Description
A rich and comforting creamy spaghetti recipe featuring a smooth sauce made from cream cheese, parmesan, and a touch of heavy cream. This easy-to-make pasta dish combines simple ingredients to create a luscious, satisfying meal perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti (or your favorite pasta)
Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup milk (adjust for desired consistency)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook spaghetti according to package instructions in salted water until al dente.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency later.
- Make the Sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté Garlic: Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Combine Ingredients: Reduce heat to low and add softened cream cheese, heavy cream, and milk to the skillet.
- Melt and Stir: Stir the mixture continuously until the cream cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Incorporate Cheese: Gradually whisk in freshly grated parmesan cheese until the sauce is fully combined and silky.
- Adjust Thickness: If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to reach desired consistency.
- Finish the Sauce: Stir in unsalted butter until melted and fully incorporated for extra richness.
- Season: Add salt and pepper to taste, adjusting seasoning as needed.
- Toss Pasta: Add the cooked spaghetti directly into the sauce in the skillet.
- Coat Evenly: Use tongs to toss and coat the pasta evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Garnish: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the pasta if desired for a fresh touch.
- Serve: Serve immediately to enjoy the sauce at its creamy best.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water is key to adjusting the sauce thickness and helps the sauce cling to the pasta better.
- Using fresh parmesan cheese ensures a better melt and richer flavor.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream.
- Do not overcook the garlic to avoid a bitter taste.
- This dish can be customized by adding cooked chicken or sautéed vegetables for variation.
- Serve immediately as the sauce thickens upon standing.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
