Pesto Alfredo Sauce Recipes

Steps:

• Heat cream cheese, milk (or milk and cream), and garlic together in a small saucepan. Bring just barely to boiling.
• Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until cream cheese is fully melted into the milk.
• Stir in the pesto and reheat to just barely boiling again.
• Stir in Parmesan and simmer a few moments until the sauce begins to thicken.
• Remove from heat and serve over any pasta.
• Note on Pesto: Best made with a pure basil pesto rather than a basil-and-spinach pesto. Homemade or commercial is fine.
• Note on Parmesan: I freeze my homemade pesto without the cheese so I use the full 3/4 cup. If your pesto has a generous amount of cheese you will not need as much. Not that plenty of Parmesan is a bad thing. :D.
• If you toss this together with pasta, chunks of cooked chicken, and broccoli florets then spread it in a baking pan with plenty of shredded Mozzarella on top you get a terrific casserole.

Steps:

• Stir half-and-half, pesto, butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper together in a skillet over medium-low heat; cook until hot, about 8 minutes.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente, adding the spinach during the last 30 seconds of cooking. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and spinach.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the heavy cream, nutmeg, lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Increase the heat to medium high and bring the liquid to a simmer. Add the pasta and spinach and toss until coated, about 1 minute. Stir in the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Stir in enough of the reserved cooking water to loosen the sauce.
• Remove from the heat and immediately stir in the pesto. Divide among bowls; top with pepper and more parmesan.

Steps:

• Finely chop basil, pine nuts and garlic in processor. With machine running, gradually add olive oil through feed tube and process until smooth. Mix in 1/2 Parmesan. Transfer pesto to small jar. (Can be prepared 4 days ahead. Pour enough olive oil over sauce to cover. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk in pesto. Season sauce and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan in large bowl. Toss to coat pasta evenly and serve.

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 7 to 8 min. or until done. Add milk and cream cheese spread; cook and stir 3 min. or until cream cheese is completely melted and sauce is well blended. Add peppers, Parmesan and pesto sauce; mix well. Cook 3 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Drain pasta. Add to cream cheese sauce; mix lightly.

Steps:

• Finely chop basil, pine nuts and garlic in processor.
• Gradually add olive oil through feed tube and process until smooth; mix in ½ cup Parmesan.
• Transfer to a small jar (can be made up to 4 days ahead - make on the weekend to enjoy a quick, mid-week meal. Pour enough olive oil on surface of pesto to inhibit exposure to air).
• Bring cream to boil in medium saucepan; whisk in pesto.
• Season to taste.
• Combine pasta, sauce and remaining 3/4 cup Parmesan in large bowl.
• Toss to coat evenly and serve sprinkled with some minced basil.
• Note: If you want this 'saucier' you can add a little milk to wet the pasta.

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil; stir in tortellini and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini float to the top and the filling is hot, 4 to 6 minutes. Drain.
• While the tortellini is cooking, combine Alfredo sauce, broccoli, and sun-dried tomatoes in a covered saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is tender-crisp, about 6 minutes.
• Serve cooked tortellini with Alfredo sauce spooned over the top. Garnish with Parmesan cheese and season with pepper.