This creamy penne pasta recipe is quick, easy, and budget-friendly, making it a perfect meatless family meal. With just six ingredients, it’s ready in under 15 minutes! Ready to add another simple and delicious pasta to your collection?
INGREDIENTS
- 8 oz (225 grams) penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 5 oz (140 grams) full-fat cream cheese (I used Philadelphia)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) cloudy starchy pasta water
- ¼ cup (30 grams) grated parmesan cheese
- Zest of 1 small lemon
- ½ teaspoon fine salt (or to taste)
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, following the package directions. Just before draining, save about ½ cup of the cloudy pasta water.
- While the pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for about 2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the cream cheese, reserved pasta water, parmesan cheese, and lemon zest. Stir until smooth and well combined.
- Reduce the heat and add the lemon juice. Adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet, tossing to coat for about 8-10 seconds.
- Turn off the heat and serve immediately, garnished with freshly grated parmesan cheese, extra lemon zest, or black pepper if desired. Enjoy!
NOTES
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat before adding to fresh pasta and toss well to combine.
- Nutrition: The following values are for one serving and are based on an online calculator. This is an estimate, not a substitute for professional advice. (Extra parmesan cheese for serving is not included.)
Nutrition (per serving):
Calories: 393 kcal | Carbs: 46g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 558mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 623 IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 1mg
4o mini
