4.8 from 69 votes
Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
This cream cheese pasta sauce is super simple, fast, and great for when you don't have many ingredients in your fridge! Ready in about 20 minutes.
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 433 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 8 ounces uncooked pasta
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon butter softened
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley optional, or to taste
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil a pot of water for the pasta and cook it al dente according to package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the hot pasta water.
- Meanwhile, cut the cream cheese into smaller pieces and microwave it until very soft (try 20-30 second intervals). Prep all ingredients so they're ready to go as soon as the pasta is cooked.
- Return the drained pasta to the pot it was cooked in, and quickly add the cream cheese and butter. Cover the pot and let it sit for about a minute (this helps it soften up more).
- Uncover the pot and add in the garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and parsley.
- Add about 1/4 cup of the hot pasta water to the pot, and start tossing it, gradually adding more of the water until the cheese has melted into a creamy sauce. You may not use up the entire cup of water.
- Season with salt & pepper to taste and serve. This pasta is best enjoyed right away.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Serves 2-4 depending on portion size/what else it's served with.
- This recipe is very flexible. You can adjust the herbs/spices to taste or even add in others like Cajun seasoning, for example. Use what you've got... this is meant to be an easy pantry ingredients recipe. Some freshly grated parmesan would be delicious in here... I'd add 1/4-1/2 cup at the same time as the cream cheese and butter.
Nutrition Information
Calories
433kcal
(22%)
Carbohydrates
45g
(15%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
23g
(35%)
Saturated Fat
13g
(65%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
1g
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
70mg
(23%)
Sodium
215mg
(9%)
Potassium
224mg
(6%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
1009IU
(20%)
Vitamin C
1mg
(1%)
Calcium
74mg
(7%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 433
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 433kcal | 22% |
| Carbohydrates | 45g | 15% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 23g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 215mg | 9% |
| Potassium | 224mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 1009IU | 20% |
| Vitamin C | 1mg | 1% |
| Calcium | 74mg | 7% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.