One Pan Creamy Pesto Penne
This one-pan Creamy Penne Pesto Pasta is packed with flavor and ready in just 10 minutes! Perfect for an easy weeknight meal!
Pesto Pasta
This pasta. This pasta! One pan, 10 minutes and a couple ingredients equals a very happy girl. I generally consider comfort food to be something like Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole, a big bowl of mashed potatoes, or a nice sunday roast. But this creamy pesto pasta is basically the definition of comfort food.
Easy, creamy, and cheesy. Those three things are good for the soul! I have been playing around with one-pan dishes for a while now, so one pan rice dishes are kind of a no brainer. However, one-pan pasta recipes are a little trickier. You have to have just the right pasta to liquid ratio, and just the right amount of spices so it is flavorful enough but not overpowering. For more ideas, check out this list of 15+ One Pan Pasta Recipes!
Ingredients for the Penne Pesto Pasta
The pasta and creamy pesto sauce get cooked in the same pot, so the pasta winds up being super flavorful! Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Liquid ingredients: Good quality chicken stock, White wine, pesto and heavy cream.
- Penne pasta: your favorite variety, I used Barilla Gluten Free.
- Parmesan: good quality parmesan or asiago is best.
- Add Fresh basil, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste at the end.
How to Make Penne Pesto Pasta
For this pesto cream pasta, bring broth, white wine, and pesto to a boil and add the penne. Cook the pasta covered according to the package directions, usually 7-10 minutes depending on the brand.
When the pasta is al dente, stir in the heavy cream, parmesan. Add Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste.
What Basil Pesto Should I Use for creamy pesto pasta?
You can use any you’d like, and both store-bought and homemade pesto will work. If you follow a gluten-free diet like we do, I recommend buying the Mezzetta brand pesto. Delallo brand is gluten-free as well, but that one is harder for me to find.
Can I Use Another Type of Pasta?
Yes, but note that different pasta shapes call for different cook times. However, another short, sturdy pasta should be fine to cook in the creamy pesto sauce.
Can I Substitute the White Wine in this creamy pesto pasta?
If you don’t keep wine on hand, you may substitute it with chicken or veggie broth.
Tips for Making Creamy Pesto Pasta
- I used Barilla Gluten-Free Penne for this recipe and 8 minutes was perfect. Read the cooking time on the specific type of pasta you are using and adjust accordingly.
- I used a green pesto sauce to make this recipe, but a sun-dried tomato pesto or something similar would also work.
- Store bought or homemade pesto work for this recipe.
More Quick Pasta Dinners:
- Browned Butter and Brussels Sprouts Penne
- One-Pan Shrimp Pasta
- Cheesy Chili Mac
- One-Pan Cheesy Sausage Pasta
- Easy Taco Mac
Get the Recipe: One Pan Creamy Penne Pesto Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 3/4 cup basil pesto
- 4 cups dry penne, one 12 ounce box*
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup parmesan
- Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and basil to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring the broth, wine and pesto to a boil.
- Add the penne and cover. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 7-8 minutes stirring occasionally.
- After 8 minutes check to see if pasta is al dente. Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream, parmesan and spices to taste.
Notes
- Read the cooking time on the specific type of pasta you are using and adjust accordingly.
Oh yummy! This looks like the perfect comfort food! I love pesto!! 🙂
Thank you Renee! This is a new favorite for sure!
this looks AWESOME! pasta is kinda like my best friend hehehe 😉 seriously though I love pasta and this looks just absolutely delicious!
Thanks Michele!! It doesn’t get much easier than this!
One pan dishes are the best types of meal, especially during the week! I love how creamy this pasta looks, Annie! And pesto is my favorite sauce, so this is right up my alley!
Gayle you will love this!! Our dishwasher is broken so I am currently ONLY making one pan meals! ha! 😉
Annie one pot pasta’s are the best. Kurt and I love pesto so I am sure this recipe will be a winner in my house. I’m going to make it tonight since I am pressed on time. Looking forward to trying it.
Yay!! I hope you enjoy it Kathy!! 🙂
This looks seriously delicious!!!! So good!
Thank you!! 🙂
Mmmm creamy pasta is just so comforting.
Yes Dannii! It doesn’t get much better!
OH my gosh Annie!! This Pasta! This Pasta!!!! This pasta looks absolutely AH-MAZING! I can only imagine how rich and delicious it tastes!! Your pictures are stunnninng as always! Love love love it! Pinned 🙂
Ceara you are so sweet! Thank you!! And I agree, I do think this pasta is amazing!! 🙂
That looks divine – and I love that it’s done all in one pan! Doesn’t get easier or quicker than that! Can’t wait to try this one, I was actually just mentally trying to figure out how to make it tonight, but I think I’m missing too many things! Oh well, pinned for later. 🙂
I LOVE one-pot meals. And pesto. And pasta. Definitely keeping this one around!
One pot meals are the best! This looks like total comfort food and absolutely delicious. I need to try this the next time we make pasta!
I hate dishes which means that I love one pot meals! This pasta looks so creamy, cheesy and delicious! I also love all the fresh basil on tp. I bet it tastes awesome!
I loved spying this little sneak peak recipe on instagram! Your pictures turned out beautiful. Oh this recipe just sounds amazing! Why must carbs be bad for you when they taste so good?
I love one pot meals! Especially when I come home from a long day at work and realize I haven’t prepared anything in advance! 🙂 Pinning!
This looks so great! I haven’t quite nailed the one-pot pasta yet, and you’re right about the liquid to pasta to other stuff ratio being the culprit. I’ll have to give this version a go, that creamy pesto is calling my name! Pinned and pinned 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.
Yum! This pesto penne looks and sounds fabulous!
I absolutely love one-pot and one-pan meals, and this one is SO up my alley. What a perfect combination of flavors and textures. Mmmmm, I’d love a bowl right now!
This look so good, I love pesto! I haven’t had my lunch yet and now you made me so hungry Annie! Yum!
This sounds awesome! I love the wine-garlic-cream-basil combo… so many good things going on! And it sounds so easy, too!
Yes yes to this pasta! Love one pot meals especially when they involve some yummy pesto! This looks like the perfect comfort dinner – so delicious!
I love pesto pasta and this one looks extremely delicious! The idea for a one pot meal is always a winner!
I shouldn’t read blogs when I’m hungry! I want this for dinner!
Annie, your gorgeous pictures are seriously making me hungry! I absolutely love pesto, and I think I would love it even more here when it’s made in just one pan with that yummy pasta!
Love love this penne. One pan and cheesy!
Love this recipe and really love that it’s a one pot meal! Another winner!
Thank you so much Annie!
Looks like such a simple, delicious meal, Annie! Love that there is only one pan to wash 🙂 And I love your site redesign, looking spiffy 🙂
Thank you Denise!! 🙂 And yes, only one pan to wash is a major plus!
One pan dishes are my BFF. And so is pesto. And cheese. <3 Basically this meal needs to happen ASAP!!
We are so on the same page Alyssa!! I did have to make some chicken because my husband just doesn’t eat a meal without meat but I love how easy this is!!
This looks like one of those pasta dishes that would quickly become a favorite around here. LOVE how creamy this pasta looks—and pesto for the WIN. 😀
Thanks Sarah!
What basil pesto do you use for this recipe?
So glad I found your site…I have celiac and it is so hard to find vegetarian gf meals that look good.
Cant wait to try a bunch of your recipes.
Hi Penny! I’m so glad you found our site!! I really love the Mozzetta brand pesto, they actually use olive oil in their pesto so it has a great rich flavor and it is gluten free. I believe the Delallo brand is gluten free as well, but that one is harder for me to find.
If you are vegetarian I highly recommend trying this recipe, I use Udi’s GF wraps, it is one of my favorite recipes!
If you try them let me know what you think! 🙂
Thanks so much! I will definitely try them all of them!!!