Easy Cream Cheese Pasta (Instant Pot Pasta Recipe)

Yield: 8 servings

Easy Cream Cheese Pasta (Instant Pot Pasta Recipe)

Just 5 ingredients and a mere 20 minutes are all it takes to put this amazing cream cheese pasta on your table. Just cook the pasta in the Instant Pot, and then stir in the ingredients for the cream cheese pasta sauce all in the same pot! An easy dinner that's sure to be your new family favorite...

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the Instant Pot pasta

1-lb. dry penne pasta
4 cups cold water
2 teaspoons kosher salt

For the cream cheese pasta sauce

2 tablespoons butter, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 (8-oz.) brick cream cheese, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
red pepper flakes, to taste (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the Instant Pot penne pasta by adding 1-lb. of dry penne pasta and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt to the insert pot. Cover with 4 cups water and pressure cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Perform a quick release of the pressure. Do not drain any of the residual starchy pasta water left in the pot. (see: Cooking Pasta In Instant Pot for step-by-step instructions)
Leave the Instant Pot set on Keep Warm and immediately add the butter. Stir until melted completely.
Add in the cream cheese and garlic powder and stir until the pasta sauce is smooth.
Stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Turn the Instant Pot off by hitting the Cancel button.
Serve warm, garnished with more black pepper or red pepper flakes, as desired.

Notes

Storage: leftover pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

TO MAKE STOVETOP PASTA SAUCE WITH CREAM CHEESE
You can also make this simple pasta dish on the stovetop! Simply boil the penne pasta in salted water on the stovetop until al dente. Reserve one cup of the cooking water before draining.

Add the drained pasta back to the pot, turn the burner down to low heat, and pick up with the instructions at step 2, adding 1/2 cup of the pasta water when incorporating the butter. Add additional reserved cooking water, as needed, to achieve a creamy pasta sauce.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1/2 cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 333Total Fat: 14.4gSaturated Fat: 7.7gCholesterol: 40.6mgSodium: 736.8mgCarbohydrates: 43.3gFiber: 2.0gSugar: 2.1gProtein: 10.1g

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.