15-Minute Easy Dinner Alert – Delicious Pesto Pasta

With tender pasta, bright lemon juice, basil pesto, parmesan cheese, and fresh tomatoes, this easy pesto pasta recipe delivers a restaurant-worthy dish in under 15 minutes.

Full Printable Recipe: https://amindfullmom.com/pesto-pasta/

Pesto Pasta:
16 ounces pasta, linguine, spaghetti, fusilli, or penne pasta
kosher salt, for cooking pasta
1 cup prepared pesto
1 cup reserved pasta water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, or more to taste
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, cut into halves, optional
fresh basil leaves for garnish

1. Cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the length of time listed on the package of pasta. Just before draining the pasta, scoop out 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and set it to the side.
2. Drain pasta in a colander and let it cool in the colander for 2-3 minutes before transferring it to a large mixing bowl.
3. Toss pasta with pesto and a bit of pasta water, adding more water as needed.
Stir in lemon juice, parmesan cheese, and serve with tomatoes, fresh basil, and additional cheese.

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If you have 15 minutes, you have time to make this pesto pasta. Drop your favorite pasta into boiling water that has been heavily salted. Cook for 1 minute less than the package states. While the pasta is cooking, toss together grape tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and basil. Before draining the pasta, grab some of that pasta water. It is magic. Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large serving dish and let cool slightly. Add in basil pesto, fresh lemon juice, a pinch of salt and pepper, and a bit of the starchy magic pasta water. Toss to combine, adding more liquid as needed. Finish with fresh parm and those juicy tomatoes, and level up dinner in under 15 minutes.