Creamy Avocado Pesto Mac (Printable)

Vibrant mac and cheese with creamy avocado basil pesto sauce, ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz macaroni or short pasta
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
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
13 - Fresh basil leaves
14 - Cracked black pepper

# How to Make It:

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 water, then drain.
02 - Combine avocados, basil, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, lemon juice, milk, salt, and black pepper in a food processor or blender. Blend until completely smooth and creamy, adding additional milk if needed to achieve silky consistency.
03 - Return drained pasta to the pot. Pour avocado pesto sauce over pasta and toss gently to coat thoroughly. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen sauce as needed.
04 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and cracked black pepper if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in under five minutes with zero cooking required
  • Its packed with healthy fats but tastes completely indulgent
  • Picky eaters never suspect they are eating avocados
02 -
  • The sauce thickens as it sits, so add pasta water gradually rather than all at once
  • This dish is best served immediately because avocado oxidizes and darkens over time
  • Adding the lemon juice right when blending helps preserve that vibrant green color
03 -
  • If your avocados are not perfectly ripe, the sauce will be grainy rather than smooth
  • Letting the sauce sit for even 5 minutes before serving allows flavors to meld together
  • Room temperature ingredients blend more easily than cold ones
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