Pesto Pasta
Pesto pasta is a vibrant and flavorful kid friendly recipe that introduces children to the delicious taste of fresh basil in a fun and approachable way. Parents love how quickly this dish comes together and how easily the bright green color gets picky eaters excited to try something new at the dinner table.
Tender pasta tossed with creamy store bought or homemade basil pesto and a shower of parmesan cheese.
Nutrition per serving
Ingredients
pasta
sauce
topping
seasoning
Instructions
Boil the Penne
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a full boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually about 10 to 11 minutes. Before draining, make sure to reserve half a cup of the hot starchy pasta water for the sauce.
Drain and Return
Drain the cooked penne in a colander and return it immediately to the warm pot off the heat. Drizzle the olive oil over the pasta and toss lightly to prevent the noodles from sticking together while you prepare the pesto coating.
Toss with Pesto
Add the basil pesto to the pasta along with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together vigorously until the pesto evenly coats every piece of pasta and forms a glossy, fragrant sauce. Add more pasta water if needed to reach the right consistency.
Add Toppings and Serve
Fold in the halved cherry tomatoes gently so they stay intact. Transfer the pesto pasta to serving bowls and top generously with grated parmesan cheese. Serve right away while the pasta is warm and the pesto aroma is at its most inviting.
Substitutions
Common mistakes
I made this!
Cooked this recipe? Share your photo and inspire others.