Easy Pesto Pasta
This easy pesto pasta is fresh, flavorful, and comes together in under 30 minutes. Made with homemade basil pesto, tender penne, and a sprinkle of parmesan, it’s a simple weeknight favorite that’s easy to customize. Serve it warm or cold, with optional cherry tomatoes or your favorite protein mixed in.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 12 ounce dried penne
- 1 ¼ cup homemade basil pesto
- ½ cup freshly finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half (optional topping)
- Basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente, following the package instructions. Before draining, scoop out about ¼ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta, then return it to the pot along with the reserved water.
- While the pasta’s still hot, stir in the homemade pesto and parmesan cheese. Mix everything together until the pasta is well coated and everything’s warmed through — just a few minutes on low heat will do the trick.
- If you like, top with halved cherry tomatoes and an extra sprinkle of parmesan.
- Serve it just like that, or add your favorite protein (steak, chicken, or shrimp all work beautifully). Dig in and enjoy!