Pesto Parmesan Pasta with Pine Nuts

Pesto Parmesan Pasta with oodles of basil pesto sauce coating perfectly cooked penne pasta. Pesto pasta with pine nuts is an easy dinner that’s perfect for pasta night!

Pesto Parmesan Pasta

When Erik and I first started dating in San Francisco, one of the first things he enthusiastically introduced me to was pesto potato pizza. I’d never had the combo and soon realized that pesto might just be one of his favorite things. Never having been a pesto fan myself, I soon found that pesto plus parmesan equaled amazing yumminess!

As such, I’m dedicating today’s Pesto Parmesan Pasta to Erik. His love of fresh basil mixed with pine nuts, olive oil, and loads of parmesan are fulfilled in today’s Pesto pasta with pine nuts!

The best part? This pesto pasta recipe is easy to make, with my basil pesto sauce or jarred, store-bought pesto. With just a few steps, you’ll be enjoying fragrant, flavorful, and mouthwatering homemade pasta! Better yet, I’ve included suggested sides, just in case you’re wondering what goes with pasta and pesto!

Pesto and Pine Nut Pasta Ingredients

• Penne pasta – if you’d like you can swap the penne with macaroni, fusilli, and more!
• Homemade pesto – use this recipe for delicious from-scratch pesto, or use store-bought pesto
• Fresh basil
• Pine nuts – you can use any kind of nut or seed, like almonds, walnuts, pistachios and more
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Parmesan – use freshly-grated parmesan and add as much or as little as you’d like
• Salt & pepper to taste

How to Make Pesto and Parmesan Pasta

With just 4 easy steps, you’ll be enjoying pesto and parmesan pasta. Bouncy, perfectly-cooked penne pasta is tossed with herby, umami-packed basil pesto and topped with yummy parmesan, pine nuts, and fresh basil leaves for a delicious Italian dinner!

1. Using a food processor or mortar and pestle, make 1 recipe basil pesto sauce. Cover and refrigerate.
2. In a large pasta pot with salted water, cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve pasta water, drain and toss with olive oil.
3. Toss pasta with pasta water, then pesto sauce.
4. Serve pesto pasta in bowls topped with pine nuts, parmesan, salt and pepper. Enjoy!

Pesto Pasta with Green Beans and Potatoes

Since Erik introduced me to the delightful combo of pesto and potatoes, I thought you’d love making pesto pasta with green beans and potatoes. Simply make this recipe on the side or toss together with extra pesto sauce in the large pot.

Jarred Pesto Pasta Recipe

To make this pesto pasta recipe with jar pesto, simply use about five to seven ounces of store bought pesto. Grab your favorite kind at the store and add as much or as little as you prefer.

What Veg Goes With Pesto Pasta?

If you’re wondering “What to serve with pasta and pesto?”, or what vegetables go with pesto pasta, here are some yummy ideas.

What to Serve with Pesto Pasta

Tips

• Cook pasta until it’s al dente—it’s tender, but still a bit firm. The pasta will continue cooking as it sits, so you don’t want to overcook it.
• Toss pasta with olive oil after draining to prevent sticking.
• Use the reserved pasta water to achieve the consistency of pesto sauce you prefer—less for thicker sauce, more for thinner.
• Add in protein like tofu or chicken breasts for a more filling pesto pasta meal.
• Use whatever nut or seed you’d like to make the pesto
• Switch up the leafy greens in the pesto; you can use arugula, cilantro, spinach—truly almost any leafy green!

I hope you have as much fun making penne pasta with basil pesto as I did! If you make a recipe, please take a pic and share it on Instagram or Facebook, tagging me @beamingbaker and #beamingbaker. I truly love seeing it! ‘Til our next delicious adventure together… Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️