Cream Cheese Pasta with Bacon

Cream cheese pasta with bacon is a quick and easy pasta dinner that’s comforting and utterly delicious. Whip it up in 20 minutes with just seven ingredients and watch everyone clearing up their plates in no time.

I love fuss-free dinners, and this cream cheese pasta with bacon is something that I can whip up even on the busiest of weeknights.

Adding cream cheese to pasta sauce has got to be one of the best things ever — you’re basically getting a velvety, delicious sauce just by mixing some cream cheese and starchy pasta water.

The result is an incredibly yummy pasta sauce that you can easily customize to make your own.

I made this creamy bacon pasta with just some bacon lardons, but you can easily add some veggies if you want.

Ingredients and substitutions

Linguine — Linguine are perfectly shaped for this sauce, but you can use any other type of long pasta, such as tagliatelle or spaghetti.

Butter — A small knob of unsalted butter is the perfect base for a creamy sauce. If you use a non-stick pan and you’re looking to cut down on calories, you can skip it and fry the bacon without any extra fat.

Bacon — Both smoked and unsmoked bacon lardons work in this cream cheese pasta sauce. You can also use pancetta or even skip it altogether for a vegetarian version. The cream cheese sauce is still delicious, even without any bacon.

Garlic — Fresh garlic is best for this sauce. I use four cloves and the result is not too garlicky, but you can definitely add more if you’d like.

Cream cheese — I typically use Philadelphia when making pasta dishes with cream cheese. The full-fat one will result in a deliciously creamy sauce, but you can also use the low-fat version if you want to cut down on calories a bit.

Parmesan — Freshly grated Parmesan is perfect for this cream cheese pasta, but you can also use Grana Padano or pecorino instead.

Freshly grated black pepper — A bit of freshly grated black pepper is an incredible finishing touch for this creamy cheese sauce. You can also add some more to individual bowls just before serving.

How do you make cream cheese pasta with bacon?

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously and cook the linguine al dente according to the instructions on the package. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large, deep pan and fry the bacon for 3-4 minutes over medium heat until slightly crispy.

Add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute, stirring often. Add half a cup of pasta water to the pan and then stir in the cream cheese. Break it down with your spoon and stir continuously until it melts completely.

Add another cup of pasta water and allow the sauce to bubble for a minute. Stir in the grated Parmesan, then transfer the cooked pasta to the pan.

Toss well to combine, adding a bit more pasta water if it looks too thick. Season with freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately.

Recipe notes and tips for the best cream cheese pasta

• Using starchy water from the pasta is perfect for a creamy texture. Always reserve a bit more pasta water than you think you’ll use, just in case the sauce is too thick. The secret to getting super starchy water is to boil your pasta in half a pot of water and reserve the pasta water right at the end.
• You can add some extra veggies to this pasta if you want extra flavour and texture. Mushroom and broccoli are both excellent choices.
• This Philadelphia cream cheese pasta sauce is best served immediately. However, if you have any leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. You can heat the pasta in the microwave or on the hob. If the sauce has thickened too much, you may need to add a dash of water or milk.

If you liked this cream cheese pasta with bacon, you might also like some of my other creamy pasta recipes:

• Creamy Peri-Peri Chicken Pasta
• Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta with Asparagus
• Rasta Pasta Recipe
• Creamy Tuna and Mushroom Pasta
• Creamy Lemon Gruyere Pasta

Looking for more delicious inspiration? Follow Skinny Spatula on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!