Description
Cream Cheese Pasta is the ultimate comfort food—rich, velvety, and irresistibly creamy. Made with just a handful of ingredients, this quick and satisfying dish delivers bold flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for weeknights or when you’re craving something cozy, it pairs beautifully with a crisp salad or roasted veggies for a complete meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz (340 g) pasta (penne, fusilli, or shells)
- 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and salt generously (≈ 1 Tbsp per 4 qt water).
- Add pasta and cook until al dente (1–2 minutes less than package directions).
- Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Make the Sauce
- In the same (now empty) pot, warm olive oil over low heat.
- Add minced garlic; sauté 30 seconds until fragrant (do not brown).
- Remove pot from heat and add cream cheese.
- Pour in ½ cup reserved pasta water and whisk until the cream cheese melts into a smooth sauce.
- Incorporate Cheese
- Return pot to the lowest heat setting.
- Whisk in Parmesan in two additions, ensuring each is fully melted before adding more.
- If sauce is too thick, add up to the remaining ½ cup pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, until desired consistency.
- Combine & Season
- Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss vigorously to coat every piece.
- Season with salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper.
- Stir in any optional add-ins (e.g., cooked chicken, sautéed veggies).
- Serve
- Plate immediately, garnishing with chopped parsley or basil.
- Finish with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if desired.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta Recipes
- Method: Stovetop / One‑Pot
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 70mg