Cream Cheese Noodles are quick, easy, and perfect as a cozy side or a simple main dish. They are ready in about 20 minutes with just a few ingredients!
Every now and then, a recipe comes along that’s so simple it feels almost too good to be true. That’s exactly the case with these Easy Cream Cheese Noodles. Made with just a handful of ingredients you probably already have on hand, this pasta dish is rich, creamy, and downright comforting. It really is one of those pasta recipes that makes a perfect side dish or main course when you’re short on time but craving something warm and filling.
This is a “back pocket” recipe I find myself turning to again and again. It comes together in about 20 minutes and pairs great with just about any protein, like grilled chicken, pork chops, shrimp, or even a big helping of roasted veggies.
The cream cheese melts into the hot noodles and creates this velvety, tangy sauce that clings to every bite. It’s humble, but it’s delicious. And sometimes that’s all you need!
What Kind of Noodles Work Best?
This cream cheese pasta recipe calls for classic spaghetti noodles, and it works perfectly. The long strands give you plenty of surface area for that creamy sauce to cling to. I just love how it creates a rich, comforting bite every single time.
That said, you can easily swap in other pasta shapes if you’d like. Fettuccine, linguine, or even angel hair come to mind as great options. Just be sure to cook the pasta to al dente so it holds up well when mixed with the warm, melty cream cheese. Enjoy!
How to Serve Cream Cheese Noodles
- Serve It as a Side Dish! Cream Cheese Noodles pair beautifully with all kinds of main dishes. The creamy, mild flavor works especially well alongside grilled or baked chicken, pork chops, meatloaf, or even a simple plate of roasted or grilled vegetables. It’s one of those easy, comforting sides that fits right in with just about any supper.
- Make It the Main Course! Want to turn this creamy pasta into a full meal? Just double the recipe and mix in some cooked, shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, or browned ground beef. Stir in a handful of steamed broccoli, mushrooms, peas, or spinach, or sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese and fresh ground black pepper on top, and you’ve got a decadent and hearty, one-bowl supper that comes together fast and satisfies everyone at the table.
- Perfect for Leftovers or Meal Prep! This dish reheats surprisingly well in the microwave, making it a smart option for lunch the next day. Just store it in an airtight container in the fridge and add a splash of milk when reheating to bring back that rich, creamy texture.
Secrets to a Perfect Cream Cheese Sauce
- Choosing the Right Cream Cheese – For the richest, smoothest texture, I recommend using brand-name, full-fat block cream cheese. It melts beautifully and gives the sauce that creamy, indulgent feel you want in a dish like this. While I normally love to use generic or store-brand products, that is not the case here. Reduced-fat cream cheese will work in a pinch, but it may not be quite as smooth. Be sure to let it soften a bit before mixing it in. It’ll melt much more easily that way. Flavored cream cheeses (like garlic herb or chive) can also add a fun twist if you’re looking to switch things up.
- Don’t Forget the Pasta Water! The real secret here? It’s all about that starchy pasta water. Just like I shared in my original recipe for Ultimate Baked Alfredo, reserving a bit of the starchy cooking water is the key. Before draining your spaghetti, scoop out about ½ cup of the water… maybe a little more, just to be safe. Then, whisk the softened cream cheese and that warm pasta water together until smooth and creamy. It helps the sauce cling to the noodles and gives the dish that rich, comforting texture that makes it a family favorite.
Ingredients
- 8-ounces spaghetti
- 4-ounces cream cheese cut into cubes and softened
- ½ cup reserved pasta water from the spaghetti
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions. Before draining, dip out ½ cup of pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Return the pasta pot to the heat over medium low and add the reserved pasta water and the cubed cream cheese. Whisk together until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Add the garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the pasta back to the pot and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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Wonderful the best and lots of fresh pepper
Agreed! Thanks, Kellea!
Soso you are supposed to take it off the stove twice you are. Confusing me because you say.. Add the pasta back to the pot and toss to coat. Serve immediately. But yet you say this first Return the pasta pot to the heat over medium low and add the reserved pasta water and the cubed cream cheese. Whisk together until the cream cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Add the garlic powder. Add salt and pepper to taste. And th8s parts fucked up because you won’t let me enter my comment without checking the stupid box that says I’m ok with the collection of my submitted info and agree to allow Southern Bite to use my reviews and uploaded photos for marketing. (Privacy Policy) #IAMNOTOKWITH THAT
2 things: First, if you’re not ok with something on my FREE recipe site… there’s no requirement to comment. You can simply choose not to make the free recipe. Second, you can press pause on the language. Again, free recipe. Now, to address your question… You cook the pasta, reserve some pasta water, drain the pasta, then add the empty pot back to the heat. Melt the cream cheese in the pasta water, add the seasonings, then add the cooked pasta to the sauce you just made.
My mother used to make this. She used egg noodles, left out the garlic, and added a little butter. A smooth sauce was never the goal. You want every noodle covered, but discovering a warm little lump of softened cream cheese in a mouthful makes this dish a delight.
Her version sounds delicious, Renee!
Thank you! I am tired of making the same old thing and looking forward to grilling season. It is too cold for that now so we cooked it as is and added breaded frozen chicken patties that we got from Costco. The kids love recipes like this and it made them forget about outdoor grilling.
I totally get that! It’s great to find creative ways to mix things up, especially when it’s too cold to grill. Those chicken patties sound like a fun addition, and I’m glad the kids enjoyed it! Here’s to more tasty meals ahead!
Too heavy. No moisture when put in a casserole to bake later
Judy, this recipe isn’t a recipe that’s supposed to be baked. It’s best served immediately after making on the stovetop.
Pretty darn good!
Thanks, Sylvia!
Delicious
Thanks!
Can I use mixed garlic instead of garlic powder?
You can, but keep in mind there’s not really a way to cook the garlic in this case so it’s going to be pretty sharp garlic flavor.
Just got through making them for the girls midnight snack and my mom, daughter, granddaughter and myself. (4 generations) Thanks you for something so fast, simple, great and filling we absolutely love this recipe!🥰
Awww! Thanks for trusting our recipe for such a special occasion!
This will become our go to meal! It was absolutely wonderful. We added fried chicken thighs cut into little pieces and added it to the recipe like it was suggested. Oh my goodness it was fabulous good job thank you for sharing with us great great meal
So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!!
I made this, but I substituted two packets of Ramen for spaghetti and added about a cup of frozen shrimp I sauteed in butter, mushrooms, and olives.
Sounds great!
What did I do wrong? I followed the directions exactly, except I doubled it and added shredded chicken. It did not come out creamy at all! The cream cheese melted nicely as I whisked it in the pot with the starchy water. When I added the chicken and the noodles it almost feels like peanut butter stickiness instead.
Well, that’s strange. Since I can’t be in the kitchen with you, I can’t say for sure. Are you sure your measurements were correct? What kind of cream cheese did you use?
I added some spinach and served it as a side with some steak and mushrooms. Delicious!
Sounds great! Glad you enjoyed it!
Would i do anything different if i want to turn this into those little muffin bite things where spagetty is baked in muffin tins to create finger food style?
This looks like such an amazing recipe and would like to have it easier to grab n go for grandkids party
Thank you for sharing it
Hmmm… I think it just might be trail and error. If you’re going to bake them, you’ll probably want some extra moisture in there so they don’t dry out.
FIVE STARS from both hubby and myself. I cannot believe how tasty this is for such a simple to prepare dish. YUMMY! And……..I got to tell him that he can no longer say he doesnt like cream cheese. He always avoided anything with cream cheese in it. However, he actually said “make this any time you like” Thank you Stacey!!
Cathy from Toronto
Hello to my Canadian friend! I’ve had the chance to visit Toronto before and just loved it. I’m so glad to hear you and your hubby enjoyed this recipe!!
Making this now but boiling my noodles in chicken broth ????
Sounds like a great way to add even more flavor! Hope you enjoy them!
This recipe is so good! I was looking for something to make with cream cheese and im so glad i chose this! I let my family taste and they loved it to! definetly reccomend!!
So happy to hear that!!
The recipe instructions are very confusing at the end. You add pasta then cream cheese and final spices then you go on and say for the last step to then add noodles which was already prompted for us to do so. Great recipe idea but a little confusing on the instructions.
Actually, that’s not quite the case. The instructions say to put the pot back on the heat, then to add the reserved pasta water, cream cheese, and whisk until smooth. Then add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. After that you return the actual pasta to the pot. I’m sorry that was confusing. I’m not sure of a more clear way to write those instructions. Maybe you misunderstood the pasta water to be the pasta?
Kayla, it sounds like you drained your spaghetti directly from the pot then left spaghetti in the pot and continued with sauce on top of pasta. By doubling of the recipe, the spaghetti probably did not get drained well, and possibly you had water in the bottom of the pot. Then you added more pasta water back to the spaghetti to make the sauce. The extra water in pot made it runny. I believe what Stacey meant and most people do is pour all their spaghetti and water in a colander and leave it there to drain while they make their sauce in the now empty spaghetti pot. Before adding the spaghetti to pot shake it one more time in the colander to get out any water left before you place your spaghetti back in your pot on top of your completed sauce. Then mix with your spaghetti. This should resolve the watery sauce. Also if you wait a few minutes after mixing the sauce with pasta, the pasta will absorb some of the sauce and make it perfect. Maybe make a single batch as a trial before you double it to see if this procedure helps, just use a colander to drain and make sauce in pot before adding spaghetti back in pot. It’s a fabulous recipe. Enjoy!!
Great tips! Thanks, Cookee!
I made this tonight, I used fine thin noodles instead of the spaghetti and I added more garlic powder to taste and spinkled with parsley , It is soooooooooo good!!! I will be making this again for sure
So glad to hear you enjoyed these!!
This was so good! I topped it with some fried deer sausage. Very easy to make and very good!
So glad you enjoyed it, Melanie!
Don’t be so modest, I can turn this into a one serving dish. Looks fabulous! Thank you.
Ha! Enjoy!
Made this & it was delish! Served w/ grilled chicken & sautéed spinach on the side????
I wonder if the noodles would freeze well?
So glad you enjoyed it! I can’t say for sure on the freezing part, but I’m afraid the cream cheese sauce might not freeze well.
I added sour cream too. With the cream cheese is was awesome! Also you can add some diced tomatoes and it’s divine!
Great ideas!! Thanks for the tips!
yummy! too much easiest dish. i made it too many times. sometimes it add in the topping of pizza, and some times put some vegetables and fruits on it and then it looks likes a salad and seems too much tasty.
thanks friend for telling this simple and tasteful recipe.
I made this recipe today and my husband and I both loved it. So easy and very tasty. We love Red Lobster, but don’t have one near us, so I made shrimp scampi and laid it on top of the noodles with a side of garlic bread. Oh my, so good. I will definitely be making this again and again. Thanks for the great recipe.
Wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
My granddaughter was screaming for “something pizza” but she doesn’t care of marinara soooo……I used this recipe and added some tiny pepperoni, black olives and sautéed mushrooms. It was delicious!!
Those sound like some GREAT additions! Glad y’all enjoyed it!
Delicious! The garlic and ample salt and black pepper makes it pop!
I add extra cream cheese❤️
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!