23 creamy pasta recipes
The cosiest of all comfort foods, these easy creamy pasta dishes will warm you from the inside out - made with ripe avocado, starchy pasta water or eggs, the secret isn't always cream itself.
Try these creamy pasta recipes, then discover all of our best pasta recipes, as well as our lasagne recipes, pappardelle recipes, linguine recipes and orecchiette recipes.
A creamy pasta dish is comfort food at its finest. Cream isn't always the answer to a super luscious dish – it could be eggs and parmesan, as in our carbonara recipe, ripe avocado or even the starchy pasta water in our one-pot puttanesca. Other dishes let mascarpone, goat's cheese or cottage cheese do the hard work. We've included some plant-based recipes so vegans can get their dairy-free creamy pasta fill, too.
Best creamy pasta recipes
Classic carbonara
Spaghetti carbonara is traditionally made with guanciale (cured pork jowl), but smoked pancetta works well, too. Prep all your ingredients first, as it comes together quickly.
Ultimate truffle mac 'n' cheese
If you can't source fresh truffle, don’t worry – the flavour still really comes through from the double hit of pesto and truffle oil, adding a rich, umami, mushroom-like flavour.
Cottage cheese spaghetti
Make a low-calorie, smooth and creamy pasta sauce in 15 minutes using just cottage cheese, milk, garlic granules and a little cornflour. There's plenty more spaghetti recipes where that came from.
Creamy tomato gnocchi with yuzu kosho aubergines
Enjoy citrus and floral flavours in this yuzu kosho aubergine and gnocchi dish. The zesty Japanese condiment works well to complement the creamy tomato sauce.
Chicken alfredo
Deliciously creamy pasta with golden chicken and a rich sauce spiked with a hint of garlic, this recipe is on the table in 20 minutes. Now discover more ways to cook with chicken.
Avocado fusilli pasta
Avocados make salad dressings and ice creams super creamy, so why not put them in a pasta sauce? It’s a great way of using up overly ripe avocados. Try more ways with avocado.
Butternut squash mac and cheese
For a pasta bake like no other, try this autumnal twist on macaroni cheese. It’s just as cheesy and creamy as the original. Try our vegan mac and cheese if you're avoiding dairy.
Linguine with prawn butter sauce
This quick and easy linguine with prawn butter sauce is creamy, rich and full of flavour. Ready in just 15 minutes this meal is a great dinner for two.
Kale, ricotta and leek lasagne
Try a veggie alternative to this classic family dish. With layers of greens and fresh pesto, this kale, ricotta and leek lasagne is easy to whip up.
Vodka pasta
Vodka combines with tomato passata to create a silky sauce that clings well to pasta. Don't worry, the alcohol evaporates during cooking!
Creamy butternut squash pasta
The flavour of this pasta dish far outweighs its simplicity. Just don’t rush the cooking and it will all pay off. Now try more vegetarian pasta recipes.
Creamy pancetta and parmesan pasta
Creamy, comforting and easy to make, this simple one-pot pasta is a great weekend treat for the whole family. Next try one of our summer pasta recipes.
Fettuccine alfredo
A quick and easy midweek pasta treat for four. Butter and parmesan are essential for fettuccine alfredo, so don't skimp on them! See our range of vegetarian pasta recipes.
Creamy salmon pasta
You can't go wrong with salmon, pasta and a great big dollop of crème fraîche. Make our high-protein, low-salt midweek dinner in a matter of 20 minutes. Then try our healthy salmon pasta and smoked salmon pasta.
One-pot four cheeses pasta
A winning weeknight dinner, Sabrina Fauda-Rôle's one-pot dish features goat’s cheese, mascarpone, comté and blue cheese.
Creamy sprouts and pancetta spaghetti
Pair earthy brussels sprouts with plenty of cream, pancetta, garlic, white wine and lemon for a genius spaghetti dinner for two. Now try more of our brussels sprouts recipes.
Pasta puttanesca
This one-pot puttanesca makes a really easy midweek meal for one. The pasta soaks up the flavours, and the starch makes the sauce rich and creamy.
One-pot creamy lemon and spinach ravioli
Ready in a flash, this creamy pasta one-pot uses shop-bought ravioli as a base for a nutritious vegetarian meal for two. Discover more one-pot recipes.
Creamy tomato pasta bake
Check out our veggie pasta bake with juicy chopped tomatoes, nutty parmesan and creamy mozzarella. This simple recipe is ready in less than an hour, an easy midweek filler for all the family. Try more of our pasta bakes.
One-pot pasta with goat's cheese and spinach
This pasta combines wilted spinach and soft goat's cheese to create a creamy and rich dish. Garnish with extra parmesan and enjoy as a simple midweek meal. Try our creamy gnocchi with goat's cheese salad.
Padella's pici cacio e pepe
Three of the most comforting words you'll read: pasta, butter, cheese. This classic Tuscan recipe for pici cacio e pepe comes from Borough Market's Padella. Vegan's don't need to miss out on this creamy goodness, we have a plant-based cacio e pepe, too.
Creamy crab and pea pasta
Ready in just 15 minutes! This easy-peasy crab spaghetti recipe makes a satisfying midweek meal. Love crab? Try more crab recipes here.
Pigs in blankets carbonara
Carbonara has to be the ultimate creamy pasta dish – made without any cream, of course. If, by some miracle, you have any pigs-in-blankets left over from your Christmas dinner, give them a new lease of life in this rich pasta recipe. Find out more ways to use up your Christmas leftovers.
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