Colorful Pasta with Tomato, Cream, and Basil Pesto Sauces Recipe
A versatile pasta recipe featuring three colorful sauce options—classic tomato sauce, creamy cheese sauce, and fresh basil pesto—topped with juicy cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs for a vibrant, flavorful meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz pasta of your choice
Tomato Sauce
- 1 cup tomato sauce
Cream Sauce
- 1 cup cream sauce (made with heavy cream and cheese)
Basil Pesto
- 1 cup basil pesto
Toppings and Seasoning
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauces: Warm up the tomato sauce and cream sauce separately in small saucepans over low heat. Keep the basil pesto ready at room temperature.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Divide the cooked pasta into three portions. Toss one portion with the warm tomato sauce, the second with the cream sauce, and the third with basil pesto to coat evenly.
- Plate Each Portion: Arrange each sauce-coated pasta portion on separate plates or combine them as desired for a colorful meal.
- Add Toppings: Scatter halved cherry tomatoes and chopped parsley or basil over each portion. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.
- Serve: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can use any pasta type you prefer such as spaghetti, penne, or fusilli.
- The cream sauce can be made by gently heating heavy cream with grated cheese until slightly thickened.
- For a fresher pesto, consider making it from scratch with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and olive oil.
- Adjust salt and pepper to your taste, especially since Parmesan and pesto can be salty.
- Leftover sauce options can be refrigerated and used within 3 days.
Keywords: pasta, tomato sauce, cream sauce, basil pesto, Italian recipes, easy dinners, vegetarian pasta
