Creamy Pesto Pasta

Total Time: 15 mins | Servings: 4 | Calories per Serving: 698

Transform store-bought pesto into a rich and creamy sauce by infusing it with rich heavy cream, butter, and sautéed garlic. Drizzle over al dente rotini, then generously sprinkle with freshly grated parmesan, culminating in a symphony of elevated flavors.

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INGREDIENTS

1lbs rotini (or pasta of your choice)
1 jar (6-7 oz) basil pesto sauce
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper (to taste)

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1
In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt and pasta to the pot. Cook according to the package's instructions. Drain pasta once al dente, reserving about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Set pasta and reserved water aside for Step 4.

STEP 2
Heat butter in a large pan. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2-3 minutes on Low/Medium heat, or until garlic is translucent and fragrant. 

STEP 3
Add the pesto to the pan and turn up to Medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

STEP 4
Add heavy cream, 1/4 cup parmesan, salt, and pepper to the pan. Stir to combine and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until sauce has thickened and cheese is melted. Add the reserved pasta water to the sauce as needed, about 1 tbsp at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. 

STEP 5
Add the pasta to the pan and toss to evenly coat pasta in the creamy pesto sauce. Remove from heat, garnish with remaining parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and fresh parsley, and serve with chicken cutlets, meatballs, or your favorite Italian dish.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

698 calories | 19.6g protein | 87.6g carbs | 31.6g fat

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Make It Vegan

For a plant-based twist on a beloved classic, substitute the following ingredients in this recipe to craft a vegan version of Creamy Pesto Pasta:

Basil Pesto Sauce <> Vegan Pesto Sauce (i.e. Trader Joe's Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto)
Butter <> Vegan Butter (i.e. Miyoko's Organic Vegan Butter)
Heavy Cream <> Dairy-Free Milk Alternative (i.e. Oat Milk)
Grated Parmesan Cheese <> Nutritional Yeast or Vegan Mozzarella Shreds