Description
A rich and creamy pesto cream sauce perfect for tossing with your favorite pasta. This sauce combines heavy cream, butter, and pesto with parmesan cheese, creating a luscious, flavorful dish that’s quick and easy to prepare on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup pesto sauce (more as desired)
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (any variety works well)
Instructions
- Simmer cream and water: In a large skillet over medium heat, combine the heavy cream and water. Heat the mixture until it reaches a very gentle simmer to prepare the base of the sauce.
- Add butter and pesto: Stir in the unsalted butter and pesto sauce. Continue stirring until the butter completely melts, then reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Incorporate parmesan: Stir in the shredded parmesan cheese and cook the sauce for an additional 2 minutes on low heat, stirring frequently to create a smooth, creamy texture. Season with salt and pepper to taste, noting that depending on your pesto’s saltiness, extra salt may not be necessary.
- Combine with pasta and serve: Cook your preferred pasta according to package instructions. Drain and add the pasta directly to the skillet with the sauce if desired; toss to coat evenly. Serve immediately and enjoy your creamy pesto pasta dish.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of pesto sauce to your taste preference for a stronger or milder pesto flavor.
- Use any type of pasta you like; thinner or thicker varieties both work well.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a little more water or reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency.
- Freshly grated parmesan yields the best flavor and melt in the sauce compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- This sauce is best served immediately for optimal creaminess and flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: pesto cream sauce, creamy pesto pasta, easy pesto recipe, stovetop pasta sauce, quick Italian sauce
