10 Minute Creamy Pesto Pasta Sauce

Published: 26 Oct, 2023 | By Emilie Pullar

A fast and insanely delicious creamy pesto sauce with simple ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights. Use my classic basil pesto or store-bought to make it even easier. Mixed into a luscious creamy sauce flavoured with parmesan cheese and garlic. Dinner on the table in the time it takes to boil some pasta.

Hello! This really is almost embarrassingly simple but sometimes these recipes are the ones we make the most. I amp up the flavour with extra parmesan cheese, garlic and a squeeze of lemon.

I have used both a homemade busiate pasta (guide coming soon!) and a homemade pappardelle. Use any shape you like. Check out my shapes and guides section if you feel like making some fresh pasta from scratch. My easy homemade pasta dough is perfection, just saying! Oh now I think about it, some homemade potato gnocchi would be pretty delicious with this sauce.

Want some other creamy sauces, try:

White plate with pappardelle in a creamy pesto sauce. Fork resting with noodles twirled around it.

Ingredients

Fresh garlic - Even though most pesto has garlic in it already I love flavour, sue me!

Single or light cream - I don't tend to use heavy cream as I add parmesan to cream sauces which thickens it up. If you prefer heavy cream, go for it! You can always thin it down with some pasta cooking water.

Parmesan cheese - Finely grated with a microplane or the star side of your box grater.

Basil pesto - You can absolutely use a homemade basil pesto but for me, this is a quick weeknight dinner so I mostly use a store-bought pesto. A very good quality one though!

Black pepper - I LOVE pepper so I add it to 99% of my pasta recipes.

Lemon Juice - A squeeze of lemon in a creamy sauce just livens the whole thing up and cuts through the richness. It won't curdle the cream if you keep the heat low and mix it in really fast.

Ingredients on a wooden cutting board. Fresh basil, measuring cup with pesto, ramekin with chopped garlic, ramekin with grated parmesan and another measuring cup with cream.

Substitutions and variations

Pesto - Use any fresh pesto you like, doesn't have to be basil. You could use a red pepper pesto, anything!

Additions - Some roasted or fresh cherry tomatoes would be delicious, I like to add fresh basil leaves to the top too. Pesto usually has pine nuts but you could add some extra toasted ones into the sauce. To add some greens you could mix through some chopped fresh spinach. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil never goes astray.

Add some protein - Chicken pesto pasta is a classic so add some cooked chicken breast or thighs into the creamy sauce. Flaked salmon would be delicious (check out my Creamy Salmon Pasta next). Some golden brown pancetta or bacon mixed through would be a great addition too.

Type of pasta - There are no rules for a sauce like this so use absolutely any pasta shape you love or have on hand.

White plate with busiate pasta in a creamy pesto sauce. Fork resting in.

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Expert Tips

Have your stove on a low heat after adding the cream - you NEVER want cream to boil or bubble aggressively.

Add your cooked pasta straight into the sauce - with a little splash of pasta water too. It's great practice to get into letting your pasta bubble away in the sauce for a minute or two. I undercook my pasta by a minute for this reason, to make sure it is still al dente after being in the sauce.

Reserve some pasta cooking water - I actually don't ever drain my pasta in a colander. I try and time the cooking so I can transfer the cooked pasta straight from the water into the sauce. A spider strainer is the best way (or tongs for long noodle shapes).

How to make this recipe

Full ingredient list, method and tutorial video are in the recipe card below. Get your pasta cooking in a large pot of well salted water. This is such an easy recipe, just a few simple steps.

Stainless steel fry pan with garlic sizzling.

STEP 1: Cook the garlic in olive oil in a large skillet for 1-2 minutes over a medium heat, careful not to burn.

Stainless steel frypan with cream added and a spatula.

STEP 2: Lower the heat and add the cream, bring to a very gentle simmer.

Stainless steel pan with cream and parmesan added.

STEP 3: Add finely grated parmesan. Add one half at a time, letting it melt into the cream in between each addition.

STEP 4: Add the fresh basil pesto and whisk into the cream, I like to use a flat whisk for this.

Finished creamy pesto sauce in a pan with a whisk resting.

STEP 5: Add the lemon juice, black pepper and mix well and gently simmer to thicken.

Cooked pasta added to the sauce about to be mixed in.

STEP 6: Add the cooked pasta straight into the sauce and let it bubble away very gently for a minute or two. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen.

Another week night go to?

Check out my delicious creamy chicken and mushroom pasta. It's a winner!

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Recipe FAQs

How do I add lemon juice to cream without it curdling?

Easy! Just keep your heat low, the cream should just be at a very gentle simmer. Mix it in really fast with a whisk. You can also add it in last with the pasta.

Can I store leftovers?

I really don't think creamy sauces reheat super well but this will definitely keep in an airtight container in the fridge for three days. Next time just eat it all though OK?!

How much pasta should I serve per person?

I weigh pasta portions as it just takes the guess work out! Weigh out 100 grams dried per person or 150 grams fresh per person.

Want some other pasta recipes to try?

If you loved this 10 minute creamy pesto pasta then I have so many more delicious recipes for you. My fast and delicious creamy nduja pasta really has become a favorite recipe for so many. For a perfect weeknight meal my Creamy Chicken Pasta is a staple. My Best Vodka Pasta (baked version) is probably my new favorite pasta and well worth a try.

Rigatoni in a creamy nduja sauce, very orange in colour. — Creamy Nduja Pasta Sauce

Fettuccine in a creamy sauce with golden brown sliced chicken on top. Fresh rosemary leaves and lemon zest sprinkled on top. — Creamy Nduja Pasta Sauce

Made this recipe and loved it?

I would love love LOVE if you could leave me a review down below and let me know what you thought! I love to hear any changes or adaptions you have made too. Also if you put a photo on instagram, please tag me so I can see, it makes my day!

Recipe

White plate with busiate pasta in a creamy pesto sauce. Fresh basil leaves on top and a fork resting in.

10 Minute Creamy Pesto Pasta Sauce

5 from 15 votes

Author: Emilie Pullar

Cook Time:15

Servings: 2 people

Print Recipe Pin Rate

A fast and insanely delicious creamy pesto sauce with simple ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights. Amped up with extra garlic, parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon juice.

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
¾ cup single or light cream see notes
25 grams parmesan finely grated
⅓ cup basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
¼ teaspoon black pepper
½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste
Pasta of your choice see notes

Instructions

Heat the olive oil over medium heat and fry the garlic for 1 - 2 minutes, a gentle sizzle. The garlic shouldn't colour or burn.
Turn the heat down slightly and add the cream. Bring to a very gentle simmer, it should never boil.
Add the finely grated parmesan in two lots, letting each half melt into the cream before moving on.
Add the pesto, black pepper and lemon juice and mix well.
Let it simmer very gently for 1 - 2 minutes to thicken.
Add the cooked pasta straight in, mix and let it gently bubble away for a further 1 - 2 minutes.
Add a splash of pasta water if you need to loosen the sauce.

Video

Notes

Cream - I prefer using light or single cream so it can thicken with the parmesan. Use heavy cream if you prefer but you might need to loosen with pasta water.

Pasta - Use whatever shape you like. I always weight portions to take the guess work out. 100 grams dried per person or 150 grams fresh per person.

Pesto - I have a delicious recipe for homemade pesto but use a bought one if you prefer, it's a lot easier!

Author: Emilie Pullar

Cook Time: 15

Course: Vegetarian

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamy pesto pasta, creamy pesto sauce, pasta, pesto

Did you make this recipe?Tag @burntbuttertable on Instagram so we can see! Also please leave a review down below, it means the world!