Ingredients
Spaghetti:
- High-quality dried spaghetti
Sauce:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz. softened cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Boil spaghetti in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.
- Prepare the sauce: In a skillet, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add cream cheese, then gradually stir in Parmesan until smooth. Slowly incorporate pasta water until creamy.
- Combine: Toss cooked spaghetti in the sauce until well-coated and heated through.
- Season and serve: Season with salt and pepper, garnish with herbs, and serve hot.
Notes
- For a heartier dish, add grilled chicken or shrimp.
- For a vegetarian version, sauté vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini and add them to the pasta.
- To lighten the sauce, use lower-fat cream cheese or less butter and adjust with more pasta water.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat with a splash of milk or cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
