This creamy Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce is pure comfort in a pan. It’s rich, garlicky, and smooth, with a quick-fix feel that makes busy-night dinners easy and delicious.
A simple green salad balances the richness of this dish and be sure to add homemade garlic bread to get every last drop of this delicious sauce!
Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
Flavor: Rich, creamy, and savory with a mellow garlic bite and a hint of herbs.
Why Make It: The sauce comes together in the time it takes to boil pasta, all in just one saucepan for an easy, no-fuss dinner.
Serving Suggestions: I love serving this sauce over spaghetti, penne, rotini, bowties, or tortellini. I’ll often toss in peas, spinach, or leftover chicken to make it even heartier and more satisfying.
Total Time: 10 Minutes Serves: 4 Cooking Method: Stovetop
Ingredient Notes
- Cream Cheese: Brick-style cream cheese works best for the smoothest, creamiest sauce, and cubing it helps it melt quickly and evenly.
- Broth: Chicken broth adds savory depth and helps thin the sauce without making it feel heavy or bland. Vegetable broth works for a vegetarian option.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan will give you a creamier texture and better flavor than pre-shredded. To make it extra cheesy add a little more Parmesan or a sprinkle of mozzarella.
- Pasta: Any pasta shape works well, with short shapes holding onto the sauce nicely, while spaghetti or fettuccine give it that classic Alfredo-style feel.
- Variations: The sauce can be made lighter by using half broth and half milk for a softer, creamier flavor. It can also be spiced up with red pepper flakes, or turned into a heartier meal by adding cooked chicken, shrimp, ham, bacon, or Italian sausage.
How to Make Pasta Sauce with Cream Cheese
- Sauté garlic in butter. Add the seasonings, then add cubed cream cheese.
- Whisk cream cheese until melted. Slowly add broth, whisking after each addition. Continue to add all remaining broth and simmer.
- Remove from the heat, stir in Parmesan, and season.
- Toss pasta with sauce.
Save That Sauce
Keep leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze the sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks. Dairy-based sauces can separate after freezing, so thaw in the refrigerator and reheat slowly while whisking.
More Creamy Pasta Favorites
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Cook pasta according to package directions.
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While pasta is boiling, cook garlic in butter in a saucepan over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add dried basil and onion powder. Whisk in cream cheese until melted and smooth.
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Add chicken broth a little bit at a time and simmer 3-4 minutes or until slightly thickened.
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Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese. Season with salt & pepper to taste and serve over pasta.
Freeze in a ziptop bag for up to 4 weeks.
Calories: 252 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 905IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Pasta, Sauce
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