Cream cheese pasta- a delicious vegetarian pasta recipe that's made with only 10 basic ingredients and gets ready in less than 20 minutes. A quick, easy, comforting dish that's loved by everyone.
Looking for some delicious, comforting, fuss-free, last-minute dinner ideas? This easy recipe for cream cheese pasta with spinach and corn is perfect for you.
It needs only 10 basic ingredients (including salt, pepper, water, and oil) and gets ready within 20 minutes.
And, if you are a cheese lover, you cannot miss this recipe. This cheesy pasta is one of the easiest and yummiest pasta dishes you will ever find.
I have shared in some of my other posts also that though I love cooking, I don't like spending a lot of time in the kitchen. I prefer making simple, quick, easy recipes that are delicious too.
All the complicated recipes are reserved only for weekends or holidays. On weekdays I try to get free from my kitchen within 45 minutes.
So, recipes like today's easy creamy cheese pasta recipe are what I prefer cooking on a normal day. You will find a lot of other quick and easy recipes on my blog like under 25 minutes mushroom noodles, under 25 minutes aloo matar, 20 minutes potato curry, or 15 minutes stir-fried snow peas.
What goes in cream cheese pasta?
For this quick cream cheese pasta recipe, you will need the ingredients shown below:
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
- Pasta: I have used penne but any type of pasta can be used to make this recipe.
- Cream cheese: You can increase the quantity given in the recipe card if you want to make the pasta more creamy and cheesy. I shot this recipe during covid period and I could only find cream cheese cubes at that time. Cream cheese that comes in a tub is a better option. Though cream cheese cubes also give an equally good taste, mixing starch water with cream cheese from the tub will be easier.
- Spinach: Fresh or frozen spinach both are fine. I have used chopped frozen spinach. If you are using baby spinach, chopping is not required.
- Sweet corn: Fresh, canned, or frozen all are fine. If using fresh corn, the cooking time will increase.
- Olive oil: Butter can be used too. It will make the pasta more creamy and buttery.
- Garlic: I have used minced garlic, you can also use garlic powder.
- Red chili flakes: Mixed Italian herbs can also be used.
How to make (step-by-step instructions)?
This is one of the simplest pasta recipes you will ever find. It gets ready within minutes and the only step that takes time is boiling the pasta.
The three main steps of the recipe are- cooking pasta, making a cream cheese pasta sauce, and then finally mixing everything.
You can check the step-by-step process below:
Step 1: Cook pasta al dente as per the instructions given on its packet.
Step 2: Before straining reserve around 2 cups of water and keep the strained pasta aside.
Step 3: Put cream cheese in a bowl. Add pasta water, around ¼ cup at a time.
Step 4: Whisk until smooth to make a cream cheese sauce. Keep the sauce aside.
Step 5: Heat oil in a pan. Add minced garlic and saute for a minute.
Step 6: Add sweet corn kernels, chili flakes, salt, and ground black pepper.
Step 7: Saute until the corn gets cooked.
Step 8: Add spinach and saute until the leaves get wilted.
Step 9: Add cream cheese sauce
Step 10: Cook for around 2 minutes, stirring continuously.
Step 11: Add cooked pasta.
Step 12: Mix until everything gets combined. If the sauce is too thick add pasta water, cream, or milk.
Your delicious cream cheese pasta is ready to be enjoyed!
What to serve with cream cheese pasta?
You can serve some easy fresh crunchy salad like this fattoush or Mediterranean lentil salad on the side with this easy cream cheese pasta.
It can also be served with garlic cheese bread, oven-baked potato wedges, or roasted vegetables.
Or, just serve it with a bowl of comforting soup like this roasted cauliflower soup, zucchini potato soup, or a simple vegetarian potato soup and your comforting, delicious, and easy meat-free meal is ready.
Storing and reheating tips
To store, transfer the pasta to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
The best way to reheat pasta with cream cheese is in the microwave. For that, transfer the dish to a microwave-safe container, add around 1-2 tablespoons of water, and microwave for a few seconds. Stir once in between and continue heating until evenly heated.
To reheat on the stovetop, transfer the pasta to a pan or cooking pot. Add around ¼ cup of water and put on the lid of the pan. Reheat covered for a few minutes until evenly heated. Gently stir after every 2-3 minutes.
Recipe tips & tricks
- Don't overcook the pasta otherwise, it will turn mushy spoiling the whole dish. Cook it al dente.
- For pasta water, take out the water just before straining. If you collect the water at an earlier stage there won't be enough starch in it. This starch helps in making a nice thick sauce.
- Instead of pasta water, you can also use cream and milk to mix with cream cheese for making the sauce.
- If you like even simpler pasta dishes, skip spinach and corn. Pasta in a simple cream cheese sauce with just some salt, pepper, garlic, and chili flakes also tastes awesome.
- For extra flavor, you can also add garlic powder and onion powder to this dish.
- To add more taste and texture, you can add mushrooms, broccoli, green peas, green beans, carrots, and other vegetables of your choice.
- For extra rich and creamy pasta, you can use butter instead of olive oil.
- Cheese lovers may add more variety of grated cheese to the sauce.
Frequently asked questions
No, because of cream cheese, this dish doesn't freeze well.
Yes, if you don't want to add spinach and corn you can skip them. It tastes great with just garlic and cream cheese too.
More easy pasta recipes
If you are also a pasta lover and looking for some easy pasta recipes then you will definitely like the following recipes:
If you try any of my recipes, please rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it on the recipe card and also leave your feedback in the comments section below. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and subscribe to my youtube channel.
Recipe
Cream cheese pasta with corn and spinach
Equipment
Ingredients
- 400 gms uncooked pasta
- 1.5 cups cream cheese
- 1 cup chopped spinach fresh or frozen
- 1 cup sweet corn kernels canned or frozen
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes adjust to taste
- Ground black pepper to taste
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Water to cook pasta
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente, as per the instructions given on its packet. Before draining, store 2 cups of pasta water.
- Put cream cheese in a bowl, add pasta water (around ¼ cup at a time), and whisk until a smooth creamy mixture gets ready.
- Heat oil in a pan. Add minced garlic and saute for about a minute.
- Add corn kernels, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Saute until the corn gets cooked.
- Next, add spinach and saute until the leaves get wilted.
- Add cream cheese mix and cook while continuously stirring for around 2 minutes or until a nice smooth creamy sauce gets formed.
- Finally, add cooked pasta and mix until everything gets combined. Add more pasta water, cream, or milk if the sauce is too thick.
- Garnish with some freshly ground pepper and chili flakes. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Don't overcook the pasta otherwise, it will turn mushy spoiling the whole dish. Cook it al dente
- For pasta water, take out the water just before straining the pasta. If you collect the water at an earlier stage there won't be enough starch in it. This starch helps in making a nice thick sauce.
- Instead of pasta water, you can also use cream and milk to mix with cream cheese for making the sauce.
- If you like even simpler pasta dishes, skip spinach and corn. Pasta in a simple cream cheese sauce with just some salt, pepper, garlic, and chili flakes also tastes awesome.
- To add more taste and texture, you can add mushrooms, broccoli, green peas, green beans, carrots, and other vegetables of your choice.
- For extra rich and creamy pasta, you can use butter instead of olive oil.
- Cheese lovers may add more variety of grated cheese to the sauce.
- More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.
Just made for lunch and wow its amazing
Thank you Harry 🙂
Very tempting 👌👌👌👌
Thank you 🙂