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Cream Cheese Pasta Bake Recipe

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4.2 from 73 reviews

This Cream Cheese Pasta Bake is a comforting and creamy baked pasta dish where oven-roasted cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, and flavorful seasonings create a rich sauce, tossed with fresh spinach and cooked pasta for a deliciously simple weeknight meal.

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Vegetables and Seasonings

  • 20 oz. cherry tomatoes (2 pints)
  • 1/2 small white onion, minced
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach, gently torn
  • Basil (optional garnish)

Oils and Dairy

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 8 oz. full-fat cream cheese

Pasta

  • 8 oz. pasta of choice, cooked and drained

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) to prepare for roasting the ingredients.
  2. Combine Ingredients: In an oven-safe casserole dish, pour in cherry tomatoes, minced onion, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir gently to mix all ingredients evenly in the dish.
  3. Add Cream Cheese: Nestle the block of full-fat cream cheese right in the center of the tomato mixture in the casserole dish, allowing it to roast alongside the tomatoes.
  4. Bake: Bake the mixture uncovered in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the cream cheese is golden on top and looks like it’s soft and starting to break apart, and the tomatoes are roasted.
  5. Cook Pasta: While the tomato and cream cheese mixture bakes, cook your pasta according to package instructions, then drain and set aside.
  6. Create Sauce: Remove the casserole dish from the oven. Using a spoon, smash the roasted tomatoes down and stir the softened cream cheese thoroughly to create a creamy sauce base.
  7. Add Spinach and Pasta: Stir the fresh baby spinach into the hot sauce until wilted, then fold in the cooked pasta until everything is well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired.
  8. Serve: Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil leaves if using. Enjoy your creamy, flavorful pasta bake!

Notes

  • Using full-fat cream cheese enhances the creaminess and flavor of the sauce.
  • Any pasta shape can be used; penne, rotini, or rigatoni work great because they hold sauce well.
  • You can substitute sun-dried tomatoes with roasted red peppers for a different flavor profile.
  • For a quicker version, you can soften the cream cheese in the microwave before baking to reduce baking time slightly.
  • This dish pairs well with a side salad or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/cream-cheese-pasta-bake-recipe/