Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printable)

Vibrant mac and cheese featuring a luscious avocado and basil pesto sauce tossed with tender pasta for a creamy, flavorful meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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 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
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 instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain in a 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. Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce to desired consistency.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Creamy comfort food that delivers a serious dose of healthy fats without feeling like health food
  • Ready in thirty minutes flat and adaptable to whatever pasta shape lives in your cupboard
02 -
  • Avocado sauce oxidizes faster than you expect so serve this immediately or the color will disappoint
  • The pasta water creates the silky texture you want. Use it even if the sauce seems thick enough.
03 -
  • Chill your food processor bowl for ten minutes before blending to help the sauce stay cooler and emulsify better
  • If your sauce looks too thick add another tablespoon of milk rather than more pasta water
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