Delicious and cozy cream cheese pasta ready in 10 minutes, anyone? This super easy and cheap pasta recipe makes the perfect midweek last-minute meal.
Comfy and filling, It comes together in a flash, it costs about $ 1.20 per serving and the whole family will love it!
The cream cheese sauce is embarrassingly easy to make, but it turns your plain pasta dish into something good.
Mix garlic-infused olive oil, creamy cheese, savory parmesan, and delicious spaghetti. Then add freshly ground pepper or a good pinch of chili flakes, and an extra drizzle of olive oil to boost the flavor!
This was one of my go-to recipes when I was at uni, and it was so popular with my flatmates!
Easy peasy, but totally satisfying and perfect for your carb cravings, especially when you run out of time or money.
Good things don’t get much easier than this!
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR THIS CREAM CHEESE PASTA?
- Whole grain or regular pasta
- Cream cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Chili flakes (optional)
- Salt & pepper
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE?
- Cook your pasta until al dente
- Saute’ garlic (and a good pinch of chili flakes if you like) in olive oil until fragrant
- Add cream cheese and some pasta cooking water to the skillet, and stir well
- Your pasta sauce is done (and it’s embarrassingly easy to make!)
- Drain and add pasta and grated parmesan to the skillet and stir
- Toss until well combined, adding some pasta water if needed
- Serve with extra parmesan cheese, black pepper and a good drizzle of olive oil.
- Enjoy!
RECIPE NOTES & QUESTIONS
This cream cheese pasta couldn’t be easier and cheaper: you need only and a few basic ingredients, 10 minutes of prep time and approximately $1.20 per servings.
Plus, this is a delicious bowl of whole-grain spaghetti tossed in a cream cheese sauce and drizzled with olive oil.
It’s a homemade pasta dish, not canned sauces or canned noodles!
IS PASTA HEALTHY?
YES. Pasta is definitely part of a healthy diet, as long as it’s eaten in moderation.
And If you switch to whole-grain pasta you’ll get more natural fiber and micronutrients than white pasta.
I love whole grain pasta, and I try to sneak into my meals as much fiber as I can.
HOW TO MAKE THIS CREAM CHEESE PASTA TASTE SO GOOD?
First things first, ingredients matter.
Pasta
I’m Italian and, needless to say, I grew up eating pasta and I take the whole thing quite seriously ; ).
First things first, pasta brand matters, and when you chose pasta, have a proper look at the label and go for durum wheat semolina pasta, possibly made with brass or bronze dies.
Spaghetti or another short type of pasta like fusilli or penne work very well, but please: cook it until al dente!
Cheese
Yes, cheese helps! Good cream cheese mixed with some savory parmesan makes a delicious and quick sauce for your pasta. It’s also important to save some of pasta cooking water which is full of starch and contributes to the creaminess of the final sauce.
Flavor
Gently saute garlic in olive oil over a low flame, so the flavor of the garlic has a chance to infuse the oil.
If you’re not feeding children, I would suggest adding a good pinch of chili flakes for a little extra kick. And serve with good olive oil or extra virgin olive oil and freshly ground black pepper!
CAN I ADD OTHER INGREDIENTS?
YES, feel free to customize! This is a terrific versatile pasta recipe, which means that you can add your vegetables or protein of choice.
You can add whatever sauteed or roasted veggies such as:
- Spinach
- Mushrooms
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
- Peppers
- Peas
Or you simply can add fresh raw ingredients that work so well alongside the cheesy pasta and make a lovely and balanced meal:
- Arugula
- Basil
- Cherry tomatoes
If you fancy a not vegetarian option, you can add:
- Ham
- Grilled chicken breast
- Grilled or smoked salmon
- Prawns
- Bacon
- Sausage
Sometimes, I add chopped sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and artichokes for a Mediterranean-inspired flavor.
Yes, the sky is the limit!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS CREAM CHEESE PASTA?
You can make a super fast and refreshing vegan salad like an Italian tomato and cucumber salad or a protein-packed Mediterranean tomato, bean and tuna salad.
If you enjoy this super quick yummy cream cheese pasta, be sure to check these 10-minute pasta recipes:
- raw cherry tomato pasta,
- pasta salad with tuna
- spaghetti with garlic and olive oil
- spinach and ricotta spaghetti
If you make this recipe or if you have a question, let me know! Leave a comment or rate it : )
I would love to hear from you! x
10-MINUTE CREAM CHEESE PASTA
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb (225 grams) pasta (spaghetti, penne, fusilli...)
- 3/4 cup (150 grams) cream cheese
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) grated parmesan, plus more to serve
- 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more to serve
- 1-2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) cooking water, plus more if needed
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp chili flakes, or according to taste (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Right before draining, reserve a cup of starchy pasta water.
- In meanwhile, in a large skillet warm 1 Tbsp of olive oil and gently fry the garlic (plus a good pinch of chili flakes if you like) for 2-3 minutes. Use a low flame, do not let the garlic burn.
- Then stir the cream cheese and about 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water. Stir to combine oil, cream cheese, water and create a nice and creamy emulsion. Your pasta sauce is ready.
- Drain and add your pasta to the skillet. Stir well to evenly coat the pasta in the sauce, add parmesan and more cooking water as needed for a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Serve immediately with a drizzle of good olive oil or extra virgin olive oil, freshly grated parmesan, and freshly ground black pepper (if you don't use chili flakes). Enjoy!
20 comments
Thank you for this delicious recipe. I added mushrooms and smoked sausage to it, and it was a hit.
That sounds delicious! Thanks so much for your feedback, Alyssa 🙂
This was a very rich dish. I had some fresh spinach so I added that to the dish. I would add mushrooms next time & possibly sausage like Katia did.
It was very delicious!!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Rita! Spinach, mushrooms, sausage… sound so good! Thanks x
Thank you for this delicious recipe, it will be a regular at my dinner table!
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it, Zoey! Thanks so much for your rating x
Loved it. I followed the instructions as exactly stated. I didn’t have garlic cloves but I used garlic powder instead and it was amazing and super simple. I made extra sauce and covered some pan fried chicken in it, and served it over the noodles!
Wow, pan fried chicken and creamy spaghetti sound utterly delicious! Thanks so much for your comment, I’m so glad you loved it 🙂
I have massive dietary restrictions, not in calories consumed, but in the kinds of foods I can eat (severe allergies and food intolerances). I’ve been wanting a recipe like this, that is rich and creamy and delicious. I think I’ll make oven roasted Parmesan potatoes and chicken tenders to go with it—love the combo of potatoes and pasta!–and will add sauteed baby Portabella mushrooms into the sauce. MMMMMMMMMMM!!!!
Sauteed Portobella mushrooms into the sauce sound so good, scrumptious! I’m sure you’re going to love it, Joyce 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Hi there – could you tell me if you use softened block cream cheese or cream cheese found in a tub for spreading on bagels? Thanks!
Hi Rebecca, I use the cream cheese spread in the plastic container (like Philadelphia, to be more precise), not the tub 🙂
I didnt have chili flakes…dont ask…but chili powder in large doses did the trick with some added bacon….just to round out my calorie count during quarantine….I live abroad and trying to not use items that are hard to find or expensive when shopping is difficult and since I had a tub of cream cheese this was the PERFECT recipe…..if you see a contest for best minimum quarantine recipe you should submit…..you got my vote!!
Less is more, especially in this period! I’m so glad you loved it and thanks for your great feedback 🙂
This recipe is delish !
I did add spinach, sliced Porta Bella mushrooms ! This recipe is a real “ comfort food” and paired with home made garlic bread ! Yummy !
Thank you for your lovely feedback, Ellen! 🙂
I cut up wild ramps and put in it. Not only delicious but very colorful! Thanks
I love the idea! 🙂 Thanks so much for your feedback, Lisa x
Made this tonight and it was great. I followed the recipe but added some fresh basil and shrimp! It was a hit with the whole family!
Wow, I love the combo basil and shrimps and I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks a million for your comment, Wendy 🙂