Pesto Pasta Recipe - Quick & Easy - Amazing Flavor - Family Favorite. (2024)

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Made with just 4 ingredients, this Pesto Pasta recipe is quick and easy to prepare, with just 4 ingredients in 20 minutes. Top with parmesan and serve with crusty bread for the perfect weeknight dinner.

Easy Pesto Pasta Recipe

This basil pesto pasta recipe is my favorite way to use my homemade pesto. Not only is it super tasty, it’s also quick and easy to prepare. The only other ingredients other than the pesto sauce you need are pasta, water, and salt – plus parmesan, if desired. That’s it!

I think this is the perfect recipe for busy weeknights but it’s also “fancy” enough that you can get away with serving it to guests. It literally tastes like a dish straight from an Italian restaurant!

Why You’ll Love This Basil Pesto Pasta

Here are a few reasons this is the best pasta recipe and will become a staple in our kitchen.

• Only 4 ingredients. This pasta recipe is made with just 4 basic ingredients, for a dinner you can whip up anytime.
• Quick and easy. It takes just 20 minutes or so to prepare this basil pesto pasta.
• Perfect for any dinner. What I love about this dish is that it makes a satisfying dinner anytime, whether it’s a busy weeknight or I’m entertaining guests.

What You’ll Need

This easy pesto pasta recipe is made with just 4 simple ingredients. See the recipe card below for measurements.

• Pesto – This recipe is perfect with my easy homemade basil pesto recipe, but you can also use store-bought pesto. Pesto is typically made with fresh basil, olive oil, lemon juice, nuts (such as toasted pine nuts or walnuts), parmesan cheese and garlic blended in a food processor.
• Pasta – We used spaghetti but you can use any pasta you’d like including rigatoni, fusilli, etc…
• Salt
• Pasta cooking water – Be sure to reserve a bit of the starchy pasta water when you drain the pasta.
• Parmesan – Freshly grated parmesan is the perfect topping for this pasta.

How to Make Pesto Pasta

Here’s how to make this easy pasta recipe.

• Cook the pasta. Boil a pot of water and sprinkle it with salt. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Reserve a cup of pasta water.
• Add the sauce. Add the pesto to the pasta, along with 1/4 cup of pasta water. Toss to coat. Add more water as necessary to reach the desired sauciness.
• Enjoy. Taste test and add more salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with parmesan and serve. m

What Goes Well With Pesto Pasta?

This easy basil pesto pasta makes an easy dinner on its own. You can also add a protein, like chicken or shrimp for a heartier meal. If you don’t want to add protein into the pasta, you can simply add some grilled chicken on the side. Sometimes we like to add in cherry tomatoes or olives.

Otherwise, a slice of crusty bread is all you need.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

• Fridge. Store leftover pesto pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Reheat. Reheat the pasta in the microwave or on the stovetop. You may need to add a splash of water if it appears dry. Some people also enjoy cold pesto pasta.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

• Creamy Shrimp Pasta
• Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Pizza Pasta Bake
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta