Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta

🔎 A quick look at this recipe

⭐️ Why this recipe works

Every once in a while (okay, a LOT of the time) you need a recipe that you know everyone will love, that you can practically make with your eyes closed, and that is ready fast. 💨

Please meet one those can’t miss recipes: Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta!

A little ground beef joins up with your favorite pasta sauce and some cream cheese for a creamy, dreamy pasta sauce that is pretty much guaranteed to be a suppertime hit.

The cream cheese melts into the tomato sauce, creating a velvety texture without needing heavy cream. The ground beef adds protein and heartiness. And of course, EVERYONE loves pasta.

And let’s talk about the convenience part…this recipe uses ingredients that might already be in your pantry and refrigerator, including pasta, jarred tomato sauce, and cream cheese.

And if you have an extra ounce or two of energy, you can swap out the jarred pasta sauce for this heavenly homemade version.

🧐 What is cream cheese?

Cream cheese is a totally legit cheese, usually made from cow’s milk and cream.

It gets its thick and cream texture much the way ricotta cheese does, by separating the curds (the solids) from the whey (the liquid), and most commercial cream cheeses add some kind of stabler to keep it smooth and consistent.

I always have a block of cream cheese in my fridge, just so I can make cream cheese coffee cake or cream cheese stuffed biscuits at the drop of a hat. Or this cream cheese tomato pasta sauce!

Ingredients you need

And if things are dire, you can skip the parsley, although I do love it as a garnish.

💡 Ingredient substitution ideas

Missing something or want to swap in something different? Check out the links below to find more ingredient substitution ideas. 👇🏻

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to make this recipe

1. Cook 12 ounces of linguine or spaghetti according to package directions and drain.
2. While pasta is cooking, put a pound of ground beef into a large skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.  Drain the fat and put the meat back in the skillet.
3. Add 3 cups of your favorite tomato sauce to the skillet and stir for a couple of minutes over medium heat.
4. Add 8 ounces of room temperature cream cheese that you have cleverly cut into cubes and stir until it is all melted into the sauce.
5. Add the cooked pasta and toss with tongs until everything is well coated.
6. Divide among bowls, garnish with some grated Parmesan and fresh parsley and serve it up!

So, at this point about 15 or 20 minutes have passed and folks are starting to wander into the kitchen wondering what smells so dang delicious!

🧐 Recipe FAQs

Cream cheese, my friends. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

🍽️ What to serve with this recipe

Starter: Zucchini Carpaccio
Main: Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta
Side: Green Bean Farro Salad or Tomato Peach Salad
Dessert: Orange Juice Crumb Cake

We love to add some veggies on the side of this pasta…some of our faves are a cool zucchini carpaccio, a green bean farro salad and/or a tomato salad. And some orange juice crumb cake for dessert!

This combination gives you a balanced meal with fresh vegetables, a comforting main course, and a light, citrusy dessert.