10-Minute Cream Cheese Pasta: The Easy, Indulgent Weeknight Meal
A quick and indulgent pasta dish made creamy with cream cheese, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces pasta
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup pasta cooking water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water before draining.
- In a pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add cream cheese and stir until melted.
- Gradually add reserved pasta water, stirring to combine.
- Mix in cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, use less cream cheese or substitute with Greek yogurt.
- This dish is best enjoyed fresh, but it can be reheated over low heat with a splash of water.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: 10-MINUTE CREAM CHEESE PASTA