Creamy pasta with cranberries, cheese, and fresh herbs creates a vibrant holiday-inspired main for sharing.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 ounces penne or fusilli pasta
→ Cranberry Sauce
02 - 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1/2 cup water
05 - 1/2 teaspoon orange zest
06 - 1 tablespoon orange juice
→ Cream Cheese Sauce
07 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons toasted pecans, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
02 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries, sugar, water, orange zest, and orange juice. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and sauce thickens. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
03 - In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add softened cream cheese and milk, whisking continuously until mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in grated Parmesan, salt, and black pepper.
04 - Add drained pasta to the cream cheese sauce, tossing gently to coat. Gradually add reserved pasta water as needed to achieve desired sauce consistency.
05 - Gently swirl half of the cranberry sauce through the pasta, creating ribbons of cranberry.
06 - Transfer pasta to serving plates. Drizzle with remaining cranberry sauce and garnish with chopped parsley and toasted pecans if using. Serve immediately.
