Description
This smoked cream cheese pasta is ultra-creamy, infused with smoky depth, and incredibly easy to make. Smoked cream cheese is blended with roasted tomatoes, garlic, and seasonings to create a luscious sauce that pairs perfectly with your favorite pasta!
Ingredients
- 1 block (8 oz) cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine)
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
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Preheat the smoker: Set your smoker to 225°F and use mild wood like apple, cherry, or pecan for a subtle smoky flavor.
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Prepare the cream cheese: Place the cream cheese in a small cast iron skillet or foil pan. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt.
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Roast the tomatoes: Toss the cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. Place them in a separate foil pan or on the same skillet as the cream cheese.
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Smoke: Place both the cream cheese and tomatoes on the smoker and smoke for 2 hours, until the cream cheese is soft and infused with flavor.
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Cook the pasta: While the cream cheese smokes, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
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Make the sauce: Transfer the smoked cream cheese and tomatoes to a large bowl. Mash and mix until smooth. Stir in the reserved pasta water to create a silky sauce.
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Combine & serve: Toss the cooked pasta with the smoked sauce. Add Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve immediately!
Notes
- Want more protein? Add smoked chicken, shrimp, or sausage.
- For extra richness, stir in a splash of heavy cream or more Parmesan cheese.
- Prefer a spicier kick? Add more crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.