Description
Cream Cheese Pasta is the ultimate comfort meal—creamy, rich, and ready in under 30 minutes. With simple ingredients like butter, garlic, and cream cheese, it creates a silky sauce that wraps around each strand of pasta. It’s perfect for weeknights, yet indulgent enough for guests. Customize it with proteins or veggies for your own twist.
Ingredients
8 oz fettuccine or linguine pasta
4 oz cream cheese (softened)
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic (minced)
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
2. In a non-stick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add the cream cheese and whisk until softened and melting. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking to create a smooth sauce.
4. Season with salt and black pepper. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
5. Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet and stir to coat every strand in the sauce. Let it cook together for another minute.
6. Finish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Make sure the cream cheese is softened for a smooth sauce without lumps.
Stir continuously when combining ingredients to avoid clumping or curdling.
For extra creaminess, use whole milk or add a splash of reserved pasta water as needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (1/2 recipe)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 530mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 60mg