Thanksgiving Cranberry Cream Cheese Pasta (Print)

Tangy cranberries and rich cream cheese combine with herbs in this festive, creamy vegetarian pasta perfect for the holidays.

# Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz penne or fusilli pasta

→ Cranberry Sauce

02 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 cup water
05 - 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
06 - 1 tablespoon orange juice

→ Cream Cheese Sauce

07 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted pecans, chopped (optional)

# Instructions:

01 - Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining and setting aside.
02 - In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange zest, and orange juice. Simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes until cranberries burst and sauce thickens. Set aside.
03 - Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cream cheese and milk, whisking until smooth. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
04 - Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat. Gradually add reserved pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
05 - Gently swirl half of the cranberry sauce into the pasta and sauce mixture.
06 - Transfer to serving plates. Drizzle with remaining cranberry sauce and garnish with parsley and pecans, if using. Serve immediately.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • Ready in just 35 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner with festive flair
  • Uses simple ingredients that transform into an elegant meal
  • Perfect for using leftover cranberry sauce after holiday meals
  • Can be easily adapted with protein additions for a heartier meal
02 -
  • This dish combines the comfort of creamy pasta with festive holiday flavors
  • The cranberry sauce can be made days ahead to save time
  • Perfect for using leftover cranberry sauce from holiday meals
  • Adding protein makes this a complete meal in minutes
03 -
  • Always reserve some pasta cooking water before draining, as its starchy quality helps create a silky sauce that clings perfectly to pasta.
  • For the creamiest possible sauce, make sure your cream cheese is fully room temperature before adding it to the pan.
  • The cranberry sauce should maintain some texture with visible berry pieces for the most interesting eating experience.

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