Experience the vibrant flavors of Southern Italy right in your kitchen with this incredibly smooth Cream Cheese Pasta. Infused with the rich, sun-kissed sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes and the savory crispness of pancetta, this satisfying dish is surprisingly quick, coming together in just 30 minutes from start to finish!
For an even more expansive Mediterranean culinary journey, consider pairing this delightful pasta with our suggested Grilled Asparagus with Romesco Sauce and Burrata. The fresh, tangy notes will beautifully complement the creamy pasta, elevating your dining experience.
This creamy pasta recipe is a delightful symphony of ingredients that instantly evoke cherished memories of family holidays spent exploring the sun-drenched landscapes and culinary traditions of Southern Europe. Think of the wholesome goodness of pasta, the sweet tang of ripe tomatoes, the aromatic punch of garlic, the freshness of basil, and the salty complexity of Parmesan. For us, discovering and savoring new foods is always a highlight, and this dish truly embodies that spirit of delicious exploration.
Sun-dried tomatoes, a cornerstone of this recipe, boast a fascinating tradition. They are typically dried on ceramic rooftops under the intense Mediterranean sun, a slow dehydration process that concentrates their natural sugars and intensifies their sweet, savory, and slightly tangy flavor profile. This deep, umami-rich character means a little goes a long way in delivering an incredible flavor punch to any dish.
Fortunately, you don’t need to dry your own tomatoes to achieve this authentic taste! High-quality sun-dried tomatoes are widely available in jars, usually packed in oil, or as a convenient pesto from most supermarkets. Whether whole, chopped, or in paste form, this versatile ingredient is the secret to elevating your everyday chicken pasta recipe into something truly special and irresistibly gourmet.
The Secret to Simplicity: Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
The true genius behind the effortless charm and incredible richness of this recipe lies in the use of cream cheese. Forget spending precious time laboring over a traditional roux-based cheese sauce from scratch, meticulously whisking to prevent lumps and achieve that perfect velvety consistency. With cream cheese, you can achieve a wonderfully smooth and silky sauce with minimal effort. Simply stir in a good quality store-bought pack, and you are guaranteed a luxurious texture every single time, free from any frustrating lumps.
This cream cheese sauce offers an invitingly luxurious texture that is simply a joy to savor. Much like many revered classic pasta sauces, its inherent versatility makes it an excellent foundation for endless culinary variations. In this particular rendition, we’ve thoughtfully incorporated sun-dried tomatoes, whose unique tangy sweetness provides a perfect counterpoint and complement to the rich, creamy base, creating a harmonious and unforgettable flavor profile.
While this sauce is incredibly adaptable, it pairs exceptionally well with pasta shapes designed to “catch” and hold the rich sauce. Classic choices include penne, fusilli, rigatoni, or macaroni. Their tubular or ridged surfaces are ideal for scooping up every drop of that delicious creaminess. However, don’t let your pasta drawer dictate your dinner! If you only have long, thin varieties like spaghetti or linguine on hand, absolutely go for it – the flavors will still be divine!
Elevating Your Dish: Chicken and Pancetta Pasta
This creamy pasta recipe is wonderfully flexible, easily adapted to suit your family’s dietary preferences, whether you lean towards a vegetarian meal or a more hearty, non-vegetarian option. We frequently incorporate chicken into our dish because it’s not only an affordable source of lean protein but also a consistent family favorite. However, feel completely free to omit the chicken entirely for a lighter, equally delicious vegetarian version, or substitute it with other proteins like shrimp, sausage, or even chickpeas.
When including chicken, we opt for skinless, boneless chicken breasts, sliced into uniform, bite-sized chunks. This careful preparation ensures that the chicken cooks quickly and evenly, becoming tender and juicy. More importantly, it allows for a perfect distribution throughout the pasta, guaranteeing that every single forkful delivers a delightful medley of pasta, rich sauce, and savory chicken, creating a perfectly balanced bite.
Expert Recipe Tips and Notes for Perfect Pasta
- **Choose Your Pasta Wisely**: While any pasta shape can be used in this recipe, we’ve found that tubular shapes like macaroni, penne, or rigatoni work exceptionally well. Their hollow centers and ridges are perfect for capturing generous amounts of the creamy sauce, ensuring every mouthful is a rich, flavorful delight.
- **Pancetta vs. Bacon**: For an authentic touch, pancetta, a type of Italian cured pork belly, offers a uniquely savory depth. If pancetta is not readily available, or if you simply prefer it, good quality smoked bacon makes an excellent substitute, imparting a delicious smokiness to the dish. For a lighter meal, both can be omitted without compromising the core flavors.
- **Chicken Customization**: Similarly, the chicken is entirely optional. It’s your dish, so feel free to tailor it to your preference! You can leave it out for a vegetarian meal, or swap it for other proteins like cooked shrimp, Italian sausage, or even roasted vegetables.
- **Boost with Veggies**: Looking to add more nutrients and fiber? This creamy sauce is incredibly accommodating to extra vegetables! Wilt in some fresh spinach at the end, or stir in blanched broccoli florets or sautéed zucchini (courgette) chunks. These additions not only enhance the nutritional value but also add wonderful texture and freshness.
- **The Full-Fat Difference**: We strongly recommend using full-fat cream cheese for this recipe. Low-fat varieties tend to have a higher water content and can sometimes split or curdle when heated, resulting in a less smooth sauce. Full-fat cream cheese, on the other hand, guarantees an incredibly rich, stable, and wonderfully creamy pasta dish – a indulgence you won’t regret!
- **The Power of Sun-Dried Tomatoes**: Just as crucial as the cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes are vital for imparting that characteristic tangy sweetness and umami depth to the creamy sauce. They are sold in various forms – oil-packed halves, chopped, or as a paste. Any variety will work beautifully, so use whatever you can easily find.
- **Don’t Toss All That Water!**: A crucial tip for achieving restaurant-quality pasta sauce is to reserve about a cupful of the starchy pasta cooking water before draining. This magical liquid is the best way to adjust the thickness of your sauce, helping it to emulsify and cling perfectly to the pasta while adding an extra layer of creaminess and flavor.
Delightful Serving Suggestions
With both satisfying pasta and hearty protein combined in this creamy dish, it truly stands on its own as a complete and fulfilling dinner. You could happily serve it as is and have a fantastic meal.
However, if you’re in the mood to round out your meal or simply desire something extra on the side, we highly recommend a lovely and refreshing Garden Salad. The crisp, fresh greens and light vinaigrette would provide a wonderful contrast to the rich pasta. Alternatively, for an extra touch of indulgence, go the extra mile with warm, crusty Garlic Bread, perfect for soaking up every last drop of that incredible sauce. A light, dry white wine or even a chilled rosé would also pair beautifully with the flavors of this Southern Italian-inspired dish.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
It happens to the best of us – sometimes we cook a little too much pasta! The excellent news is that this creamy pasta dish makes for fantastic leftovers. The best way to store any remaining pasta and sauce, whether it includes chicken or not, is to transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it promptly. While the pasta may lose some of its ideal al dente texture upon reheating, the incredible flavors will still be wonderfully present and enjoyable.
Ensure that any leftovers, with or without chicken, are consumed within 2-3 days for optimal freshness and safety. To reheat, simply add a splash of water, milk, or even a little chicken broth to the pasta to help loosen the sauce and restore its creamy consistency. You can gently reheat it covered in the oven at a low temperature, or more quickly on the hob (stovetop) over a medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until thoroughly warmed through.
More Creamy Pasta Recipes to Savor
- 5 Minute Ravioli Sauce (perfect for store-bought ravioli)
- Easy Carbonara (our authentic version)
- Baked Penne alla Vodka with Meatballs
- Vegan Alfredo Pasta Sauce (a delicious dairy-free alternative)
Tomato Cream Cheese Pasta with Chicken and Pancetta
Equipment
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Our Place Always Pan
Ingredients
- 160g / 6oz smoked pancetta or bacon
- 450g / 1 lb chicken breasts, skinless and boneless
- salt
- 130g / 1/2 cup sun-dried tomato paste or finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 4-5 basil leaves or 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 200g / 7oz cream cheese, full fat
- 450g / 1lb pasta
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
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Begin by cooking your chosen pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. While the pasta is cooking, heat a large pan and cook the pancetta until it’s wonderfully crisp and its fat has rendered. Remove the cooked pancetta from the pan and set it aside. In the same pan, add the chicken breast chunks (seasoned with salt) and brown them on both sides until they are golden and cooked through, which usually takes about 7-10 minutes, depending on their size.
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Reduce the heat to low, then return the crispy pancetta to the pan. Stir in the sun-dried tomato paste (or finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes), sliced fresh basil leaves (or dried basil), and minced garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Next, add a couple of ladlefuls of the starchy pasta water directly from the pot; let it bubble gently for about two minutes. Finally, stir in the full-fat cream cheese and allow it to melt completely over the low heat, forming a smooth, luxurious sauce.
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Once the pasta is cooked, drain it, making sure to reserve about 125ml (1/2 cup) of the pasta cooking water. Add the drained pasta directly into the pan with the creamy sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated. Taste and season with additional salt if needed. If the pasta appears a bit dry or too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency. Serve immediately, garnished generously with grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Tubular pasta shapes like penne, rigatoni, or macaroni are ideal for this recipe as they effectively hold more of the creamy sauce. However, any pasta shape you have on hand will still create a delicious meal.
- Pancetta provides an authentic Italian flavor profile. If unavailable, bacon is a good substitute and will lend a pleasant smokiness to the dish. For a lighter version, feel free to omit both the pancetta and chicken.
- To add fiber and nutrients, incorporate vegetables such as spinach (wilted in at the end), blanched broccoli florets, or sautéed zucchini (courgette) into the sauce.
- Always use full-fat cream cheese to ensure a stable, smooth, and incredibly creamy sauce. Low-fat varieties can sometimes split when heated.
- Sun-dried tomatoes are key to the sauce’s unique tangy-sweet flavor. Whether oil-packed, chopped, or in paste form, any variety will work well.
- Remember to reserve about a cup of pasta cooking water. Its starch helps to thicken and emulsify the sauce, adding extra creaminess and making it cling beautifully to the pasta.
Nutrition
Carbohydrates: 59g |
Protein: 32g |
Fat: 26g |
Saturated Fat: 11g |
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g |
Monounsaturated Fat: 8g |
Trans Fat: 0.04g |
Cholesterol: 101mg |
Sodium: 1175mg |
Potassium: 552mg |
Fiber: 2g |
Sugar: 3g |
Vitamin A: 507IU |
Vitamin C: 1mg |
Calcium: 76mg |
Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!