Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Step 1: Boil spaghetti according to package directions in well-salted water. Before draining, reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy cooking water. Drain the spaghetti and set it aside.
- Step 2: In a large skillet or pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Step 3: Reduce the heat to low. Add the cubed cream cheese and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water to the skillet. Stir and whisk continuously until the cream cheese has fully melted and formed a smooth, uniform sauce.
- Step 4: Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet. Toss the spaghetti vigorously to thoroughly coat it in the cream cheese sauce, adding more reserved pasta water, tablespoon by tablespoon, until the sauce reaches your desired thinness and coats the pasta completely.
- Step 5: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and season generously with salt and black pepper. Toss for 30 seconds until the Parmesan is melted, then serve immediately.
Notes
- If you have leftovers, store them refrigerated for up to 3 days, keeping in mind that the rich cream cheese sauce will become quite firm once chilled.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a splash of milk or water to help loosen the thickened sauce and restore its creamy, glossy texture.
- This decadent pasta is superb served alongside something bright and acidic, like fresh lemon zest sprinkled on top or a quick side salad dressed with balsamic vinegar, to balance the richness.
- For the smoothest sauce, ensure the heat is truly low when you add the cream cheese and pasta water, stirring vigorously until the sauce is completely uniform—this prevents separation or a lumpy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American