This Creamy Pasta is truly The HEALTHIEST Creamy Garlic Pasta Ever. It´s packed with flavors, made with simple everyday ingredients and done in about 20 minutes using just one pan. Serve it next to a crunchy baguette and a bottle of Spanish wine for a complete and delicious meal.
What makes this creamy pasta healthier than others, is using light cream cheese instead of heavy cream to give it that creamy goodness. Important for the cream cheese to be at room temperature, as it makes it so much easier to work with.
For the liquid I used vegetable broth, as it gives the pasta a bigger depth of flavors. You can use other liquids, such as chicken broth or even water. For the pasta I used penne, but any type of pasta will work in this recipe.
TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: If you notice your cream sauce is too thick when mixing it with the pasta, just add in some broth or water at room temperature. I suggest serving this dish right when it´s done, as the longer it sits, the thicker the sauce will get and will lose its creamy texture.
Key Ingredients & Cookware I used in this Recipe:
MY COOKWARE
MY CHEF´S KNIFE
EXTRA VIRGIN SPANISH OLIVE OIL
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Watch the Video Below on How to Make The HEALTHIEST Creamy Garlic Pasta
The HEALTHIEST Creamy Garlic Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 30 ml
- 1 small onion
- 8 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp dried oregano 1 gram
- 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth 840 ml
- 8 oz penne pasta 225 grams
- 4 oz light cream cheese 120 grams
- 1/2 cup finely grated Manchego cheese 60 grams
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley 15 grams
- pinch sea salt
- dash black pepper
Instructions
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Heat a large fry pan with a medium heat and add in the olive oil
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In the meantime, finely chop the onion and roughly chop the garlic, then add into the pan with the hot olive oil, mix continuously
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After 3 to 4 minutes and the onion is translucent, add in the dried oregano, quickly mix together, then add in the vegetable broth and season with sea salt & black pepper, raise to a high heat and gently mix together
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Once it comes to a boil add in the pasta, mix every 2 minutes so the pasta evenly cooks and it doesn´t stick together
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While the pasta is cooking, add the cream cheese at room temperature into a bowl, along with the grated cheese and chopped parsley, season with a kiss of sea salt & black pepper, using a spoon push down on the mixture and mix until everything is well mixed together
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After 9 to 10 minutes and most of the broth has been absorbed by the pasta but there is still plenty of broth left, place a lid on the pan and lower to a low-medium heat, simmer for 2 to 4 minutes or until the pasta is cooked al dente
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Once the pasta is cooked al dente remove the lid and turn off the heat, add in the cream cheese mixture and gently mix together until well mixed and you end up with a creamy pasta
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Serve directly out of the pan or transfer into serving dishes, enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Get the Spanish Olive Oil I used to make this Recipe
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Cindy
05 . Feb . 2024I made this, easy and delicious! I used Parmesan and tri colored rotini. Thank you for this recipe! file:///var/mobile/Library/SMS/Attachments/66/06/9545C972-644D-44CD-A399-2A03EF33CE93/72886664627__C5F12396-5923-4E5F-8D46-EEF795D77DE9.HEIC
Spain on a Fork
Glad you enjoyed it! Much love 🙂
06 . Feb . 2024Alex
02 . Dec . 2023I just made the penne pasta looks good
Spain on a Fork
Happy to hear that! Much love 🙂
03 . Dec . 2023T Becks
22 . Oct . 2023Wheeew. Thank you for making this easy.
Spain on a Fork
Much love 🙂
23 . Oct . 2023Kim
I was watching the video this morning. My husband walked in and said that looks delicious. Made it for lunch and it was really delicious. Thank you Albert. You never fail me!
08 . Oct . 2023Spain on a Fork
So happy to hear that! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
09 . Oct . 2023Ramya
Cant wait to make this soon for me can i use vegan cream cheese i love pasta soooooooooooo much i never had the healthest creeamy garlic pasta before perfect for my after office meals love your recipes as always brightens up my day everyday after work
04 . Oct . 2023Spain on a Fork
Sounds great Ramya! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Much love
04 . Oct . 2023