Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

Romantic pasta

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 10m
Cook Time: 25m
Total Time: 30m
Temp.: 425 °F
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy
4.9 (24 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Nutritional Information

657
Calories
30g
Fat
80g
Carbohydrates
17g
Protein
12mg
Cholesterol
289mg
Sodium
Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

Recipe Description

Are you cooking at home this Valentine’s Day? Then this Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes is a perfect pasta dinner just for you. Why is that so? Firstly, it is quick and easy to prepare. You know me, I am all about the simplest of recipes for celebrations. Secondly, you can make the winter pesto for this recipe a day ahead. Besides, it can be so versatile. If you don’t have kale on hand, use collards, arugula, basil, or whatever greens you have. This pesto doesn’t use nuts, I use pine nuts as a garnish instead. You can also substitute pine nuts for any nuts of your choice, or even sunflower seeds if you are looking for a nut-free alternative.

This delicious pasta is loaded full of roasted sweet potatoes and red onion. Italian bucatini pasta is thicker than spaghetti and features a hole in the center, which makes it a perfect sauce catcher. That is why I like to serve it tossed with green winter pesto and topped with pine nuts and extra Parmesan. So yummy!

To make this Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

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Steps to make

  1. 1

    Preheat oven and prepare vegetables for roasting

    5 min
    Step 1 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    Preheat the oven to 425 °F and place 1 cubed sweet potato and red onion wedges into a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.

  2. 2

    Roast

    25 min
    Step 2 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    Roast vegetables, stirring once, until tender for 20-25 minutes.

  3. 3

    Chop kale and parsley

    1 min
    Step 3 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    In a food processor, combine 4 cups kale and ½ cup parsley and pulse a few times until chopped.

  4. 4

    Add Parmesan, garlic, lemon zest and juice

    2 min
    Step 4 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    Add 2 ounces grated Parmesan, 1 clove garlic, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, and 1½ tablespoons lemon juice. Pulse until finely chopped, scraping the sides down as necessary.

  5. 5

    Add olive oil

    1 min
    Step 5 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    With the machine running slowly, add in ⅓ cup olive oil and process until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

  6. 6

    Cook pasta

    10 min
    Step 6 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving ¼ cup cooking water.

  7. 7

    Toss pasta

    1 min
    Step 7 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    Toss pasta with pesto, roasted sweet potatoes and onion, and ¼ cup cooking water.

  8. 8

    Serve

    Step 8 - Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes

    Garnish with pine nuts and extra Parmesan and serve. Enjoy!

This Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes is a romantically easy pasta dinner. Give this recipe a try and come back to leave a review. We love hearing from you!

About the author

Lilly Mathuse

Lilly is an enthusiastic and cheerful young mom. She knows as well as any parent that children can be really picky when it comes to food. And she’s had plenty of experience trying to cook meals that are both tasty and nutritious, and able to satisfy the tastes of a fussy kid right away! To save you some precious time, Lilly's going to share with you all the tricks she learned the hard way, so you don’t have to! She has a wealth of recipes for quick and easy meals for kids and families on a budget.

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
4.9 out of 5 (24 reviews)
Quinn
January 27, 2025
Verified

Superb! This dish was a hit at our family dinner. The kids loved it and I loved the simplicity!

Kiki
December 31, 2024
Verified

Delicious! I made this for a cozy night in, and it warmed my heart just like a hug!

James Brown
August 17, 2024
Verified

Superb! Made this for Valentine’s, and my wife loved it. The sweet potatoes added a nice touch. Def will make it again!

Zoe
August 3, 2024
Verified

Yummy

Olive
March 29, 2024
Verified

Wonderful!

Nina
January 8, 2024
Verified

Delicious!

Mary
October 15, 2023
Verified

So simple, loved it!

Zara
October 12, 2023
Verified

OMG! This Bucatini with Winter Pesto was a hit! Made it for V-Day, and we both loved it. The sweet potatoes added a nice touch. Got me feeling like a chef! So easy too!

Debbie
October 10, 2023
Verified

Delicious! I made this for my family last Valentine’s Day. The kids loved the sweet potatoes, and it was so easy to throw together. The winter pesto was the star! Can't wait to make it again.

Quinn
October 6, 2023
Verified

This recipe made my Valentine's Day special. So easy to make and delicious!

Wade
October 5, 2023
Verified

Awesome! This recipe made our Valentine's dinner unforgettable!

Nora
October 1, 2023
Verified

This Bucatini with Winter Pesto and Sweet Potatoes was a hit on Valentine’s Day! My husband loved it, and the kids gobbled it up too. I prepped the pesto a day ahead, making it super easy to serve. Definitely a new family favorite!

Ellie
May 17, 2023
Verified

Made this for Valentine’s and it reminded me of our first date.

Brianna
May 14, 2023
Verified

OMG, this Bucatini with Winter Pesto is lit! Made it for V-Day dinner and it was a hit! Super easy – I prepped the pesto the night before. Roasted sweet potatoes just took it over the top! So glad I tried this. Definitely making it again! 💖🍝

Alex90
April 25, 2023
Verified

Tried this Bucatini and wow, it was super tasty! Made it for dinner last family night, everyone loved it.

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