Easy One Pan Pesto Ravioli

Category: Complete Meals with Minimal Cleanup

Fast pesto ravioli with cream sauce. Ready in 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings. Great weeknight meal.
Barbara Chef
Updated on Thu, 15 May 2025 12:25:10 GMT
Creamy Pesto Ravioli Highlight
Creamy Pesto Ravioli | cookwithcarla.com

Turn your favorite store-bought ravioli into something special with this rich creamy pesto sauce, all done in one skillet in less than 20 minutes. You get tender cheese pockets smothered in a dreamy sauce—fancy but not fussy.

Irresistible Elements

Good-quality ravioli really makes it work great

Real pesto brings out the pop

Heavy cream is what makes it ultra smooth

Toss in fresh spinach for healthiness

Little squeeze of lemon wakes things up

Making Pasta Shine

Pour in some broth, swirl in pesto, splash of lemon, and cream.

Drop ravioli right into the tasty sauce.

Let everything bubble until it’s all hugged in sauce.

Toss spinach in, let it get just soft.

Tweak flavors to fit your taste buds.

Creamy Pesto Ravioli Bowl Highlight
Creamy Pesto Ravioli Bowl | cookwithcarla.com

Tasty Pairings

Serve up with crunchy bread and a little dish of olive oil. Throw in a simple arugula salad and shaved parmesan to round things out.

Change It Up

Pour in some white wine for a flavor boost

Toss in chopped sun-dried tomatoes

Shred some rotisserie chicken and add it

Try it out with all sorts of ravioli fillings

Storing Leftovers

Pop in the fridge for up to 4 days. Warm gently on low to keep it creamy. It stays best for the first couple days—avoid freezing, texture gets weird.

Speedy Pointers

Grab good jarred pesto if homemade isn’t handy

Let it simmer slowly, don’t rush

Give sauce time, it’ll thicken up nicely

Keep an eye on the ravioli, cooks fast

Chef Secrets

Add cream over low heat so it stays smooth

Check if the pasta is done after a few minutes

Simple Creamy Pesto Ravioli Bowl Highlight
Simple Creamy Pesto Ravioli Bowl | cookwithcarla.com

Add seasoning a little at a time

Dig in right away for the best texture

You’ll whip up this dinner in no time and still feel like you ordered from a fancy spot—plus, dishes are a breeze.

Recipe FAQs

→ Pre-boil ravioli?
Nope, toss them in raw and let them cook in the sauce.
→ Best pesto brand?
We like DeLallo for real pesto flavor.
→ Sauce too thin?
Just let it simmer a bit longer and it'll thicken up.
→ Too salty?
Go for a low-salt broth if your pesto’s already salty.
→ Add lemon?
If your pesto pops with lemon already, you can leave it out.

Easy One Pan Pesto Ravioli

Simple skillet pasta with cheese ravioli cooked in creamy pesto plus fresh spinach.

Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
15 min

Category: One-Pot Meals

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Italian American

Yield: 4 Servings

Dietary Preferences: Vegetarian

Ingredients

→ Sauce

01 1 teaspoon lemon juice
02 1 cup heavy cream
03 1/2 cup pesto
04 1/2 cup chicken or veggie broth

→ Main

05 Freshly grated parmesan (if you'd like)
06 Salt and pepper for flavor
07 2 cups packed baby spinach
08 1 pound cold cheese ravioli

Steps

Step 01

Toss in the spinach now, cover up, and let it get soft. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and parmesan on top if ya want.

Step 02

Give the ravioli another stir. If it still looks too runny, let it go a bit longer.

Step 03

Pop the ravioli right into the sauce. Set to medium-low. Lid on. Wait five minutes.

Step 04

Dump broth, pesto, cream, and lemon into a skillet and crank heat up until it starts to bubble.

Notes

  1. You can skip boiling ravioli ahead
  2. Give your pesto a taste—some are saltier than others
  3. Try the lemon juice amount and tweak if you use a punchy pesto

Required Equipment

  • Big skillet with a lid
  • Spoons for measuring
  • Measuring cups work best
  • Something to stir with

Allergen Information

Double-check every ingredient for potential allergens and consult a healthcare professional if unsure.
  • Has dairy stuff
  • Has wheat

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

This data is for informational purposes only and doesn’t replace medical advice.
  • Calories: 705
  • Fat: 46 g
  • Carbs: 52 g
  • Protein: 20 g