20 Minute Creamy Pesto Pasta

5 from 76 votes

This pasta with creamy pesto sauce is super easy to make with just 5 ingredients, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner!

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Servings:

Cook noodles according to package directions. Save ¼ cup pasta water before draining.
1 pound noodles like linguine or fettuccine
While noodles are cooking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Add in 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and whisk to combine.
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Slowly pour in 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream, whisking to combine.
1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
Reduce heat to mid-low and continue whisking. Simmer for a couple minutes until the sauce thickens.
Once the sauce is thickened to your liking, remove from heat and mix in pesto and stir to combine.
½ cup prepared pesto
Add ¼ cup pasta water, a little at a time, for a silkier texture and to thin the sauce as needed. Give it a taste and season with kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste.
Toss with cooked noodles.

Use a large pot of boiling water to cook your pasta. This will help to prevent the pasta from sticking together and ensure that it cooks evenly.
Salt your pasta water with at least a tablespoon of kosher salt to enhance the flavor.
Pasta water is better than plain water to thin out the sauce if needed, but if you forgot to save some before draining the pasta, don't panic. You can substitute regular water.
Whisk the flour into the butter before adding the cream to prevent lumps from forming in the sauce.
Use a whisk to stir the sauce while it’s cooking to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Simmer the sauce until it thickens to your desired consistency. Keep in mind that the sauce will thicken further as it cools.
Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper to your liking. Keep in mind that the pesto sauce will already contain salt, so be careful not to over-season.
Mix the pasta and sauce together just before serving. This will help to ensure that the pasta doesn’t become too soft and mushy.
Garnish with fresh herbs, grated Parmesan cheese, or toasted pine nuts to add extra flavor and texture to the dish.