Cream Cheese Pasta

A skillet pan of the creamy pasta with cream cheese sauce.

Cream Cheese Pasta is a rich and creamy pasta dish that comes together in minutes with basic ingredients. Tender linguine pasta is coated in a silky cheesy sauce made from cream cheese, fresh garlic, and parmesan cheese. A quick weeknight dinner with minimal effort.

Course Dinner, Pasta

Cuisine American, Italian

Keyword cream cheese pasta

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 665kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

1 box (16 oz) linguine
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter
1 small onion finely diced
5 cloves garlic minced or pressed
1½ cups whole milk
1 bar (8 oz) cream cheese
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Cook the linguine pasta, in a large pot of salted water, according to the package directions. Cook to al dente or softer depending on preference. When done, drain the pasta but do not rinse it.
^{*Make sure to salt the pasta water! I use about 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt, but I never really measure. Salt also helps the water boil faster.}
1 box (16 oz) linguine
In a large skillet pan, over medium heat, melt the butter and onions. Let cook until the onions are softened; about 3-4 minutes.
1/2 cup (1 stick) salted butter, 1 small onion
Stir in the garlic cloves and cook for an additional 1 minute.
5 cloves garlic
Stir in the milk, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and black pepper. Continue cooking, while stirring frequently, until the cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce has thickened.
^{*To help the cream cheese mix in smoother and quicker, I microwave the unwrapped bar for about 30-40 seconds. This way, it's nice and warm and mixes right in. This is an optional step, the cream cheese will still melt in if you choose just to add it into the skillet.}
1½ cups whole milk, 1 bar (8 oz) cream cheese, 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Toss the drained and cooked linguine into the cream cheese sauce. Serve warm & enjoy!

Notes

Onion : Use a yellow onion, white onion, or sweet onion. Yellow onions and sweet onions will have the most mild onion flavor.

Tip : Don't turn up the heat on the cream cheese sauce to try and speed up the cook time. You want to cook it over a lower heat so it stays smooth and does not become grainy.

More Seasonings? : My family loves this simple cream cheese pasta but it can easily be spiced up to your liking - add Italian seasoning, basil (fresh or dried), add red pepper flakes for some spice, add more garlic flavor with garlic powder. Lots of ways to change it up if wanted.

Dairy Products : Use full-fat cream cheese and whole milk (or half and half works too) for the creamiest and thickest sauce. Using lower-fat dairy products will result in a much thinner sauce and it just doesn't taste as good.

Nutrition