Cream Cheese Pasta
Cream Cheese Pasta makes a delicious dinner as-is or when paired with your favorite protein. This rich, creamy pasta is loaded with cream cheese, romano cheese, and garlic, creating a simple, deeply-flavorful dish.
Pasta is a big deal in our home. We are an Italian and an “honorary Italian”. So, you know, we love our pasta. Sure, there are times when we’ll make a big pot of sauce that we simmer and babysit for hours. BUT sometimes, it’s nice to keep things easy. That’s why we love this recipe. This easy cream cheese pasta is the perfect dish on its own, and it makes a great base to pair with chicken or shellfish.
Table of contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients.
- It’s a quick and easy recipe that only takes about 30 minutes.
- It’s deliciously creamy and cheesy.
- It’s a versatile pasta recipe you can pair with your favorite protein.
🛒Ingredients
You’ll only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe. They’re so simple, in fact, that you might have most or all of them in your kitchen right now.
Everything you need to make this cream cheese pasta is listed right here, but you can find the exact amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Pasta (your favorite)
- Butter
- Garlic cloves
- Cream cheese
- Reserved pasta water
- Shredded romano cheese
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Parsley
🔪 How to Make Cream Cheese Pasta
Making this pasta is just about as quick and easy as it gets. With just 10 minutes of prep and another 10 minutes of cooking, this is a recipe perfect for even busy weeknights!
Step 1: Cook the Pasta
Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water.
Step 2: Cook the Garlic
In a saucepan over medium heat, saute the garlic in butter until the garlic is slightly brown.
Step 3: Add the Remaining Ingredients
Add the cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups of the pasta water, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended. Then, add the shredded romano cheese, salt, and pepper, and continue stirring until melted and combined.
Step 4: Finish the Dish
Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and enjoy!
📝Variations
- Try adding red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
- Mix in sauteed chicken, shrimp, crab, or lobster chunks for a protein-packed meal.
- Use your favorite noodles – long or short – for this recipe.
- You can use parmesan, grana padano, or asiago cheese in place of romano.
Try our copycat Olive Garden fettuccine alfredo if you love creamy pasta dishes like this.
🥄 Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Saucepan
- Pot
- Strainer
🥫 Storage
Refrigerate this cream cheese pasta for up to 4 days in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to a month in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
To reheat the pasta, place it in a saucepan with a dash of water and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.
What to Serve with Cream Cheese Pasta
This easy pasta dish is a classic that pairs well with a variety of sides for a deliciously simple dinner.
💭 Tips
- Sautee the garlic at medium heat to help it brown it a bit without burning it.
- Cook the pasta to al dente and no further to ensure it doesn’t break while mixing it into the sauce.
- Cook the sauce while the pasta is boiling so everything comes together at the same time.
⁉️ FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Cream cheese pasta is a variation of alfredo pasta that uses cream cheese for an extra-creamy sauce.
Any pasta will work with this sauce. Short or long noodles are both appropriate, depending on the other ingredients you choose to add.
This variation of fettuccine alfredo can be dressed up with chicken, shellfish, and/or vegetables like mixed veggies or broccoli.
🍽 More Recipes
Do you enjoy cream cheese? Then try these delicious recipes:
🧾Recipe Card
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe so you can find it later.
Cream Cheese Pasta
Equipment
- large pot
- large skillet
- Whisk
Ingredients
- 8 ounces spaghetti noodles
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic coves
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 ½ cup reserved pasta water
- ¾ cup shredded romano cheese
- Ground black pepper
- Salt
- Optional: parsley
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to directions, cook to al dente.
- In a saucepan or skillet melt butter and saute garlic until slightly brown.
- Add cream cheese and 1 ½ cups of pasta water and stir consistently with a whisk.
- Once melted and blended together, add the shredded romano cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked pasta into the cream sauce and toss to coat pasta.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately before sauce thickens.
