Easy recipes with cream cheese
Got cream cheese and not sure what to make? Here are 8 easy dinners you can cook tonight. Each one keeps to everyday ingredients and a single skillet or sheet pan where possible, with rough prep and cook times so you can pick by how much time you have. Prefer to cook with exactly what's on your shelf? Tell Cache & Cook what you have and it drafts a recipe free.
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Crispy Garlic
20 min Serves 4weeknightitalian-inspiredcomfort food
Creamy Lemon Pasta with Spring Peas and Dill
15 min Serves 4weeknightvegetarianlight
Chorizo-Cream Cheese Skillet Dip with Crispy Tortilla Chips
15 min Serves 4weeknightspicyappetizer
Creamy Garlic Butter Pasta with Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
15 min Serves 4weeknightone-panvegetarian
Creamy Tomato & Spinach Pasta with Crispy Garlic
20 min Serves 4weeknightvegetariancomfort food
Lemon-Herb Cream Cheese Pasta with Garlic & Spinach
15 min Serves 4weeknightvegetarianbright
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Cream Cheese
20 min Serves 4weeknightitalian-inspiredvegetarian
Lemon Cream Cheese Pasta with Spring Peas
20 min Serves 4weeknightvegetarianlight
Common questions
- Can I substitute cream cheese with something cheaper or lighter?
- Greek yogurt or ricotta can replace cream cheese in most recipes at a 1:1 ratio, though they're tangier and may need extra seasoning; for baking, mascarpone works well but is pricier, while neufchâtel is a lighter option that costs about the same.
- How long can I store cream cheese after opening?
- Opened cream cheese keeps for about 2 weeks in the refrigerator if stored in an airtight container, and you can freeze it for up to 2 months, though thawed cream cheese works best in cooked dishes rather than eaten straight.
- What's the quickest cream cheese appetizer I can make for guests?
- Mix softened cream cheese with everything bagel seasoning or herbs and serve with crackers, or spread it on crostini with jam and nuts—both take under 10 minutes and require no cooking.
- Can I make cream cheese recipes healthier?
- Swap half the cream cheese with plain Greek yogurt to cut calories and fat while boosting protein, or use neufchâtel, which has about 30% less fat than regular cream cheese with almost the same taste.