10 Minute Pasta Sauce made with Cream Cheese!
Serve this easy pasta dinner as a side dish or main dish with the added protein and veggies of your choice. Either way, your family is going to love this quick and easy homemade creamy white sauce.
Calling all cream cheese lovers! If you’re a fan of Alfredo, this white sauce is very similar only the heavy whipping cream is replaced with cream cheese making for a thick and heavenly sauce that can be tossed with pasta or zucchini noodles. It’s also wonderful as a dipping sauce for bread or chicken!
Ingredients
- 16 ounces uncooked pasta (any kind)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- salt, pepper, and other seasonings of choice
Optional Add-Ins
Sausage, chicken, steak, shrimp, bacon, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, peas, or any of your favorite seasonal vegetables. You can also spice this dish up with cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes!
Easy Cream Cheese Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 ounces uncooked pasta (any kind)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- seasoning to taste (salt, pepper, Italian, cajun, etc.)
Instructions
- Cook and drain the pasta according to the package instructions. Be sure to RESERVE 1-2 cups of the pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and lightly sauté the garlic for a minute.
- Add the softened cream cheese and 1 cup of pasta water to the pan. Whisk for a few minutes until the cream cheese completely melts and a sauce forms. Do not over cook! It's done as soon as it reaches a sauce consistency without clumps.
- Add the grated parmesan and whisk everything together. Season to taste with salt, pepper, cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, parsley, onion powder, etc. Make it your way! Go easy on the salt as the parmesan is already loaded with salt. I always do a little taste test before adding the pasta.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pan and use tongs to completely coat with sauce. If it's too thick, you can add a bit more pasta water.
Notes
- This easy pasta recipe can be served as a side dish or main dish! Toss it with the optional meats and veggies of your choice such as sausage, chicken, steak, shrimp, bacon, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus, peas, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, etc.
- Spice this creamy pasta sauce up with cajun seasoning, cayenne, jalapenos, or red pepper flakes.
