I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not really a foodie. Don’t get me wrong, I love food, and I don’t mind cooking, but most of the time, in the midst of a busy day/week/month/year, I just want food that tastes good, whips up fast, doesn’t use a ton of dishes and does use simple and cost effective ingredients.
This easy pasta with Creamy Basil Sauce definitely fits the bill! With just a few ingredients and in less then 30 minutes you’ll have a meal that’s even “fancy” enough to serve to guests.
Here is what you need:
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes 1 box pasta 1/2 cup milk 2 8oz. packages of garlic/herb flavored spreadable cheese 1 cup frozen peas 1/2 small onion, diced salt & pepper to taste 1 TBS butterStep 1: Dice onion, slice tomatoes, and chop basil then set aside.
Step 2: Melt butter in large sauce pan then add onion, tomatoes, 1/4 cup of fresh basil and peas. Once peas have softened, remove from pan and set aside in a medium size bowl.
Step 4: Then add both packages of spreadable cheese to pan along with milk. Stir until combined.
Step 5: Season with salt & pepper. Then add tomato and pea mixture back into pan and cook for 10-15 minutes on medium low heat. Cook pasta according to package, drain and add to pan with sauce.
Step 7: Spoon pasta into bowls and top with remaining fresh basil.

Pasta with Creamy Basil Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes
- 1 box pasta
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 8 oz. packages of garlic/herb flavored spreadable cheese
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/2 small onion diced
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbs. butter
Instructions
- Dice onion, slice tomatoes, and chop basil then set aside.
- Melt butter in large sauce pan then add onion, tomatoes, 1/4 cup of fresh basil and peas. Once peas have softened, remove from pan and set aside in a medium size bowl.
- Then add both packages of spreadable cheese to pan along with milk. Stir until combined.
- Season with salt & pepper. Then add tomato and pea mixture back into pan and cook for 10-15 minutes on medium low heat. Cook pasta according to package, drain and add to pan with sauce.
- Spoon pasta into bowls and top with remaining fresh basil.
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What would be your suggestion as an alternative to the spreadable cheese? Would cream cheese be similar enough?
In terms of being budget friendly, I don’t typically look at spreadable cheese, so I don’t keep it on hand.
This looks like a great recipe, but I’d love to have an alternative for the cheese.
Yes, you could use a whipped cream cheese and just be sure to add fresh herds like basil or parsley to the whipped cream cheese along with some garlic powder and black pepper.
This recipe looks and sounds delish! Can’t wait to give it a try.
It is so super simple and tastes amazing!! I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Anything basil-centric makes me happy! This looks delicious!
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Please let us know what you think once you’ve tried it. 🙂