Cream Cheese Pasta Bake
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This Cream Cheese Pasta Bake is a spin off of the Baked Feta Pasta that went viral on TikTok in early February 2021!
I am usually not one for trends or even trying out recipes seen on TikTok, but this one I had to try and make my own version.
I am a huge fan of feta cheese, I love it in salads and even on egg dishes too. But, my hubby isn’t too fond of feta so I made this pasta bake with cream cheese instead and it did not disappoint!
Ingredients you will need:
With just a few simple ingredients you’ll be able to whip up this delicious weeknight meal and I know you’ll be as obsessed with it as we are!
You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements.
- Cherry Tomatoes: cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes work best for this recipe.
- White onion: I love the flavor that onion adds to this dish. Yellow onion works fine too!
- Sun dried tomatoes: adding in spinach and sun-dried tomatoes gives this dish a tuscan feel. I usually add in some of the oil from the jar that the sun dried tomatoes are in too for a boost of flavor!
- Olive oil: opt for a good quality olive oil. The olive oil coats all of the ingredients and helps prevent anything from sticking to the casserole dish.
- Seasonings: Garlic, Italian seasoning, Salt & pepper. Feel free to play around with other seasonings you’d like to add like oregano, thyme, roasted garlic, etc.
- Cream cheese: Full fat cream cheese is what I use, but a reduced fat cream cheese will do the job too!
- Fresh spinach: stir in the fresh spinach at the end. It will wilt right into the warm dish!
- Basil: to garnish
- Pasta: I used mini bow tie pasta noodles, but you can use any pasta shape you prefer! Pick your favorite shape and switch it up for fun!
Step by Step Directions
It’s really so EASY you guys. I could almost do it in my sleep! You can scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe instructions. Here’s the low down:
- Grab an oven safe casserole dish.
- Add the tomatoes, onion, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and seasonings to the dish. Stir to combine.
- Add the block of cream cheese to the center of the dish.
- Bake uncovered for 35-40 min.
- Remove from oven, smash tomatoes down with a spoon and stir the cream cheese to create a sauce.
- Stir in spinach and cooked pasta. Serve immediately & enjoy.
Tips and FAQs
- Add a protein! We love this with chicken or even chicken sausage. It would be delicious with shrimp, salmon, or tofu too!
- Use your favorite pasta shape: Linguine, bow tie, penne, spaghetti, etc. The options are endless!
- Add in more veggies: Mushrooms, bell peppers and asparagus are yummy options. Swap out the spinach with another green like kale!
- Can I make it with another type of cheese? I haven’t tested this recipe with another type of cheese but of course feta cheese is an option. Goat cheese may work too.
the goods
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Cream Cheese Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 20 oz. cherry tomatoes (2 pints)
- 1/2 small white onion, minced
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 oz. cream cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach, gently torn
- basil (optional garnish)
- 8 oz. pasta of choice, cooked
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Pour the cherry tomatoes, onions, sun dried tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper into an oven safe casserole dish. Stir to combine.20 oz. cherry tomatoes (2 pints), 1/2 small white onion, minced, 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, to taste
- Place the cream cheese in the center.8 oz. cream cheese
- Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes. (Bake until the cheese is golden and looks like it's about to fall apart).
- Meanwhile, cook pasta of choice according to package directions.8 oz. pasta of choice, cooked
- Remove the casserole dish from the oven. Smash the tomatoes down using a spoon and stir the cream cheese until it creates a sauce.
- Stir in the spinach until wilted and then stir in cooked pasta noodles. Serve immediately and garnish with basil. Taste and adjust add more salt or pepper as desired.2 cups fresh spinach, gently torn, basil (optional garnish)
Video
Notes
- Storage: Allow pasta dish to cool then transfer to an air tight container. Store in fridge for 3-4 days.
- Add a protein of choice to make this a more satisfying meal! Chicken, bacon, grilled shrimp, salmon, steak, tofu, etc.
- Use any pasta shape you prefer.
- Make sure the sun dried tomatoes are mixed in the dish to prevent them from burning.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!!!! I doubled the recipe and tripled the spices ( I love lots of flavor) added deli chicken and fresh garlic bread and everyone loved it!!! THANK YOU!!
Hi Mona! OMG that sounds amazing. Thank you so much for making!! Glad you loved it. xo, Tawnie
This was amazing!! I made it in the crockpot and it turned out great!!! Thanks Tawnie..it’s gonna be a staple from here on it. So easy and tasty..
Susanna
you’re quick!!! thank you sooo so much. Brownie bread, I think that’s what I need to call it from now on 🙂 thank you again!
Fabulous! Almost forgot to take a picture until we were all dished up. I added shredded chicken, but followed recipe exactly as posted. Can’t wait for the leftovers tomorrow. Will be making a very short reel with your tag – let me know if you want it to stay or removed.
Loved it! Delicious easy meal. Thank you!
so glad you enjoyed it 🙂 thank you!
Omg this recipe is absolutely so delicious!! I’ve been following KrollsKorner on instagram for a while and this was my first recipe to try! This will absolutely be in my rotation! I added a little bit of the pasta water and some heavy cream to make the sauce go a little further and added some shaved Parmesan! So so good!!!!!
Hi Jill! thank you soo much for making it. Glad you enjoyed 🙂 I appreciate you leaving a review!!
Delicious & too easy!
Omg! It is rare to find a recipe that is super delicious and with a low preparation time! A+
I am so happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you 🙂
So good and flavorful! Loved how creamy it was from the cream cheese. Will definitely make this again! I’m always excited to add something new to the rotation of dinners we have! 🙂 Side note… I made as is but added a 1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes for a little kick… I think I’ll add a teaspoon next time because it was so good!
Omg, sooooo good! My family loved it, even my son who doesn’t like chunks of tomatoes! This was so easy and only took a few minutes to throw together.
This was so delicious. Made it just as is and I loved it. My husband thought it was a little too thick so the next time I added about a cup of jarred marinara and it was amazing.
great idea!! thanks so much 🙂
I made this into a garlic tomato Mac and cheese lol! It was delish! I omitted the spinach and onion. Added 1/2 cup of milk instead of the pasta water.
Halved the tomatoes and added a a cup of sharp cheddar, as well as a cup of Colby Jack. Added the pasta after 20ish minutes. Then sprinkled with more cheese and grated parm then put it back in to melt and it got rave reviews he he. I will try the original soon and report back- I know it has to be amazing ?!