Pesto Mac and Cheese

This easy pesto mac and cheese is made with short pasta (such as macaroni, rotini or small shells) tossed in a creamy homemade cheese sauce.

Who else really enjoys fancy boxed mac and cheese?

It's not just me, is it?

While I don't eat boxed mac and cheese often, I like to have some on hand as an emergency, super-quick backup meal.

But guys, I like the fancy kind! I'm spoiled like that.

A few years ago, I bought some really tasty boxed pesto mac and cheese at Aldi. Sadly, there isn't an Aldi nearby where we live now, and I found myself missing their pasta.

So, I started making my own homemade pesto mac and cheese. It's probably no surprise that the homemade version is even more delicious than the boxed version.

This pesto mac and cheese is an easy, filling pasta dinner or side dish that's (almost!) as easy as the boxed version.

Want more pasta in your life? Try making smoked salmon alfredo, acorn squash pasta, lemon spinach pasta and pasta con le sarde.

What is Basil Pesto?

Basil pesto is traditionally made with fresh basil, oil, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts.

Homemade variations may swap out or omit some of the ingredients. For instance, I prefer to make my homemade basil pesto with cashews and no cheese.

Pesto should be easy to find in your regular grocery store.

What Kind of Pasta Should I Use?

Use whatever short pasta you have on hand.

This recipe works well with macaroni, small shells, penne or rotini. The pasta in the photos is rotini.

Can I Make This Gluten-Free?

Yes, absolutely!

I really like this mac and cheese with chickpea pasta, because the flavors in the sauce work really well with the (somewhat strongly flavored) pasta. The pasta in the photos is Banza's chickpea pasta.

How to Make Pesto Cheese Sauce

While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a heavy-bottomed pot or a large pan. Add flour and quickly stir, stir, stir until the butter absorbs the flour.

Next, stir warm milk or cream into the butter and flour mixture.

And yes, the milk really does need to be warm. If it's cold, the flour could seize up and make clumps.

Turn off the heat and add freshly grated cheese to the sauce.

Stir until it's completely melted.

Finally, add the pesto.

Stir it into the cheese sauce.

How to Make Pesto Mac and Cheese

When your pasta is al dente (cooked but slightly firm), add it to the cheese sauce.

Use tongs to toss the pasta into the sauce. You may want to add a splash of pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.

Serve this extra cheesy pasta as a main course or as a side dish. I like to serve my pasta along with a lower-carb vegetable side, such as oven-roasted broccoli or braised kale.