Healthy Philadelphia Pasta
This healthy Philadelphia pasta is a perfect weeknight meal for when you want something indulgent but without the excess calories. A quick and easy weeknight pasta recipe made with less than 6 main ingredients. It is creamy, light, and packed with Cajun delicious flavor. You are going to love this one.
Healthy Philadelphia pasta recipe
Have you ever wondered if you can mix Philadelphia cheese with pasta? This healthy Philadelphia pasta recipe is a testament that it is possible. All you need is some light Philadelphia cheese, spaghettini, some other few ingredients, and 15 minutes.
This is the recipe for you if you are trying to cut a few calories from your diet without compromising on taste. Using low-fat cream cheese, this dish is still creamy and indulgent but with much fewer calories. You can make it a complete meal by adding more veg like mushrooms, broccoli, or asparagus other than spinach to this dish.
I have used Cajun seasoning in this recipe to give the pasta a little bit of a kick and flavor. If you don’t like spicy food, you can leave out the Cajun seasoning or use any other seasoning of choice.
This recipe can be made vegetarian (sub chicken stock for veg stock) or vegan if you substitute cream cheese for a vegan version or coconut cream.
What you need to make this healthy Philadelphia pasta
You will need the following pantry staples to make this healthy cream cheese spaghetti
Thin spaghetti (spaghettini): this is what makes this recipe 15 minutes (or less), the pasta cooks in no time and faster than the normal one, so take that into consideration when cooking.
Light Philadelphia cheese
Baby spinach
Onions
Garlic
Butter: this can be salted or unsalted
Cajun seasoning: this can be homemade or storebought
Salt and black pepper to taste
How to make this healthy Philadelphia pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add chopped onions and saute until soft and fragrant. Add chopped garlic and saute for another 30 seconds or so.
Pour chicken stock into the sauteed aromatics and stir to combine
Carefully add the Philadelphia cream cheese into the sauce, whisking until smooth.
Add in Cajun season, the baby spinach, and cook until wilted. Simmer for another 3-5 until the sauce thickens slightly.
Stir in cooked pasta and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Add some reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Serve immediately with cooked chicken, salmon, or shrimp with a garnish of some chopped parsley, lemon zest, or Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
PS: since this is a light cream cheese, you wouldn’t get the same consistency as you using a full fat one. The sauce will thicken once you add the spaghetti to it.
How to store
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. That said, this pasta is best served fresh.
What to serve with
This pasta can be served as a side dish or main dish, here are some delicious proteins to enjoy it with.
More creamy pasta recipes you will love
Instant pot macaroni and cheese
Healthy Philadelphia Pasta
Ingredients
- 300 g thin spaghetti (spaghettini) sub with normal spaghetti or other pasta of choice
- 165 g Light Philadelphia cheese
- 3 cups baby spinach optional
- ½ cup onions chopped
- 1 Tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 cup chicken stock or pasta water
- 2 Tablespoon butter
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese to serve
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside but reserve some pasta water.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add chopped onions and saute until soft and fragrant. Add chopped garlic saute for another 30 seconds or so.
- Pour chicken stock into the sauteed aromatics and stir to combine.
- Carefully add the Philadelphia cream cheese into the sauce, whisking until smooth.
- Add in Cajun seasoning, and the baby spinach, and cook until wilted. Simmer for another 3-5 until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Stir in cooked pasta and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Add some reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Serve immediately with cooked chicken, salmon, or shrimp with a garnish of some chopped parsley, lemon zest, or Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious pasta recipe that you can make at home in 15 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
