This cream cheese pasta sauce is a quick, creamy sauce made with cream cheese, garlic, Parmesan, and starchy pasta water. It has the cozy richness of Alfredo, but it is easier to make and does not need heavy cream or a roux. The sauce comes together in about 10 minutes while the pasta cooks, then gets tossed with the noodles until smooth, glossy, and perfectly creamy.
Followed the directions and this came out better than I could have ever expected. I’ll be making this instead of Alfredo from now on!
Ashlee
Why I Use Cream Cheese for Pasta Sauce
I love homemade Fettuccine Alfredo, but I don’t always want to stand over the stove carefully building a cream sauce. Cream cheese is my shortcut when I want the same rich, creamy comfort with less effort.
It melts with garlic, Parmesan, and hot pasta water to make a smooth sauce that coats the noodles beautifully. There’s no roux, no heavy cream, and no complicated technique. The sauce itself is flour-free too, so you can serve it with your favorite gluten-free pasta if needed.
Ingredients for Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Butter and Garlic: This creamy pasta sauce starts with a bit of butter sautéed briefly with fresh minced garlic.
- Cream Cheese: We are making pasta with a cream cheese sauce! I highly recommend that you use full-fat cream cheese for the best, most creamy results.
- Pasta Water: When you cook the pasta to go with this sauce, save about 1 cup of the cooking water before you drain it away.
- Parmesan Cheese: This tangy, salty cheese adds tons of flavor to the cream cheese sauce.
- Salt, Pepper, and Chopped Parsley: The last layers of flavor come from these. Salt and pepper are a must, and parsley adds a fresh herbal note.
- Pasta: You’re also going to need some pasta to go with this sauce. Choose your favorite shape and plan to cook it right before you make this recipe to go on top of it.
How to Make Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
- Cook Pasta: In a saucepan over medium heat, bring about 6 cups of water to a boil. When the water boils, add 1 teaspoon of salt and the noodles. Then cook the noodles to al dente according to the package instructions. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1-2 cups of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
- Sauté Garlic: In a skillet, melt butter on medium heat and sauté garlic very lightly without allowing it to brown. This should be no more than 30 seconds.
- Melt the Cream Cheese: Add cream cheese and 1 cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet. Use a whisk and allow the cream cheese to melt into the sauce as you whisk it together to emulsify the sauce.
- Finish: Add parmesan cheese, whisking until it melts, then season with ground black pepper and salt. Be sure to taste your sauce as you season. Parmesan is salty, so you may not need as much salt as you think. Remove the sauce from the heat.
- Toss with Pasta: Add the cooked pasta and parsley to the sauce and toss using kitchen tongs until the sauce coats the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add more of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.
How to Keep Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce Smooth
For the smoothest sauce, use softened cream cheese and cut it into cubes before adding it to the skillet. Keep the heat at medium or medium-low, then whisk in the hot pasta water gradually until the cream cheese melts into the garlic butter.
Once you add the Parmesan, remove the skillet from the heat and keep stirring until the sauce is glossy. If it gets too thick, add more pasta water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until it coats the pasta nicely.
How to Store and Reheat Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce will thicken as it chills.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of milk, water, or reserved pasta water. Stir often and avoid boiling, which can make the sauce separate or turn grainy.
I do not recommend freezing cream cheese pasta sauce because dairy-based sauces can become grainy after thawing.
Variations and Add-Ins
This sauce is easy to turn into a full dinner. Add cooked chicken, shrimp, or sliced steak for protein. For vegetables, stir in peas, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, or sautéed onions.
For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, lemon zest, or a little more black pepper.
What To Serve with Cream Cheese Pasta
This creamy, savory pasta side dish is delicious with so many things. I love to serve this with simple protein entrees like Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Tenders a Grilled Steak, or Bacon Wrapped Chicken.
Pasta with cream cheese sauce is delicious with Chicken Parmesan, Eggplant Parmesan, or any of your favorite Italian meals.
Serve this pasta with a healthy and delicious salad, like this Kale Salad or Brussels Sprout Salad.
Turn cream cheese pasta into a gourmet pasta entree by stirring in your favorite cooked protein and veggies. Try diced chicken or steak, and sautéed mushrooms and spinach.
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There’s no need to rinse the pasta after draining it. We want it to stay nice and hot.
Pasta water is a combination of hot water and starches given off by the cooked pasta. The starch helps to make a thickened sauce that sticks to the pasta.
Check out this guide I made that walks you through how to cook perfect pasta and gives you all of my best pasta-making tips and tricks.
More Delicious Pasta Sauces To Try
All Pasta Recipes ➜
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) uncooked pasta any shape
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounces (225g) cream cheese softened
- 1 cup (250ml) liquid reserved pasta water, water, vegetable or chicken stock
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat bring about 6 cups of water to a boil. When the water boils, add 1 teaspoon of salt and the noodles. Then cook the noodles to al dente according to the package instructions. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1-2 cups of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
- In a skillet, melt butter on medium heat and sauté garlic very lightly without allowing it to brown. This should be no more than 30 seconds.
- Add cream cheese and 1 cup of reserved pasta water to the skillet. Use a whisk and allow the cream cheese to melt into the sauce as you whisk that together to emulsify the sauce.
- Add parmesan cheese, whisking until it melts, then season with ground black pepper and salt. Be sure to taste your sauce as you season. Parmesan is salty so you may not need as much salt as you think. Remove the sauce from the heat.
- Add the cooked pasta and parsley to the sauce and toss using kitchen tongs until the sauce coats the pasta. If the sauce is too thick, add more of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.
Notes:
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Jody Ursan says
So easy to make and tastes fantastic. Will make again for sure!
Diana says
So glad to hear you liked it, Jody! Thank you for the great review.
Jody Ursan says
Super easy to make and very delicious
Denise says
Going to make this tonight
nancy says
I like this recipe can’t wait to try it
Margie says
I made this on a fling but sautéed red chili pepper with the garlic. Super easy and super delicious!
Diana says
Thanks for the great review and feedback!