Baked Cream Cheese Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil Recipe
Baked Cream Cheese Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring a creamy tomato sauce made by baking cream cheese and fresh tomatoes with herbs and seasonings. Combined with perfectly cooked pasta, fresh basil, and a touch of lemon juice, this recipe offers a deliciously easy dinner that is both creamy and tangy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 16 oz grape or roma tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
Seasonings & Herbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Pasta
- 16 oz pasta, such as bowties, rotini, shells or any small-shaped pasta
Additional Flavor
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the cream cheese at the bottom of a baking dish, then add the tomatoes around the cream cheese. Drizzle olive oil over the cream cheese and tomatoes, and evenly sprinkle the chopped garlic, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper on top. Dot the surface with three pads of butter.
- Bake the Sauce: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the mixture is bubbly and golden brown on top. While baking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta when done.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Using a spoon, gently crush and stir the baked tomatoes and cream cheese together to create a smooth, creamy sauce while it is still warm. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce along with the chopped fresh basil and freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly, then serve immediately and enjoy your creamy baked cream cheese pasta.
Notes
- Use any small-shaped pasta like bowties, rotini, or shells for better sauce coverage.
- Fresh tomatoes give the best flavor, but cherry or grape tomatoes work well too.
- Adjust seasoning to your taste; add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- For a richer dish, use full-fat cream cheese and butter.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stove or microwave.
- The lemon juice at the end adds brightness and cuts through the richness of the cream cheese.
Keywords: baked cream cheese pasta, creamy tomato pasta, baked pasta recipe, easy pasta dinner, comfort food pasta
