Description
Creamy Pesto Pasta brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with minimal ingredients and maximum flavor. Cheesy, herbal notes blend perfectly, promising a quick weeknight dinner that will delight you with its simple, irresistible charm.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) penne pasta
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) basil pesto
Cheese and Herbs:
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) spinach, chopped (optional)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Seasonings:
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted boiling water bath and immerse penne pasta, cooking until perfectly tender with a slight bite, approximately 10-12 minutes. Carefully drain and gently rinse the pasta to halt cooking process.
- Create a harmonious blend by folding the cooked pasta with vibrant pesto, introducing a layer of creamy mozzarella and incorporating any desired complementary ingredients. Delicately season the mixture with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Elegantly transfer the aromatic pasta medley into a well-greased baking vessel, ensuring even distribution. Crown the dish with a lavish sprinkle of remaining mozzarella and a delicate dusting of aged Parmesan cheese.
- Position the prepared dish into a preheated oven set at 350°F (175°C), allowing the cheese to melt and transform into a golden, bubbling masterpiece over 25-30 minutes of baking.
- Extract from the oven and permit the dish to rest for a brief 5-minute interval, enabling flavors to harmonize and settle before presenting this delectable culinary creation to eager diners.
Notes
- Swap pasta shapes to keep things interesting, like fusilli or rigatoni which hold sauce beautifully.
- For gluten-free options, use brown rice or chickpea pasta without compromising taste or texture.
- Enhance protein content by adding grilled chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or crispy chickpeas for vegetarian protein boost.
- Customize cheese blend by mixing mozzarella with provolone or adding crumbled feta for extra tangy flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 42 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 62 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg