Creamy Chili Crisp Pasta
Creamy Chili Crisp Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta, such as mafalda or reginette
For the Creamy Chili Crisp Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups milk, any type, such as Vitamin D milk
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- small pinch turmeric, optional, for color
- 1/4 cup chili crisp, or chili oil
For Garnish
- as needed parsley, fresh, chopped
- as needed chili crisp, optional, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, which is typically 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water; set aside. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over low-medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the all-purpose flour. Stir continuously for 1 to 2 minutes until a light brown roux forms.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Add the softened cream cheese to the roux and whisk until fully combined and smooth.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Slowly pour in the milk while continuously whisking to prevent lumps. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Stir in the heavy whipping cream, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, and the optional small pinch of turmeric. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook and thicken to your desired consistency. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and stir in the chili crisp (or chili oil). Stir until well combined, creating beautiful swirls of chili crisp throughout the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce. Gently toss and mix until the pasta is evenly coated. You can cook for an additional minute or two over low heat to fully incorporate, or simply mix and serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Serve the creamy chili crisp pasta immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and an additional drizzle of chili crisp, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Chili Crisp Pasta
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta, such as mafalda or reginette
For the Creamy Chili Crisp Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups milk, any type, such as Vitamin D milk
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- small pinch turmeric, optional, for color
- 1/4 cup chili crisp, or chili oil
For Garnish
- as needed parsley, fresh, chopped
- as needed chili crisp, optional, for serving
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, which is typically 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water; set aside. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta is cooking, melt the butter in a large pan or Dutch oven over low-medium heat.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the all-purpose flour. Stir continuously for 1 to 2 minutes until a light brown roux forms.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Add the softened cream cheese to the roux and whisk until fully combined and smooth.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Slowly pour in the milk while continuously whisking to prevent lumps. Continue whisking until the sauce is smooth.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Stir in the heavy whipping cream, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, and the optional small pinch of turmeric. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook and thicken to your desired consistency. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to thin it out.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Once the sauce has thickened, remove from heat and stir in the chili crisp (or chili oil). Stir until well combined, creating beautiful swirls of chili crisp throughout the sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the sauce. Gently toss and mix until the pasta is evenly coated. You can cook for an additional minute or two over low heat to fully incorporate, or simply mix and serve immediately.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Serve the creamy chili crisp pasta immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and an additional drizzle of chili crisp, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min