Creamy Pesto Sauce Pasta (Best Easy One Pot Recipe)
A rich and creamy pesto sauce pasta made with penne, bell peppers, and onions. This easy one-pot recipe delivers a silky, flavorful sauce perfect for a quick comfort meal.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
- Total Time: 20–25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: One-Pot, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
300 g penne pasta (cooked al dente)
2 tsp salt (divided)
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 red onion, diced
6 tbsp pesto sauce
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
2 cups heavy cream (35%)
1 1/2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp black pepper
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Grated Parmesan (optional, for topping)
Instructions
Sauté the vegetables:
Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add diced green bell pepper and red onion with 1 tsp salt. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly caramelized.
Add pesto base:
Stir in pesto sauce and reserved pasta water. Simmer for about 5 minutes until slightly thickened.
Prepare creamy slurry:
In a small bowl, whisk flour with a little warm water until smooth. Remove pan from heat and slowly stir in the slurry to avoid lumps.
Make creamy sauce:
Return pan to medium heat. Add heavy cream and simmer for 5–10 minutes, stirring until thick and creamy.
Season:
Add garlic powder, oregano, parsley, black pepper, and adjust salt to taste.
Combine pasta:
Add cooked penne pasta and mix well. Let simmer for 5 minutes so pasta absorbs the sauce.
Serve:
Plate and top with Parmesan cheese and extra parsley if desired.
Notes
Caramelizing the vegetables adds depth of flavor, so don’t rush this step.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for best taste and texture.
If sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of milk or pasta water.
You can replace penne with fusilli or rigatoni for variation.
