I typically use penne or farfalle, sometimes fettuccine. It’s really whatever you’re in the mood to enjoy. It doesn’t affect the taste, only the presentation.

• Olive oil: Add this to your pan to cook the onions. It keeps them from sticking and is a good source of healthy fats.

• Onions: Chopped onions add a bit of crunch and flavor to the dish. 

• Pesto: This recipe is wonderfully simple to make. It only takes about 15 minutes. So, if you want to take a little extra time and make homemade pesto, go for it! If you’re in a rush, store-bought pesto works fine. I recommend Delallo’s Simply Pesto.  

• Salt and Pepper: Add these flavor enhancers to suit your tastes. 

• Parmesan: Get grated parmesan or grate it yourself from a larger wedge. It gives the dish its creamy cheesiness and is impossible to resist. 

Some recipes incorporate cherry tomatoes or other fresh veggies. Feel free to experiment with any other ingredients you like. 

How to Make Pesto Pasta

I wasn’t kidding when I said this was one of the easiest recipes you’ll ever make.

Even broken down into super simple step-by-step directions, there are only five steps. 

Essentially, though, there are even fewer than that. I can simplify it into three for you right now. 

1. BOIL THE PASTA. Use a large enough pot to hold 16 ounces of pasta. Salt the water and boil uncovered for 10 minutes or until al dente. Then drain, reserving a cup of pasta water for later. Set the pasta aside in a large bowl.

2. PREPARE ONIONS & PESTO. If making pesto from scratch, do so now. Otherwise, cook the onions, then add the store-bought pesto, salt, and pepper. Stir gently until everything is warm.

3. COMBINE. Mix the onion-pesto mixture with the drained pasta. Add the reserved cup of pasta water, too. Add it a little at a time, stopping when you reach the level of creaminess you want. Coat thoroughly, serve, and enjoy!

Pesto Pasta Tips

Here are a few tips to ensure your pasta comes out perfectly every time: 

• Add salt to the water. Your pasta needs a bit of seasoning. Adding salt to the boiling water is the easiest way to make that happen.

• Remember to reserve some pasta water! Adding a cup of reserved pasta water to the pasta is the best way to ensure you get a rich, creamy, flavorful sauce. You may not need the entire cup, so add it in slowly. 

• Make homemade pesto. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with store-bought pesto. I use it all the time. But if you have time, make your pesto from scratch. That way, you can tailor it to suit your tastes and make it as flavorful as you like.

• Feel free to experiment. Try adding cherry tomatoes, spinach, chopped asparagus, or even some lean protein. Fresh herbs are another excellent option.

• Stir regularly. Don’t leave the noodles to cook by themselves without stirring. Ditto the sauce. Frequent stirring prevents sticking and helps ensure everything is heated evenly. 

• Combine in a bowl, not the cooking pot. That may seem arbitrary and like a waste of dishes, but it isn’t. If you combine and toss the ingredients in the pot, the heat can turn the basil black. Pour your drained pasta into a clean, cool bowl. Then, mix and coat everything in that bowl.

• Store leftovers in the fridge. Keep them in a sealed, air-tight container for up to 5 days. Don’t reheat them, as it’ll turn the basil in the pesto black. Allow it to sit on the counter and warm it to room temperature instead.

Best Pasta for Pesto 

You can use whatever pasta you like best for this recipe. If you have dietary restrictions, choose gluten-free, whole wheat, etc. (Whatever pasta suits those restrictions.)

Here are some of my favorites: 

• Penne
• Farfalle
• Ziti
• Fettuccine
• Spaghetti
• Fusilli
• Rigatoni

Any pasta will work. My only advice is to stay away from the really small stuff. (Orzo, ditalini, small cuts of mafaldine)

The smaller pasta types get lost in the sauce, which is why I prefer larger varieties. 

What to Serve with Pesto Pasta

Wondering what to serve with pesto pasta? Well, you can check out my post for a bunch of tasty options.

Or keep it simple with:

• Garlic bread
• Garden salad
• Juicy chicken
• Crispy tofu