Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printable)

Vibrant mac with luscious avocado basil pesto sauce for a creamy, nutritious meal.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Avocado Pesto Sauce

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

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain thoroughly.
02 - While pasta cooks, place avocados, basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, milk, salt, and black pepper in a food processor or blender. Process until completely smooth and creamy, adding an extra splash of milk if needed to achieve silky consistency.
03 - Return drained pasta to the cooking pot. Pour avocado pesto sauce over pasta and toss gently to coat evenly. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time to loosen sauce as needed. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving immediately with additional Parmesan, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The avocado creates the most velvety sauce without any cream
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes restaurant fancy
  • Even picky eaters who claim to hate avocado love this version
02 -
  • The lemon juice isn't just for flavor, it keeps the avocado from turning brown too quickly
  • Don't skip the pasta water, it's what makes the sauce actually stick to the macaroni
  • This dish is best eaten immediately because avocado sauce doesn't reheat beautifully
03 -
  • If your avocados aren't quite ripe enough, the sauce will have a slightly bitter taste
  • Toasting your pasta in a dry pan for a few minutes before boiling adds a nutty depth
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