Creamy Pesto Rigatoni

22 Minutes

Creamy Pesto Pasta: A Simple and Delicious Weeknight Dinner

When it comes to quick and flavorful dinners, creamy pesto pasta is a game-changer. Whether you’re in the mood for a homemade pesto or want to save time with a store-bought option, this creamy dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The best part? The versatility of this recipe allows you to customize it to your preferences, while still enjoying a delicious, restaurant-quality meal at home.

Homemade or Store-Bought Pesto?

The beauty of this creamy pesto pasta recipe lies in its simplicity and adaptability. If you have fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil on hand, whipping up a homemade pesto can add an extra layer of freshness to your pasta. Homemade pesto is bright, aromatic, and bursting with flavor, making it ideal for those who want a more personalized touch and even include some hidden veggies. See below for my healthy homemade pesto recipe.

On the other hand, store-bought pesto can be just as delicious and is perfect for those nights when you’re short on time. You can easily find high-quality pesto in most grocery stores, and it provides all the herby, garlicky goodness without the extra prep. Both options pair beautifully with the creamy sauce, giving your pasta a rich, decadent finish.

How to Make It Creamy

The secret to transforming regular pesto into a creamy, dreamy sauce is adding a touch of heavy cream or half-and-half. By mixing the cream into the pesto, you create a velvety sauce that coats each strand of pasta perfectly. For those looking to lighten things up, using milk or even a dairy-free alternative can still achieve that creamy texture.

Perfect Pasta Pairings

This creamy pesto sauce works well with a variety of pasta shapes. Traditional options like linguine, spaghetti, or fettuccine are always a good choice, but short pasta like penne or rigatoni also allow the sauce to cling to every bite. Want to add some extra flavor and texture? Toss in grilled chicken, sautéed shrimp, or roasted vegetables for a well-rounded meal.

Whether you’re making a homemade pesto or opting for store-bought, this creamy pesto pasta recipe is a simple, satisfying dish that’s sure to become a weeknight favorite. It’s versatile, flavorful, and requires minimal effort—perfect for anyone who loves a delicious, hassle-free meal.

Creamy Pesto rigatoni

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• Author: Sweta Patel
• Total Time: 25
• Yield: 4 people 1x

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Ingredients

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• ½ box rigatoni or any pasta of choice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ onion chopped
• ½ jalapeño minced
• 2 garlic cloves crushed or minced
• ½ tsp oregano
• ½ tsp salt & pepper
• 3 tbsp pesto
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream you can use reg cream or milk
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
• ¼ cup parm cheese

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Instructions

1. Boil pasta accordingly to package, drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
2. In a sauce pan over med heat, add oil, onions, jalapenos and garlic. Cook for 3 mins.
3. Add the oregano, salt, pepper and pesto. Add the heavy whipping cream followed by the cream cheese and use a whisk if needed to incorporate well.
4. Garnish with parm cheese and or fresh basil leaves and enjoy!

Notes

• I use dairy-free silk heavy whipping cream and cream cream.
• If you sub heavy whipping cream for milk, double up on the cream cheese because you will want the sauce to be creamy.

Healthy Homemade Pesto

• 1/2 cup spinach 
• 1/2 pine nuts OR almonds, walnuts 
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup broccoli florets 
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1 – 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp each: salt + pepper 
• Blend everything together in a food processor until you have a silk smooth consistency. Incorporate into the pasta and enjoy! 

• Prep Time: 10
• Cook Time: 15
• Category: Dinner
• Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: creamy sauce, pasta, pesto sauce, rigatoni pasta