This oven baked 4-ingredient creamy pesto pasta is exactly the kind of dish that disappears at a potluck. My aunt showed up with a foil-lined sheet pan of this bubbly, green-coated penne one summer, and we literally scraped the pan clean. It’s a practical, Midwestern-style shortcut casserole: just dry pasta, jarred pesto, heavy cream, and shredded mozzarella baked together until the edges crisp and the center turns silky and rich. No pre-boiling, no fussy steps—just stir, spread, and bake until you have a creamy, comforting pesto masterpiece.
Serve this creamy pesto pasta straight from the foil-lined sheet pan while it’s still bubbling and lightly browned around the edges. It pairs nicely with a simple green salad dressed with lemony vinaigrette to cut through the richness, and some crusty bread or garlic toast for scooping up the extra sauce. A crisp white wine like Pinot Grigio or a light-bodied red works well, or keep it casual with sparkling water and lemon. For potlucks, I like to bring a bowl of cherry tomatoes tossed in olive oil and salt to add a fresh, juicy counterpoint on the side.
Oven Baked 4-Ingredient Creamy Pesto PastaServings: 6
Ingredients
12 oz (about 3 1/2 cups) dry penne pasta
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup prepared basil pesto (from a jar or deli)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet (about 13x18 inches) with aluminum foil, making sure the foil comes up the sides to catch any bubbling sauce.
In a large bowl, combine the heavy cream and pesto. Whisk or stir with a spoon until the mixture is completely blended and uniform in color. Taste and, if your pesto is very mild, you can add a pinch of salt, but remember the cheese and pesto both contain salt.
Add the dry penne pasta to the bowl and toss well, making sure every piece of pasta is coated in the creamy pesto mixture. The pasta should look generously sauced; this extra moisture is what allows the pasta to cook through in the oven.
Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the shredded mozzarella, reserving the remaining 1/2 cup for the top. Fold gently so the cheese is evenly distributed throughout the pasta and sauce.
Pour the coated pasta mixture onto the foil-lined baking sheet and spread it into an even layer, making sure you get sauce and cheese all the way to the corners so nothing dries out.
Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the pasta. This will create the bubbly, lightly browned layer you’ll be scooping into at the table.
Cover the entire baking sheet tightly with another layer of foil, tenting it slightly so it doesn’t press down into the cheese. Bake on the center rack for 25 minutes to allow the pasta to steam and soften in the sauce.
After 25 minutes, carefully remove the top foil (watch for hot steam). Return the uncovered pan to the oven and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the pasta is tender, the sauce is bubbling around the edges, and the cheese on top is melted and starting to brown in spots.
If you like deeper browning, switch the oven to broil for 1–2 minutes, watching closely so the cheese doesn’t burn. The surface should look lightly blistered and golden in places, with creamy green sauce visible between the pieces of pasta.
Let the pasta rest on a cooling rack or stovetop for about 5–10 minutes before serving. This short rest helps the sauce thicken slightly so you can lift a big, cohesive portion with a metal spatula—just like that satisfying, slightly messy sheet-pan scoop at a potluck.
Variations & Tips
You can keep the spirit of this 4-ingredient recipe while making small, thoughtful adjustments. For a slightly lighter version, swap half of the heavy cream for whole milk or half-and-half; the sauce will be a bit less rich but still creamy. If you prefer a stronger cheese presence, replace 1/2 cup of the mozzarella with grated Parmesan or Romano, stirring it into the sauce rather than sprinkling on top so it melts smoothly. Any short, sturdy pasta such as rigatoni, ziti, or rotini will work in place of penne; avoid very tiny shapes, which can overcook quickly. If your pesto is very thick, add 2–3 tablespoons of water to the cream-pesto mixture so the dry pasta has enough liquid to absorb. For those who like a bit of texture, you can sprinkle a small handful of breadcrumbs over the top along with the cheese for a lightly crisped crust, though this would technically add a fifth ingredient. Food safety tips: Keep the heavy cream refrigerated until you’re ready to mix the sauce, and don’t leave the finished pasta at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if your kitchen is very warm). When reheating leftovers, heat until the pasta is steaming hot all the way through, at least 165°F (74°C). Store leftovers in a shallow container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3–4 days, adding a splash of milk or cream before reheating if the pasta seems dry.
