Description
This Best Easy Cream Cheese Pasta is a quick, creamy, and comforting dinner recipe made with simple pantry ingredients like pasta, cream cheese, garlic, and parmesan. Perfect for weeknights, it’s rich, satisfying, and totally customizable.
Ingredients
1 pound pasta of choice
4 ounces cream cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup reserved pasta water
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (optional)
Instructions
1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
3. Add cream cheese to the skillet and stir until melted into a smooth paste.
4. Slowly add pasta water a bit at a time, stirring constantly to create a creamy sauce.
5. Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until evenly coated.
6. Stir in parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Adjust consistency with more pasta water if needed.
7. Garnish with fresh herbs if using, and serve hot.
Notes
Use full-fat cream cheese for the richest flavor.
Don’t skip the pasta water—it’s key for silky sauce.
Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk or water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 35mg