Vegan Cream Cheese Pasta
A delightfully creamy and comforting vegan pasta dish made with vegan cream cheese, garlic, and nutritional yeast, perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions.
Ingredients
Pasta Ingredients
- 16 oz spaghetti (whole wheat or regular pasta)
- 1 cup reserved pasta water Reserve before draining pasta
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil For sautéing garlic
- 4 cloves garlic, minced Adds aromatic flavor
- 4 oz vegan cream cheese Replace traditional cream cheese
- 2 oz nutritional yeast As a substitute for Parmesan
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Adjust to taste for spice
Instructions
Cooking the Pasta
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining.
Making the Sauce
- In the same pot, heat olive oil over low heat and sauté minced garlic for about two minutes.
- Add vegan cream cheese and half a cup of reserved pasta water. Stir continuously until smooth.
- Whisk in nutritional yeast until fully incorporated.
Combining
- Toss the cooked spaghetti into the creamy sauce until evenly coated.
- Add additional reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with more red pepper flakes if desired.
Serving Suggestions
- Garnish with fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
- Add stirred vegetables, nuts, or seed crumbles for texture.
Notes
Store leftover pasta in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat with reserved pasta water to restore creaminess.