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Creamy Cheesy Pasta

Creamy Cheesy Pasta Recipe

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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 620
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz short pasta (shells, elbows, or cavatappi)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 2 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
 

  1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  2. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  3. Reduce heat to low. Stir in heavy cream and cream cheese until smooth, then gradually add cheddar and Parmesan, stirring until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Toss pasta into the sauce, adding pasta water if needed. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the creamiest sauce, grate the cheese yourself and keep the heat low once the cheese is added. If you prefer a thinner sauce, stir in additional pasta water or a splash of milk right before serving.