Garganelli pasta nestled in between creamy Parmesan sauce and tomato meat sauce. Layers of melted mozzarella is all through this Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet!
Are you a pasta lover?
I am so indecisive when it comes to pasta… and sauce, for that matter.
The decisions to make– cream or tomato sauce?
Swirly or straight pasta?
I know, it’s really hard in my little world.
This is why I LOVE to use both creamy and tomato sauces in this Creamy Italian Pasta Skillet creation.
Cream sauce AND tomato sauce WITH pasta AND lots of cheese– the best of the best!
This skillet meal is a breeze to make right on the stove top… ready for chow time in less than 30 minutes!
While you are cooking your pasta (2 minutes less than the package instructions) in boiling salted water, start making the cream sauce in skillet on medium heat. I used Garganelli pasta. You may use Penne, Rigatoni, Rotini… it’s really endless!
In the skillet, cream together butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, half & half cream, and seasonings to a simmer. It will thicken up within a few minutes. Sprinkle in some grated Parmesan cheese, and stir.
Now you’re ready to lay the drained pasta on top of the Parmesan cheese sauce. No need to stir it together. Besides, we have another sauce to add right up on top!
Sprinkle on a layer of mozzarella cheese.
This is a great way to use leftover spaghetti sauce, by the way. It’s already precooked and saves you time!
Faster results when the tomato sauce is preheated when putting it on top of the pasta. Because the cream sauce is already warm on the bottom of the pan. So it only makes sense to have the tomato sauce already heated.
Sprinkle on MORE cheese and put a lid on top with it being on low heat. If you are using an oven safe skillet, you may place it under the broiler to melt the cheese.
I know this picture below isn’t very flattering, kind of messy and sloppy. But this is what you’d find when you leave the room waiting for the cheese to melt…
A starving teenager will dig right in!
I hope you enjoy this fast skillet meal as much as my family does!
- 8 ounces dry pasta, I used Garganelli. Penne, Rigatoni, and Rotini is great, too.
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup half & half cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- salt & pepper, to taste
- 3 cups spaghetti sauce, your favorite kind.
- 3 cups grated mozzarella, divided
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Add pasta to salted water and cook 2 minutes less than the directions on the pasta package. Drain when done.
- While pasta is cooking, start the cream sauce in a large skillet.
- In a heated skillet (on medium heat), cream together butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, half & half cream, and seasonings to a simmer. It will thicken up within a few minutes. Sprinkle in some grated Parmesan cheese, and stir.
- When the cream sauce has thickened up, lay the drained pasta on top of the Parmesan cream sauce. Do not stir together.
- Sprinkle on 1 and 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta.
- Put preheated spaghetti sauce on top of the cheese and pasta. (Faster results when the spaghetti sauce is preheated.)
- Sprinkle on the rest of the mozzarella cheese and put a lid on top with it being on low heat. If you are using an oven safe skillet, you may place it under the broiler to melt the cheese.
- Enjoy!
- This is a great way to use leftover spaghetti sauce! It’s already precooked and saves you time!
What is your favorite pasta dish to indulge in?
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When we are low on the red sauce we make white sauce and mix them together over pasta! It is amazing, isn’t it? This looks amazing! My family would be quickly asking for me!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet recently posted…Lemon Frozen Yogurt
Nancy, it IS the best! Love those two sauces together!
The best of both worlds (pasta worlds that is), that some serious comfort food 🙂
Holy cow, Gloria! This is so amazingly decadent! You have one lucky family 🙂
Andi @ The Weary Chef recently posted…Perfect Pizza Sauce Recipe for Under a Dollar!
Oh boy, I could use a big plate of this pasta right NOW! I love that it’s creamy AND tomatoey 😉
Allie | Baking a Moment recently posted…Simply Perfect Devilled Eggs
My hips don’t like pasta but that looks so good! May have to try with spaghetti squash!
Kerry recently posted…Creamy Corn and Zucchini
Kerry, that would be really good! Might have to give that a try, too!
I love pasta being Italian and all! This dish looks fantastic and I’ll need to give it a try soon! Pinning…
Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner recently posted…Poppy Seed Lemon Linzer Cookies
Yum! Wishing I had this right now. I love creamy and tomato sauce! What a great combo!
Kathy recently posted…Asian Lettuce Wraps
Oh my gosh, I want this now! It has all my favorite things…especially cream. I can’t wait to make this. Happening soon, probably for lunch tomorrow.
Rach @ EazyPeazyMealz recently posted…Strawberry Lemonade Slush
Rachael, I hope you’ll love it as much as my family does! 🙂
Gloria, all I can say is that I want some of this right now! I am crazy for creamy white sauces, but combining it with the red sauce is brilliant!!!!
Sheila @ Sweet Baked Life recently posted…Teenage Crush S’mores Overload Cake
Almost lasagna. but much easier to make! Great recipe!
Medeja recently posted…Avinžirnių ir Fetos Kepsneliai/ Chickpea and Feta Patties
Medeja, so much easier! Hope you have a wonder day!
My family sounds like yours! 1) the two sauces – that is a must around here (except for Luke who is an alfredo purist) and 2) diggin’ into the skillet meal like its the last meal on earth! I can’t blame them; cheesy, sauce pasta is where it is all at. Pinning this one- it looks perfect for our lunch meal rotation!
Mary Frances recently posted…Chocolate Swirl PB2 Banana Muffins
Oh my gosh this pasta has my name written all over it. I LOVE how you combined a red sauce with a cream sauce. How genius is that?? All that cheesy carb-y pasta goodness is literally calling out to me. Putting this skillet pasta on my dinner menu for next week! 😀
Sarah@WholeAndHeavenlyOven recently posted…Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Now that’s a creamy pasta dish if I ever saw one! Thanks for helping me not having to make a decision when it comes to which sauce to pick. I am so indecisive when it comes to things like that… I just want it all. And now I can :).
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! recently posted…Seven Layer Neapolitan Cookies
I loveeeeeeeeeeeee pasta. Like love love love. When people ask me what the one thing I can’t ever give up is, it’s pasta. I like it with red sauce, I like it plain, pretty much anyway, but I ESPECIALLY like it creamy. Mmmmm mmmm mmm this looks so flippin’ deeelish.
Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps recently posted…Pineapple and Ham Farro “Fried Rice”
Love pasta. Love pasta sauce. Love your skillet recipe, Gloria! Looks great. And that white sauce, OMG. Do want now! Pinned. 🙂
Julie @ This Gal Cooks recently posted…Skillet Pizza Pasta Bake
Love, love, love! Gloria, this pasta skillet recipe of yours is pure genius. I love how you combined both a creamy-dreamy Parmesan white sauce and red tomato pasta sauce. I am so hungry for a pasta dish like this! Already pinned this morning when I spotted it at Pinterest! Cannot wait to make this. Hubby will love it, too. Thanks for sharing!
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen recently posted…Carrot Cake Cheese Danish Pastry
Not having to choose between cream and tomato sauce is the best decision ever!! We seriously eat a lot of pasta and if it is up to my Italian husband we will eat pasta everyday. He is going to love this 🙂
Zainab @ Blahnik Baker recently posted…Chocolate Pistachio Ãclairs
This looks so incredible, Gloria, and yes, I love my pasta! I think using a skillet is genius, as is mixing cream and tomato sauce. This is one delicious dish!
Marcie recently posted…Meat Sauce with Red Wine and Mushrooms
I do love pasta. I love that you mixed the creamy and the tomato sauce, I’ve had a similar dish but it was made with store-bought alfredo and marinara… this looks SO much better!
Sam @SugarSpunRun recently posted…Oreo Marshmallow Cheesecake Squares
We are HUGE pasta lovers in our family – my husband is a cream sauce fanatic while I love me some tomato sauce. Love love love that you mixed the two sauces together – now we don’t have to flip coins to see who gets their fave sauce any more – this looks amazing Gloria – pinning 🙂
I’m a fan under 30 minute dinners! And all that sauce and cheese!!! Sign me up!
Oh yes, I’m a pasta lover so I’m drooling over this dish before 11am!
Tina @ Tina’s Chic Corner recently posted…Indian Chickpea Salad
Oh my word, this looks divine!!!! Had such a hectic week, I could really do with a big plate of this right now!
Annie @ Annie’s Noms recently posted…Secret Recipe Club – Skinny Cheesecake Brownie Bites
You’ve been featured at Link’n Blogs link party! Way to go! Stop by to see your feature and link up again. 🙂
http://iputabirdonit.blogspot.com/2014/04/linkn-blogs-23.html
xo
Daniela
Put A Bird On It
Daniela @ Put A Bird On It recently posted…Link’n Blogs #23
This looks great! Thanks for sharing at Happiness is Homemade 🙂
Betsy @ BPhotoArt.com recently posted…Documenting Generational Family Portraits
This looks to die for! I love that idea, if you can’t decide on one sauce just use both!! LOL Which makes this recipe over the top! Pinned!
Marti recently posted…Quick and Easy Snack Baggie {reusable}
How much butter goes into the cream sauce with the cream cheese? Salted or unsalted butter?
How much butter goes into the cream sauce with the cream cheese? Salted or unsalted butter? I’m sure it is in the recipe and I’m overlooking it!