Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake
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Looking for a fun and delicious pasta recipe to make this week? Try my Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake. This easy pesto pasta recipe is a riff off of the famous TikTok feta pasta.
Simply combine all of the ingredients in an oven-safe dish and bake it. Toss in your cooked spirali pasta and you have a tasty meal in under 40 minutes. Plus, you’ll only need one pan so cleanup is a breeze.
If you love this pesto recipe, try my Creamy Pesto Chicken or my Pesto Whipped Ricotta Stuffed Shells.
This recipe post is sponsored by Delallo Foods. I was compensated for my time, however, all opinions are my own.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fresh ingredients. Made from fresh ingredients, this creamy pesto pasta bake recipe is a breeze to prepare. For starters, I used Delallo Food’s jarred basil pesto. I love this pesto because it is so flavorful. Loaded with pine nuts, basil, parmesan cheese and a few other clean ingredients this pesto is my favorite. Plus, let’s face it, after a long days work it’s nice to keep things simple and use a jarred pesto vs. homemade.
- Simple yet gourmet. I also used Delallo fine chopped garlic and olive oil in this recipe. As you know, I am obsessed with their products. Everything is high-quality and carefully sourced. Resulting in the most delicious meal every single time.
- Clean up is a breeze. This recipe only requires one baking dish making clean up a breeze!
Recipe Ingredients
- Pasta – This recipe calls for 8-10 ounces of cooked pasta. Any short cut pasta shape will work fine.
- Cheese – This recipe calls for block cream cheese. You can also sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over the finished dish.
- Pesto – I used Delallo foods jarred simply pesto and it tasted amazing.
- Oil – This recipe calls for Delallo extra virgin olive oil.
- Aromatics – You’ll need diced shallots and minced garlic for this recipe.
- Seasoning – Season with kosher salt and cracked black pepper.
- Heavy Cream – This recipe calls for heavy cream to make the sauce rich and delicious.
- Garnishes – Option to garnish this pasta with red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese, and toasted pine nuts.
Expert Tips
- Cook the pasta al dente. Short cut pasta works best and soaks up the most sauce.
- Option to add some parmesan cheese to the sauce if you like it thicker.
- Add some sliced grilled chicken or my Juicy Pan Roasted Chicken for extra protein.
How to Make
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 8×8 ceramic baking dish with avocado oil spray. Set aside.
Boil the Pasta
- Boil a pot of water and cook the spirali pasta according to the package. Al dente is best. Drain off the water using a colander and drizzle the pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Prepare the Sauce
- Grab the prepared baking dish and add the cream cheese to the bottom of the dish. Add the diced shallots, pesto sauce, minced garlic, olive oil and kosher salt to season.
Bake
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Remove the cheese mixture from the oven and begin to stir in the heavy cream. Once the sauce is creamy and smooth, add the cooked pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated in the sauce.
- Top with grated parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and a few turns of cracked black pepper. Serve and enjoy.
Storage
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat in the microwave until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead of time?
Best enjoyed hot from the oven. But leftovers can be reheated.
Why do you use short cut pasta?
Short cut pasta soaks up the most sauce and is easier to eat in this recipe.
Other Pesto Recipes to Consider Trying
Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake
Try my creamy pesto pasta bake. This easy pasta recipe is a riff off of the famous TikTok feta pasta.
Equipment
- 1 pot to boil pasta
- 1 colander
- 1 8×8-inch ceramic baking dish
Ingredients
Creamy pesto pasta
- 8-10 ounces pasta, Delallo Spirali
- 3-4 tablespoons Delallo simply pesto, traditional basil
- 1 tablespoon Delallo extra virgin olive oil
- 4 ounces cream cheese, block cheese works best
- ½ cup shallots, or sweet onions, diced small
- 2 teaspoons Delallo fine chopped garlic
- kosher salt, to season
- ½ cup heavy cream
Garnish Ideas
- Delallo Parmesan cheese wedge, freshly grate as a garnish
- toasted pine nuts
- red pepper flakes
- cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray an 8×8 ceramic baking dish with avocado oil spray. Set aside.
Boil the Pasta
- Boil a pot of water and cook the spirali pasta according to the package. Al dente is best. Drain off the water using a colander and drizzle the pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Prepare the Sauce
- Grab the prepared baking dish and add the cream cheese to the bottom of the dish. Add the diced shallots, pesto sauce, minced garlic, olive oil and kosher salt to season.
Bake
- Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes. Remove the cheese mixture from the oven and begin to stir in the heavy cream. Once the sauce is creamy and smooth, add the cooked pasta. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated in the sauce.
- Top with grated parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes and a few turns of cracked black pepper. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving or 1/4 of the pasta dish., Calories: 315kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 542mg, Potassium: 381mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1353IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 89mg, Iron: 1mg
