Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printable Version)

A luscious avocado and basil pesto sauce coats tender pasta for a creamy, flavorful meal ready in just 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz macaroni or short pasta
02 - 1 tsp salt for pasta water

→ Avocado Pesto Sauce

03 - 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
04 - 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
05 - 2 cloves garlic
06 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
09 - 1/4 cup milk
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish

12 - Extra grated Parmesan
13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Cracked black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook macaroni according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
02 - Combine avocados, basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, milk, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, adding additional milk if needed for desired consistency.
03 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Pour avocado pesto sauce over pasta and toss gently to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen sauce as needed. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately with optional garnishes.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes and tastes like something from a restaurant
  • You get all the creaminess of mac and cheese without any heavy cream or flour
02 -
  • The sauce will darken slightly over time but the flavor remains perfect
  • Have all your sauce ingredients ready before you start cooking the pasta
03 -
  • If your avocados are not perfectly ripe the sauce will feel grainy instead of silky
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly than cold ones
Go Back