Cream cheese does a lot more than just sit prettily on a bagel. It’s the secret ingredient that can make dishes come alive with creaminess and depth. Whether folded into pastas, baked into casseroles, or whipped into dips, cream cheese brings a silky texture and subtly tangy flavor that transforms everyday ingredients into something special. These recipes will show you just how versatile cream cheese can be!
Spaghetti Alfredo with Broccoli
Lighten up your spaghetti alfredo with broccoli and a sauce enriched with cream cheese. This dish blends great taste with good health, making it a smart choice for a satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Alfredo with Broccoli
Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Creamy shrimp pasta showcases cream cheese in a luscious sauce paired with buttery shrimp. It’s a luxurious meal that comes together fast, perfect for weeknights but impressive enough for guests.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Shrimp Pasta
Easy Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
This easy Philly cheesesteak casserole layers classic cheesesteak ingredients with cream cheese, making it a hearty and comforting dish. Ready in just 40 minutes, it’s a great pick for a filling lunch or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Zucchini Noodles with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Zucchini noodles with creamy tomato sauce offer a fresh take on pasta night. The sauce, rich with cream cheese and roasted tomatoes, coats the noodles perfectly, making every forkful a treat.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
Dive into the creamy, cheesy goodness of slow cooker crack chicken. The combination of chicken, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning, along with bacon, creates a deeply flavorful and addictive dish that’s a breeze to make.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Crack Chicken
Chicken Crescent Roll Ups
Chicken crescent roll ups are the perfect quick dinner. Wrapped in crescent pastry and filled with a mix of shredded chicken and cream cheese, these rolls are topped with a rich gravy, proving once again that cream cheese can transform any meal.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Crescent Roll Ups
Cream Cheese Chicken
Transform your weeknight dinners with cream cheese chicken. Infused with a robust mix of spices and a creamy base, this dish proves there’s more to cream cheese than bagel spreads. It’s quick to prepare, making it perfect for a busy evening.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Chicken
Stuffed Fajita Chicken
Spice up dinner time with stuffed fajita chicken. This dish fills juicy chicken with cream cheese and tender veggies, delivering a burst of flavor in every bite. It’s a creative way to use cream cheese for a filling dinner.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Fajita Chicken
Crockpot Cream Cheese Salsa Chicken Tacos
Crockpot cream cheese salsa chicken tacos are as easy as they are flavorful. With only three ingredients and the crockpot doing most of the work, this creamy chicken fills tacos or quesadillas perfectly, making any dinner special.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cream Cheese Salsa Chicken Tacos
Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
Cream cheese makes this crockpot beef stroganoff extra creamy. Set it up in the morning and come home to a dish of tender beef in a rich, flavorful sauce that’s best served over egg noodles for a hearty dinner.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
This instant pot creamy tomato tortellini soup is a marvel in minutes, bursting with the flavors of cream cheese, tomatoes, and basil. It’s a comforting bowl that highlights the creamy texture cream cheese can bring to soups.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup
Easy Hormel Chili Cheese Dip
Get ready for game day with this simple yet fantastic Hormel chili cheese dip. With just cream cheese, chili, and shredded cheese, you’ll create a crowd-pleasing dip that heats up in minutes and shows just how versatile cream cheese can be.
Get the Recipe: Easy Hormel Chili Cheese Dip
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
Put your slow cooker to work with Tuscan chicken that gets its luxurious texture from cream cheese and its zest from traditional herbs. This easy-to-set-up meal cooks to perfection on its own, freeing you to enjoy your day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Creamy buffalo chicken pasta brings the heat and heartiness in just 30 minutes. With cream cheese smoothing out the spicy sauce, it’s a quick favorite that goes beyond traditional uses of cream cheese.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
Jalapeno Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Jalapeno cream cheese pinwheels are a hit at any gathering. The spicy, creamy filling rolled in soft tortillas makes these pinwheels irresistible and demonstrates cream cheese’s flair for enhancing snacks.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.