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This Pesto Pasta isĀ filled with penne pasta, Parmesan cheese and pesto making it an easy dinner idea that is sure to please.
We love vegetarian pasta options like White Sauce Penne Pasta, Fettuccine Alfredo or this Pesto Pasta.
The perfect flavorful combo
It’s no secret that we LOVE pasta and one of our favorite sauces is pesto which is why today’s Pesto Pasta is another dinner winner!
We’ve always loved the pesto flavor. Adding it in with some Parmesan cheese is amazing and makes this recipe so flavorful and delicious.
And with hints of garlic, this dish was another keeper we will be adding to the easy dinner ideas rotation.
How to Make Pesto Pasta
We are grateful this recipe was very easy to make. Unlike many of our pasta dishes, this recipe isn’t coated in a heavy cream, which made the dish a little lighter.
PASTA. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions and drain.
PESTO. In a large skillet, saute garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in pesto, salt and pepper until warmed through.
COMBINE. Add the pasta to the pan and toss to coat. Stirr in grated cheese and mix well. Top with shaved Parmesan, serve and ENJOY!
Can I add vegetables and meat? Yes! You can add chicken or sausage. You can add roasted asparagus or broccoli. You can even add halved red and yellow cherry tomatoes for some added flavor and color. Remember that if you add more ingredients youāll also want to add more pesto sauce so that everything is coated well.
Storage tips
Storing. You can store leftovers in an airtight container the fridge for 3-4 days. You can either eat the leftovers cold or warm it up in a skillet over medium heat. If your dish is looking a little dry add some extra pesto and olive oil.
Freezing. This dish is at its best served fresh. However, you can freeze it to serve later. Be sure your pasta is cooked al dente. Combine ingredients according to recipe. Place in a freezer safe airtight container and freeze for 2 months.
To serve: thaw in fridge. You can either serve cold or warm it up in a skillet over medium heat. If your dish is looking a little dry add some extra pesto and olive oil.
Complete the meal by also making:
Pesto Pasta recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 7 tablespoons pesto
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- garlic salt, to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- shaved Parmesan
Instructions
- Cook pasta as directed on package, cooking for about 8-10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
- While pasta is cooking, add oil to a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in pesto, salt, and pepper until warmed through.
- Add pasta to the pan and toss to coat. Stir in grated cheese and mix well.
- Serve pasta and top with shaved parmesan.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Adapted from AllRecipes.com
Pasta, pasta, pasta! Never enough of this stuff and truly a family favorite.
This recipe is a family favorite I love the sun-dried tomatoes with the pesto.
This is a family favorite!! My kids love pesto! I leave the sun-dried tomatoes off for theirs, but add it to mine. Very good!
This is one of the best Pesto Pasta dishes I’ve had!
My fam loved this pesto pasta recipe! Will surely make it again! Thanks a lot!
You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
I love dishes with pesto!! It adds delicious flavor! My whole family likes when I make this!
My kids loves your recipe for pesto pasta. So easy to make, but yummyā¤ā¤ā¤
I love to hear that! I am so glad they like it š Thank you for sharing!
Krystyn, itās going to be one of our favorites from now on. My husband even mentioned it again today how much he loved it. Thank you again for sharing with us.
Awe, I love to hear that! I am so glad you all liked it! Thank you so much!
Kristen, oh my. I just made the Pesto Pasta with Chicken. It is so delicious. I tweaked the recipe just a bit since I am dairy intolerant. I ate one helping and going to have a plateful for lunch tomorrow. My husband bought Basil Pesto instead of Pesto. I left out the garlic cause I forgot to ask him to pick it up. I added a little less pasta and more Pesto sauce. I added garlic salt and pepper while cooking the chicken breasts. The sun-dried tomatoes made this so delicious. Itās a keeper. We love it. Thank you.
That makes me so happy to hear!! Thank you for letting me know š I am so glad you liked it!
Nice recipe pasta with pesto sauce. Would definitely try it.
Thank you!! I’d love to know what you think, if you do!! I hope you like it!