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One-Pot Creamy Pesto Pasta for Quick Weeknight Dinner

Close-up of creamy pesto pasta featuring penne, chunks of chicken, and bright green peas served in a white bowl.
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Make this rich, velvety pesto pasta in one pot for a satisfying, easy weeknight meal that minimizes cleanup. This recipe delivers comfort food flavor fast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried pasta (penne or rotini work well)
  • 4 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1 cup prepared basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas (optional)
  • 1 cup cooked, shredded chicken breast (optional addition)

Instructions

  1. Place the dried pasta, water or broth, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes (if using) into a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is nearly tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  3. Stir in the heavy cream, basil pesto, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well until the sauce is smooth and coats the pasta.
  4. If using, add the frozen peas and cooked chicken now. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring until the peas are heated through and the sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Taste the pasta and season with salt and black pepper as needed. Remember that pesto and Parmesan already contain salt.
  6. Serve immediately in bowls, topping each serving with extra grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, use a high-quality basil pesto. If your pesto is very thick, you may need to add a splash more broth or water to reach your desired sauce consistency.
  • If you skip the one-pot method and boil the pasta separately, reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta cooking water to help create a velvety sauce when combining with the pesto and cream.
  • This recipe is naturally vegetarian if you omit the chicken.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/easy-creamy-one-pot-pesto-pasta/