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–+ servings
Creamy pasta salad with cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs, perfect for summer gatherings and easy weeknight dinners.

Cream Cheese Pasta Bake (Garlic and Herb Cream Cheese)

Amber Bondar
An easy four-ingredient pasta bake made with penne, fresh spinach, juicy grape or cherry tomatoes, and garlic & herb cream cheese. A simple, no-fuss family dinner that busy moms will love.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Canadian
Servings 8
Calories 5167 kcal

Equipment

  • Stockpot
  • 9x13x3 Casserole Dish Adjust size to amount of pasta made

Ingredients
  

  • 10 Cups Penne Pasta Cooked *Adjust Amount For # Of People Serving
  • 6 Cups Fresh Baby Spinach
  • 4 Cups Grape Tomatoes Or Other Small Tomato, Cherry, Cocktail
  • 1½ Cups Herb & Garlic Cream Cheese (125gx3 Président Rondelé)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400F
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook until just al dente (firm to the bite). Drain well.
    10 Cups Penne Pasta
  • Spread the hot pasta evenly in the bottom of a deep casserole dish. (9x13x3)
  • Top with a thick, 1-inch layer of fresh, washed spinach leaves.
    6 Cups Fresh Baby Spinach
  • Arrange halved grape or cherry tomatoes over the spinach..
    4 Cups Grape Tomatoes
  • Spoon garlic and herb cream cheese in small mounds across the top.
    1½ Cups Herb & Garlic Cream Cheese
  • Cover and bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–30 minutes, until the tomatoes are softened and the cheese is melted.
  • Gently stir everything together right in the pan so the cream cheese coats the pasta in a creamy sauce. Serve immediately.

Notes

Amber’s Tips for Success

  • Keep pasta al dente; slightly firm pasta holds up better after baking.
  • Cover while baking; the spinach and tomato juices create steam that keeps the pasta moist.
  • Dot cheese evenly; spreading spoonfuls across the top ensures every bite gets creamy flavor.
  • Stir before serving; mixing right away turns the melted cheese into a smooth sauce.
  • Adjust for family size; add more or less pasta and cream cheese depending on how many mouths you’re feeding.
  • Next time, switch it up; try swapping in kale, adding bacon, or stirring in shredded chicken to make it a whole new meal.

Nutrition

Calories: 5167kcalCarbohydrates: 891gProtein: 178gFat: 93gSaturated Fat: 51gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 211mgSodium: 1819mgPotassium: 4926mgFiber: 47gSugar: 57gVitamin A: 25078IUVitamin C: 132mgCalcium: 883mgIron: 21mg
Keyword pasta dinner, penne, spinach, tomato
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