Dreamy Creamy Pasta Recipe with Basil, Pesto, and Parmesan Recipe
This Dreamy Creamy Pasta recipe combines fresh basil pesto, creamy cheese, and perfectly cooked linguine to create a luscious, flavorful dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to satisfy pasta lovers. The silky smooth sauce made from pesto, cream cheese, and pasta water coats each strand of pasta beautifully, delivering a rich and aromatic experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz (225 grams) Linguine or spaghetti (or your favorite pasta shapes)
Sauce
- 1 ½ cup (40 grams) basil leaves
- ¼ cup (20 grams) grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts (or ¼ cup cashews)
- 1 garlic clove, sliced
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup (120 grams) pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- ½ cup (100 grams) soft cream cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) pasta water, plus more if needed
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the linguine or spaghetti. Cook according to package instructions until al dente, then reserve ¼ cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.
- Prepare the Pesto Sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine basil leaves, grated parmesan, toasted pine nuts (or cashews), sliced garlic, salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. Blend until smooth to make a fresh pesto.
- Create the Creamy Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the pesto, soft cream cheese, and reserved pasta water until a creamy, smooth consistency forms. Add more pasta water if the sauce is too thick to achieve a silky texture.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the creamy pesto sauce and toss well to coat every strand evenly. Ensure the pasta is warm so the sauce clings nicely.
- Serve: Plate the creamy pesto pasta immediately. Garnish with extra parmesan or toasted nuts if desired and enjoy your dreamy, creamy pasta dish fresh.
Notes
- You can use store-bought pesto to save time or make your own fresh pesto for a more vibrant flavor.
- To toast pine nuts, gently heat them in a dry skillet over medium-low heat until golden and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
- If you prefer a nuttier taste, substitute pine nuts with cashews as listed.
- Adjust the amount of pasta water when mixing the sauce to get your preferred sauce consistency.
- This recipe works well with various pasta shapes like fusilli, penne, or farfalle.
- For a vegan version, replace cream cheese and parmesan with plant-based alternatives and ensure pesto ingredients are vegan-friendly.
Keywords: creamy pasta, basil pesto, linguine recipe, easy Italian pasta, creamy pesto pasta, vegetarian pasta dish
