Parmesan Garlic Linguine Pasta

This Garlic Parmesan Linguine recipe is on the insanely easy side, so it easily tops my list for dinner ideas. So easy that Nonnas everywhere might give me the stink eye and I’m okay with that.

 

Oh, pasta. I love you so. One of things I learned from our time in Italy was that pasta can be super involved, but also insanely easy. Ook, maybe they aren’t making pasta with cream cheese, but you get my drift.

Difference Between Carbonara, Alfredo, Cacio e Pepe?

You see, I know how to make a classic carbonara, alfredo and cacio e pepe, but sometimes life calls for time saving (and error reducing) hacks. Let me introduce you to what is commonly called cream cheese spaghetti, but here we used linguine pasta.

Before we get into the easy recipe, let’s discuss the difference so we are all on the same page.

Carbonara

The most common pasta dish in Rome is rarely seen here in the states and it is such a shame. Sometimes called spaghetti carbonara, the traditional pasta of choice is actually bucatini, a long, round pasta with a little hole through the center.

Carbonara is made from egg yolks whisked with hot pasta water and grated cheese. This results in an super rich and creamy sauce that essentially cooks on the hot pasta. Timing and speed is the name of this game.

Alfredo

Traditionalists will go gaga over debating “real alfredo”. It isn’t even an authentic Italian recipe, it is very much Italian American.

The majority of alfredo recipes (including my own) use cream with cheese to make a velvety cheese sauce, but the real alfredo uses grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese and butter. Similar to carbonara, the hot pasta helps to melt and create the silky sauce.

Cacio e Pepe

Literally translating to cheese and pepper, this dish leaves out the binder of eggs, cream or butter and just uses black pepper and grated Pecorino Romano cheese.

Also of Roman descent, it is most frequently served with spaghetti, tonnarelli or bucatini. I’m am also realizing I don’t have one on my site and maybe I should get cracking on that!

Cream Cheese Spaghetti

Ha! Even the name doesn’t sound as sophisticated, which is why I’ve changed mine to Garlic Parmesan Linguine. Creating a sauce with pasta is what sounds intimidating to most home cooks.

Or they just plain need something quick and easy so plopping in a brick of cream cheese was born and even though it is in no way shape or form authentic, it still tastes amazing. Don’t dis it until you try it!

Linguine vs Fettuccine

To many folks pasta is just pasta and the type of for any recipe just depends on personal preference. There are over 300 shapes and types of pasta in the world in nearly every single culture.

Each was developed for a specific reason and to accompany a sauce or topping, as complicated or minimal as it might be. There is this fabulous book called The Geometry of Pasta that will tell you all about it along with great recipes.

I choose linguine for this dish because I needed something hearty and strong. Something angle hair or capellini would be too delicate. Something smaller like elbows or ditalini would just get lost.

Although I choose linguine, there are several shapes of pasta that would be ideal and they include:

• Spaghetti – by far the most popular world wide, it translates to “length of a cord” and is long and thin. Perfect for delicate and thick sauces and just about any type of protein or vegetable. The most verstile, for sure.
• Bucatini – Long like spaghetti, but thicker, bucatini has a hollow center to allow it to cook to a perfect al dente without the exterior getting soggy before the interior softens at all. In Italian, the name bucatini translates to “hole” or “pierced”.
• Linguine – Long and narrow, linguine is liked if a strand of spaghetti was flattened. It is great for substantial, heavy sauces. It translates to “little tongues”. It is great for this type of sauce, coating to it and carrying it all the way to your mouth!
• Fettuccine – Also long and narrow, it is thinner than lingue, but not as wide tagliatelle. It translates to “small ribbons”.

Linguine Pasta Ingredients

Now that you have way more information than you bargained for to make parmesan garlic linguine, here are the simple ingredients you’ll need and how you make it.

• Linguine Pasta – or other type of long pasta strand.
• Cream cheese – full fat works best, reduced will be okay, I don’t recommend using fat free.
• Fresh garlic – don’t cut corners with jarred garlic. You need to use fresh to get the signature garlicky flavor.
• Parmesan cheese – you can also use parmesan reggiano or even pecorino romano. Whatever you do, I highly recommend freshly grated versus the canned stuff which can be dry and grainy.
• Heavy Cream – you can also use milk or omit this all together. I find the cream cheese melts easier with it.
• Pasta water – Like carbonara, the pasta water helps to thin the sauce for your Parmesan Garlic Linguine and coat the pasta evenly. Pasta water is a little starchy, so it works best to not thin too much and also have a tiny bit of flavor. It is also, presumably hot. if you forget to ladle this out, use the hottest water from that tap with 1 teaspoon of flour whisked in.
• Olive Oil – To cook the garlic and offer subtle undertones. Use a good flavored olive oil since this is a simple dish. Prime ingredients will really shine through.
• Coarse or Flaky Salt – Maldon and Jacobson are my favorites. Both will add the least salty flavor and a crunchy texture to bites.
• Freshly Ground Pepper – Black pepper is fine, but a tri-colored blend straight from the peppermill is my absolute favorite!

How to make Linguine Garlic Pasta

It couldn’t be easier to make this delicious pasta sauce.

1. Cook linguine. Next, cook the linguine to al dente, or softer if you desire.
2. Cook garlic and cream cheese. After straining the pasta, let us sit in the strainer while you lightly brown fresh garlic in olive oil in the still hot pan. Next, add cubed cream cheese, stirring while it melts.
3. Whisk in water and heavy cream. When nearly melted, about 3-4 minutes on medium heat, whisk in heavy cream and pasta water to thin it out a tad.
4. Toss in cheese and pasta. Lastly, toss with parmesan cheese and hot pasta.
5. Garnish. When plated, top with freshly grated pepper and flakey or coarse sea salt and fresh parsley.

What to serve with Garlic Parmesan Pasta

Serve it with a leafy green salad, cheesy bread sticks, buttery homemade garlic knots and a big glass of wine. Crusty bread or a side of your favorite veggies is always a great way to serve this pasta.

Of course, you can always serve it as a main dish too! Check the section below for some of our favorite ways to top this pasta.

Topping Options for Linguine Noodles

I generally make this pasta as a stand alone dish- it is that good, but you can also use it as a side dish to add protein and veggies.

Here are my favorites:

• Grilled or roast chicken – There’s nothing like topping a cheesy pasta with some juicy chicken thighs or grilled chicken breast. And then you have a chicken linguine recipe.
• Seared Scallops – Similar to a shrimp scampi pasta, try adding some scallops to elevate this already fantastic dish.
• Shrimp – Turn this into a simple shrimp linguine with the addition of plump, juicy shrimp.
• Sun dried tomatoes – top with julienne tomatoes when plating
• Spinach – toss fresh spinach with the pasta right before serving
• Mushrooms – Cook raw sliced mushrooms with cream cheese while it melts
• Crab or Lobster Meat – Next time you make this pasta, try adding some seafood like crab or lobster.
• Crushed red pepper flakes or aleppo – The easiest thing to do to take this ribbon pasta up a notch it to add some spice.
• Preserved Lemons – Lemon zest, lemon slices or even some fresh lemon juice can take linguine recipes to the next level. You can buy these at the store or use our preserved lemon recipe to make them right at home and with special flavor profiles.
• Cherry tomatoes – Extra veggies like tomatoes or even red peppers can make simple sauces a little more elegant

You can also use any of our 40+ ways to make jarred alfredo sauce better in this homemade version.

Linguine Pasta Storage & Freezing

Storage: You can store any leftovers of this linguine pasta recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last up to 3-5 days.

Freezing: This pasta is also a great recipe for freezing. You can either freeze the pasta and sauce together, or you can freeze them separately in two different containers.

Garlic Parmesan Linguine Pasta FAQs

More Classic Pasta Recipes

Are pasta recipes not the most perfect comfort food? Here are a few more favorites for your weeknight rotation.