Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printable)

A vibrant twist on classic mac and cheese with creamy avocado and basil pesto sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes.

# Ingredient list:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz macaroni or short pasta
02 - 1 teaspoon 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 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 1/4 cup milk, dairy or unsweetened plant-based
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

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

# How-to:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain in colander.
02 - While pasta cooks, combine avocados, basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, milk, salt, and black pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add additional milk if needed to achieve a silky sauce consistency.
03 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Pour in the avocado pesto sauce and toss gently to coat all pasta. Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce to desired consistency.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately while hot, garnishing with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in minutes while your pasta cooks, meaning dinner is ready in the time it usually takes just to prep ingredients
  • That gorgeous green color makes everyone think you spent hours perfecting something complicated
02 -
  • Avocado sauce will start to darken after about an hour, so this is definitely a dish best enjoyed fresh and immediately
  • If your sauce tastes too thick or pasty, that reserved pasta water is your secret weapon for bringing it back to life
03 -
  • If you're worried about the sauce browning, toss the avocado with a little extra lemon juice before blending
  • Don't be shy with the salt when boiling the pasta—it's your only chance to season the noodles themselves
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