The Best Cream Cheese Pasta For Baby
I’ve seen some BLW cream cheese pasta recipes out there, but I wasn’t really impressed by them.
The ones I saw used store-bought cream cheese. Which to me doesn’t seem like it would taste good with pasta.
In this recipe, I use heavy cream and shredded Parmesan cheese to make my own cream cheese pasta sauce for baby.
The Parmesan cheese and heavy cream give the pasta a deep flavor that my baby couldn’t stop eating.
My cheesy pasta sauce for BLW gives you the opportunity to add spices like rosemary, parsley, and other Italian season to your baby’s meal.
If you love cheesy pasta? Then you must try my cheesy pumpkin pasta recipe for baby, and my creamy cheddar rice for baby
Why I Love This BLW Cheesy Pasta Sauce
Pasta is one of my family’s favorite foods. My husband being, Italian, has had a lot of pasta dishes in his life.
So I’ve been making different types of pasta sauces for my kids since they started eating solids to get them used to different tastes and textures of pasta.
I’ve made beetroot pasta, pumpkin pasta, sweet potato pasta, avocado pasta sauce, and so much more.
One of my favorite pasta sauces to make is this cream and cheese pasta for baby. It takes me less than 15 minutes to make, especially if I buy pre-shredded parmesan cheese.
Nothing beats the taste of fresh ingredients, unlike store-bought cream cheese. It also makes a really quick meal for busy weeknight dinners.
Why Cheese Is Good For Babies and Toddlers
Heavy cream and parmesan cheese are both dairy products. Like other dairy products, cheese and cream contain lots of vitamins and minerals that your baby needs to grow.
They contain vitamin D and vitamin C, which help to promote the growth of strong bones and muscles. They also contain vitamin B12, zinc, and vitamin K (source)
All these nutrients make cheese and milk good for your baby.
You should also try – easy mac and cheese for baby and toddlers
What To Serve With Cheesy Pasta For Baby
Serve it with some protein
Nothing goes better with pasta than a side of protein. My favorite protein to serve with this cheesy pasta for baby is breaded chicken breast.
Breaded chicken breast only requires 4 ingredients to make it. I usually make it in the oven while the pasta is cooking, so they will be ready at the same time.
Serve with a side of fruit
To complete my baby’s meal, I like to add some fruits on the side.
Having a combination of protein, carbohydrates, and minerals is essential to promoting a balanced diet.
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Important Recipe Notes on Cream & Cheese Pasta For Baby
Dairy is a common allergen for babies
As the title of this post implies, this recipe uses both heavy cream and cheese to make this pasta sauce.
This means that you can’t proceed with the recipe if your baby is allergic to cream or cheese. Milk products tend to be a common allergen for babies.
If this is your first time feeding dairy to your baby, then make sure you supervise them closely during and after meals for signs of an allergic reaction.
It’s also a good idea to know the signs of a dairy allergy in babies and what to do if your child has one.
You should also note that lactose intolerance is different from dairy allergy. Only your child’s pediatrician can tell you the difference for sure.
So make sure you consult with them if you have any questions.
You can use any type of pasta for this dish
If you don’t have long pasta like spaghetti, you can use short ones as well. My favorite short pasta is farfalle, but any other type will do.
Just make sure you cook it soft enough to be squished easily between your fingers.
FAQs On Cream Cheese Pasta For Baby
Can I use another type of cheese instead of Parmesan cheese?
I didn’t experiment with using any other type of cheese other than parmesan. If you want, you can try different cheeses to see how the sauce comes out.
Please make sure you leave me a comment letting me know how it comes out.
To guarantee a successful recipe, I suggest you stick with the recipe I already tested. Parmesan cheese and Italian season work very well when mixed with heavy cream. Trust me on that.
Can I use store-bought cream cheese?
I have never tried making this pasta sauce with store-bought cream cheese. I find that cream cheese is very expensive in my area so I prefer to make my creamy pasta sauce myself.
It tastes better that way anyway.
I supposed it is possible to use store-bought cream cheese. You can try adding some water to thin out the cream cheese until it resembles the consistency of heavy cream before proceeding with the recipe below.
How to properly serve pasta to babies
6-9 Months old
If you’re serving long pasta like spaghetti or linguine to a baby between 6-8 months old, then make sure you cut it short. Most babies that age will have a hard time eating very long pasta.
My kids found it very frustrating to suck in and chew long strings of spaghetti. They would only eat it when I cut it into shorter more manageable pieces.
To make eating pasta a more pleasant experience, consider making farfalle, fusilli, penne, or other short kinds of pasta.
You can serve babies this age pasta in a bowl and let them self-feed by scooping it with their hands.
9-12 months old
As babies get older, they’ll be better able to eat pasta like spaghetti. If they still find the length frustrating, then continue to cut it into smaller pieces.
You can also stick with other types of short pasta as mentioned above.
When it comes to feeding themselves, babies between ages 9-12 months can start practicing using a fork.
Offer them a pre-loaded for to eat with when they’re not too hungry, in order to avoid frustration with the meal. Feel free to allow them to revert back to scooping with their hands if they become frustrated.
Tips for Picky Eaters
Don’t pressure
Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying.
It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.
Make it into a game
Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating.
A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.
Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.
Ingredients For Cream & Cheese Pasta For Baby
This recipe is for 1 box of spaghetti pasta
Parmesan Cheese
You need parmesan cheese to create a rich creamy sauce for your pasta. The strong taste of the parmesan cheese goes really well with Italian seasoning, which this pasta needs to complete the flavor profile.
Heavy Cream
The heavy cream combines well with the cheese to create a rich creamy pasta sauce. You won’t get the same thickness or taste if you use ordinary milk.
For this recipe, I used whole milk heavy cream because it has the most fat. The fat is required for the pasta sauce to be creamy.
You could also get away with using half and half if you don’t have heavy cream.
Butter
Butter is needed to help the cheese and cream combine seamlessly. I’ve never tried this recipe without butter but I think oil would work just the same.
Italian Seasoning
Italian seasoning is the easiest way to flavor your cream cheese pasta sauce. You only need a few sprinkles of Italian seasoning to bring out the deep flavor of your sauce.
Cooking Directions For BLW Cream Cheese Pasta Sauce
- Cook your pasta according to package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, place a pan on the stove on medium heat. When it’s hot, add the butter and wait until it melts (stir to avoid burning it).
- Saute the garlic until it’s fragrant (about 2 minutes)
- Add the cream to the pan and stir. Let cook for 1 minute.
- Add the parmesan cheese and the Italian seasoning to the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Stir continuously until all the cheese has melted and the mixture has completely combined (It should be a thick creamy consistency). You shouldn’t see any stringy cheese in the pan.
Melt the butter
Saute the garlic in the butter
Add the cream
Add the cheese and spices
Pour sauce over pasta
Storage Tips For Cream and Cheese Pasta For Baby
How to refrigerate
To refrigerate cream and cheese pasta for baby, place it in an airtight container. It will last for up to 5 days in the fridge. Note that this recipe tastes best when eaten fresh on the same day, but it will still taste good if refrigerated.
Reheating Cream Cheese Pasta
To reheat the cheesy pasta, simply microwave it for 3 minutes on high, or until the pasta is hot enough.
Can you freeze cream cheese pasta for baby?
You can’t freeze cream cheese pasta because it won’t reheat well from frozen. If you want to store your pasta for longer, then you can freeze the sauce instead.
When you’re ready to make your pasta, you can microwave the sauce or let it defrost until it reaches room temperature. Then combine it with freshly cooked pasta to create a delicious meal.
Cream Cheese Pasta For Baby
Course: DinnerCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy5
servings5
minutes15
minutes500
kcalCream cheese pasta for baby is made with simple ingredients that pack a ton of flavor. It’s not just great for kids. The whole family will enjoy it as well. This recipe can be eaten for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- This ingredient list is for a 1 LB box of pasta
1 stick of butter
2 cloves garlic (diced)
3 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp black pepper
1 ½ cup heavy cream (whole fat)
2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
- Cook your pasta according to package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, place a pan on the stove on medium heat. When it’s hot, add the butter and wait until it melts (stir to avoid burning it).
- Saute the garlic until it’s fragrant (about 2 minutes)
- Add the cream to the pan and stir. Let cook for 1 minute.
- Add the parmesan cheese and the Italian seasoning to the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Stir continuously until all the cheese has melted and the mixture has completely combined (It should be a thick creamy consistency). You shouldn’t see any stringy cheese in the pan.
Notes
- Use freshly grated parmesan cheese
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Let me know in the comments how it turned out!