Parmesan and Pesto Pasta

Pesto basil sauce is one of the most delicious sauces I have come across in the world of cooking. I love using it in pasta because it's a nice change from traditional red sauce. It goes great with ingredients like spinach and Parmesan cheese so I decided to also add those as well to this recipe to create a light and cheesy pasta!

There are plenty of different cheeses that you can add to this dish to make it even more cheesy and flavorful like mozzarella, Swiss, and even Asiago cheese!

Ready-made pesto sauce is hassle-free and already packed with beautiful herbs so that you don't have to worry about making it beforehand!

Pasta: an Italian-inspired dish that is enjoyed to the core by everyone all around the world. I mean name me one person who doesn't enjoy pasta! It's saucy, so filling, and can be made in a variety of ways. One of my favorites is the pesto-based dish which we are making.

There aren't too many ingredients added to this 'lighter' pasta, however they are very flavorful and go a long way in the dish! The spinach added towards the end gives beautiful color to the meal and lovely soft flavors that balances all the cheese we use!

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Prep Time: 5 minutes Serves: 2 People

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) Medium Shell Pasta, uncooked

• 2 Tbsp. Butter

• 2 Tbsp. Flour

• 1 cup Milk

• 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream

• 1/2 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan

• 2 1/2 Tbsp Basil Pesto

• 1 tsp. Salt

• 1 tsp. Dried Parsley

• 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

• 1 cup Fresh Spinach

• 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Boil pasta according to the contents of the package. Drain.

2. While the pasta is boiling, in a medium saucepan, combine the butter and flour over medium heat. Stir until a paste forms and it begins to bubble, about 3-4 minutes.

3. Add in the milk and heavy whipping cream and whisk until it begins to simmer, about 4-6 minutes. The sauce should get thicker.

4. Remove the sauce from the heat so the milk doesn't burn and add in the Parmesan, basil pesto, salt, parsley, and black pepper. Stir until sauce is evenly combined.

5. Pour the sauce over the drained pasta and stir well so all the pasta is coated.

6. Add in the fresh spinach and mozzarella cheese until wilted and melted.

7. Serve and enjoy!