Basil Pesto Pasta Recipe (One Pot)

Quick and easy basil pesto pasta recipe, made with simple ingredients in one pot on stovetop. This 30 minute meal is packed with peso sauce, basil and tomatoes.

This recipe is just as easy and delicious as my One Pot Garlic Chicken Pasta and my One Pot Bacon Pasta. They bring the family together to enjoy a meal without laboring in the kitchen for hours on end. As a busy woman, like most of us these days, it is important to balance time and health with recipes such as these.

Key ingredients

• Pasta- Angel hair pasta is the best, but you can also use spaghetti noodles.
• Olive oil- Used for sauteing and brings added flavor.
• Garlic- Finely minced and fresh is best.
• Pesto sauce- You can use homemade or your favorite brand.
• Spices- All you need to sufficient flavor is salt and pepper.
• Tomatoes- Be sure to remove the seeds and cut into pieces.
• Cheese- Mozzarella is best and you can add more or less as desired.
• Basil leaves- Use fresh as a garnish.

Variations

• Add chicken- Mix in 1-2 cups cooked chicken breast pieces.
• Shrimp version- Mix in 1-2 cups cooked shrimp with the noodles.
• Zoodle pasta- Replace angel hair pasta with Zucchini Noodles.
• Make a pasta salad- Omit the cheese and add olives, more tomatoes, more basil, and some toasted pine nuts. Chill and serve it cold.
• Creamy option- Mix in ½ cup cream cheese and additional mozzarella cheese, based on how creamy you like your pasta.
• For a spicy kick- Mix 1 finely chopped jalapeno in this pasta.
• Add sausage- Mix in 1-2 cups cooked sausage.

How to make pesto pasta?

1. Boil pasta- And keep aside.
2. Heat oil- And saute garlic.
3. Mix in- Pesto sauce, salt, pepper, boiled pasta, and tomatoes.
4. Toss in- Some mozzarella cheese.
5. Garnish- With fresh basil and you are done.

What to serve with basil pasta?

• Roasted vegetables- Like Oven Roasted Carrots (One Pan) or Oven Roasted Broccoli (One Pan).
• Bread- Try garlic bread, Bruschetta (One Pan), breadsticks, or even dinner rolls.
• Salad- Such as Italian Chopped Salad (One Bowl) or Creamy Cucumber Tomato Onion Salad (One Bowl).

Tips and techniques

• Use other pasta options- I used angel hair pasta because it absorbs the pesto flavor quicker than regular spaghetti but you can easily replace angel hair pasta with any pasta of your choice.
• Boil pasta in salted water- Or else it will have no flavor when you mix it in with the sauce later.
• Adjust the amount of mozzarella cheese- Based on your preference. I like it light and don't want it to over-power the pasta.
• Adjust the amount of pesto sauce- Based on your preference.
• Don't over-boil the pasta- It has to be al dente so that it doesn't take like a "disgusting paste."
• Use cherry tomatoes- Or variety of cherry tomatoes in this recipe in place of regular tomatoes, chopped.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Make ahead- This can be made up to 2 days in advance if kept in a sealed container in the fridge. Reheat before serving.
• Refrigerate- In a sealed container for up to 2 days.
• Freeze- I don’t recommended freezing since the pasta changes texture when thawed and doens't taste as good.
• Reheat- In the microwave or in a pot over the stove.

More Pasta Recipes:

• One Pot Creamy Spinach Pasta Recipe
• One Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
• One Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
• Instant Pot Vegetable Pasta
• Instant Pot Swedish Meatball Pasta

Recipe