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spaghetti pasta coated in a cream cheese sauce on a white plate with a fork and spoon
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Cream Cheese Pasta (With Video)

Cream Cheese Pasta is quick and easy comfort food using cream cheese and starchy pasta water to create a lusciously creamy, cheesy pasta sauce.
Course Main
Cuisine Modern Australian
Total Time 12 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 453kcal

Ingredients

  • 300 g dried pasta I used spaghetti
  • 180 g cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 fresh garlic cloves cores removed (see my notes) and crushed
  • 40 g fresh parmesan cheese grated
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta in salted water according to the packet instructions.
    300 g dried pasta
  • Just before draining pasta, scoop out 1 - 2 cups of pasta cooking water and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, gently heat the olive oil in a frypan, then add garlic and cook over low heat for 1 - 2 minutes.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 fresh garlic cloves
  • Add cream cheese and stir over medium heat to melt, gradually adding reserved pasta water until the sauce is smooth and the consistency you want.
    180 g cream cheese
  • Mix in parmesan cheese, and season to taste.
    40 g fresh parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste
  • Add drained pasta to the sauce and stir to coat. Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

  • I recommend removing the center "core" from your garlic cloves for this recipe. This will give you a smoother, less harsh garlic flavour.
  • Cook the garlic gently over low heat. We are aiming to infuse the flavour of the garlic into the oil rather than fry the garlic.
  • You want to scoop out the pasta cooking water right near the end of the pasta cooking time. This means it will be nice and starchy.
  • Add the starchy pasta water gradually to the cream cheese, this makes it easier to incorporate plus you don't risk adding too much.
  • The amount of pasta water to add is up to you, but remember the sauce will start to thicken as soon as it comes off the heat.
*Please note that the amount of calories per serve is provided as a guide only, as ingredients and cooking methods can vary greatly*

Nutrition

Calories: 453kcal