Pesto Pasta for One

Ingredients

Scroll down to the pesto pasta for one recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.

• Pesto: Make some with about to go bad basil, arugula, spinach, etc. Or buy your favorite kind. Some of my favorites are the Kirkland brand and Trader Joe's.
• Edamame: A great plant based protein source, can be added to the cooking pasta, and it adds nice texture to this pasta. You could also use chicken, sausage, salmon or whatever else you like.
• Pasta: Use your favorite shape. Pasta with some ridges helps the sauce stick and get very creamy, but use what you have, your pesto pasta for one will be great.
• Parmesan
• Vegetables: If you'd like more vegetables in your pesto pasta for one, I recommend adding frozen vegetables to the almost done pasta. Add it with 2-3 minutes cook time remaining for best results.
• Basil

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

*Make your own pesto or use store bought pesto for this 10 minute pasta recipe.

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Add edamame and frozen vegetables to pasta when it has about 2-3 minutes left to cook.

2. Reserve 1-2 Tablespoons of pasta water, then drain water. This helps thicken up your sauce, and helps it stick to the pasta.

I highly recommend doing this.

3. Transfer pasta and vegetables to serving bowl or mixing bowl. Add fresh or frozen pesto and toss. Top pesto pasta with grated parmesan cheese and red chili flakes (optional) and enjoy.

Storage/Reheating Tips

Store in an airtight container for about a week, in the fridge. I like to sprinkle a bit of water on pasta before reheating as it can get dried out in the fridge. It helps the sauce feel extra smooth and creamy.

I wouldn't recommend freezing this pesto pasta for one as the pasta might break apart after freezing.

Substitutions/Tips

• Chicken, salmon, tofu, and shrimp are all good proteins to go on this single serving pasta if you don't have edamame.
• Be careful about heating store-bought pesto up as it may turn brown/black. The Arugula Basil Pesto shouldn't turn brown/black because it doesn't have a ton of basil in it.
• Frozen vegetables cook easily in the pasta water, and are inexpensive, but you can substitute them for any other vegetable, or don't add vegetables.
• Add back 1-2 Tablespoons of pasta water to your pasta and sauce. The starch in the water helps your sauce stick to the pasta, and keeps the sauce very creamy and lovely.
• If you're storing any for leftovers, add a sprinkle of water to pasta before reheating, it'll help preserve the creamy sauce consistency.
• Other great add-ins: cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, toasted pine nuts or cashews, extra virgin olive oil would all be great on this pesto pasta for one.

Other good pasta recipes

• Pasta with Black Beans
• One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
• Creamy Jerk Shrimp Pasta for One
• Chicken Bacon and Mushroom Pasta

What to do with leftover ingredients

When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.

• Pasta: Here are a bunch of pasta recipes.
• Edamame: Beef and Broccoli or Mandarin Orange and Spinach Salad
• Parmesan Cheese: 15 Minute Pasta, One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta, Pasta with Mushroom Sauce, or Trader Joe's Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Sausage for One.

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