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Have Leftover Brie Cheese? Make Pasta!
I can’t think of a better way to use leftover brie cheese than to make pasta with it! Creamy, savory, garlicky deliciousness. So so sooooo good. Even if you don’t have leftover brie, it’s worth getting some for this recipe! Don’t sleep on this one, friends. Brie pasta is the perfect quick and easy recipe for dinner!
I first made this pasta recipe a few years ago when I had tons of leftover brie after a holiday party, and I’m so glad I accidentally discovered it because it’s INCREDIBLE. Creamy brie cheese, minced garlic, milk, and your favorite pasta, mixed with spinach, blistered tomatoes, and freshly chopped basil for a meal that literally tastes like it’s from a restaurant. You guys are going to love this super easy recipe!
You’ll Also Love: 30+ Healthy Pasta Recipes (Easy & Comforting!)
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
- Brie Cheese – Buttery, earthy, and full of flavor, there’s nothing like the flavor of brie cheese in this recipe!
- Pasta of Choice – Spaghetti, linguini, bowtie pasta, rotini, penne, fettuccine….the pasta options are endless. I personally love using whole wheat or chickpea pasta for more nutrition! Boil the pasta with a little bit of olive oil and salt to give it flavor for an extra delicious meal.
- Milk – Regular milk or unsweetened cashew milk are both great options. You can also use unsweetened almond milk!
- Spinach, Tomatoes, & Basil – Fresh basil tastes fantastic, especially when it’s in season during the summer. However, dried basil works great, too.
- Garlic & Lemon Juice – I used minced garlic and freshly squeezed lemon juice in this recipe. Garlic powder is a great option as well!
- Nutritional Yeast (Optional) – This might sound crazy, but I like adding a little nutritional yeast to brie pasta because it adds flavor and brings out that cheesy taste. It also adds more nutrition and protein to the meal. However, it is definitely optional!
- Protein of Choice (Optional) – Add chicken, steak, shrimp, or vegan meatballs. Another option is to serve it on the side or skip the protein entirely since this pasta recipe has plenty of protein as it is. You can really make this recipe your own!
How to Make Brie Pasta
Brie pasta can be made in just 25 minutes or less! All you’ll need is a large sauté pan to make it. Here’s an overview of how to put together this quick and easy recipe:
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water.
- Blister the tomatoes and set aside.
- In the same pan, melt the brie with seasoning, milk, and a little bit of lemon juice in a saucepan (or sauté pan).
- Stir in the pasta, protein of choice, cooked tomatoes, and spinach.
- Top with freshly chopped basil and anything else you want!
RELATED: Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Recipe
Tips for Making Pasta With Brie
- Leave the rind on the brie cheese for this recipe! You can remove it if you like, but it adds that signature brie flavor to the cheese sauce.
- You want the sauce to thicken just ever so slightly! Not runny, but not too thick. It’s also important to note that it will thicken if it sits too long, so be sure to add in the pasta quickly!
- Leave the tomatoes whole instead of cutting them into halves if you want. This makes for really beautiful blistered tomatoes that burst in your mouth!
- If you don’t have enough leftover brie for this recipe, goat cheese or camembert cheese are great substitutions to mix with the brie that you do have.
- Feel free to loosely chop the spinach if desired.
- Add any veggies or toppings to this pasta! Mushrooms, parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, or fresh basil leaves are all great options.
You’ll Also Love: Cottage Cheese Pasta Recipe
Topping Ideas
- Chopped Walnuts
- Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
- Basil
- Grated Parmesan
- Red Pepper Flakes
How to Store Brie Pasta
This pasta reheats well! Here’s how to store it:
Refrigerator – Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
Freezer – Let cool, store in an airtight container, then place in the fridge for 1 hour. Next, move it to the freezer and store for up to 3 months!
Reheat – Add a splash of water (about 1-2 teaspoons) to the meal, then reheat in the microwave for about 45 seconds, stirring often, until evenly warm.
Healthy Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
- Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- Spinach & Mushroom Vegetarian Lasagna
- Chicken Pesto Pasta Bake
- 10-Minute Avocado Pasta Sauce
- Creamy Salmon Pasta Recipe
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Creamy Brie Pasta Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta (of choice)
- 8 ounces brie (cut into small pieces)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes (cut into halves)
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)
- 1-2 cups spinach
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh basil (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
Topping/Mix-In Ideas
- 1 cup protein of choice (optional – chicken, steak, shrimp, vegan meatballs, etc.)
- cracked black pepper
- grated parmesan
- chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to directions, then drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the basil, slice the tomatoes, and cut the brie into small pieces (about 1/2"-1" cubes).
- In a large sauté pan, cook the tomatoes with 1 Tablespoon of the olive oil and a pinch of salt over medium-high heat for about 2-4 minutes, or just until they begin to blister. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the remaining oil to the pan and lower the heat to medium.
- Melt the brie in a saucepan or saute pan with garlic, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup of milk over medium heat for 4-5 minutes.
- Add in the remaining milk, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk in the nutritional yeast (optional, but so good!), cooking for another 4-5 minutes, or until the brie has fully melted and the sauce has thickened just slightly.
- Remove from heat and stir in the spinach.
- Mix in the pasta and protein of choice, then carefully and lightly fold in the tomatoes (they are fragile).
- Top with freshly chopped basil and any other toppings you want!
Video
Notes
- Leave the rind on the brie cheese for this recipe! You can remove it if you like, but it adds that signature brie flavor to the cheese sauce.
- You want the sauce to thicken just ever so slightly! Not runny, but not too thick. It’s also important to note that it will thicken if it sits too long, so be sure to add in the pasta quickly!
- Leave the tomatoes whole instead of cutting them into halves if you want. This makes for really beautiful blistered tomatoes that burst in your mouth!
- If you don’t have enough leftover brie for this recipe, goat cheese or camembert cheese are great substitutions to mix with the brie that you do have.
- Feel free to chop the spinach if desired.
mikayla says:
this pasta is so delicious! such a yummy recipe.
Jai says:
I am sold! Using brie in a pasta sauce sounds so decadent and creamy. It looks like a simple but incredibly rich dish, perfect for an elevated weeknight dinner. Can’t wait to try this!
Jess says:
We love creamy pastas at our home and this brie pasta recipe was a winner, will be making it more often.
Liz says:
THIS PASTA WAS FABULOUS! EVEN MY PICKY KIDS LOVED IT!
Cindy Vanderzalm says:
This was absolutely amazing. I had a wheel of brie in the freezer so this was the perfect use for it. Used swiss chard fresh outta my garden, but did not alter the recipe overwise…it was SO good!
Jar Of Lemons replied:
Thanks, Cindy. Glad you enjoyed this Brie Pasta recipe!
Tiffany M says:
Omgosh!!!! I had an unused Brie Wheel bc we all got sick and much of Christmas was canceled this year. I’ve been slowly trying to use all the delicious items I had bought for an appetizer board. Your recipe was an incredible use of the Brie!! Thank you!!!
Susie says:
I’ve never had Brie before, and since going vegan, I never will, but Rebel makes a plant-based version (cave-aged and prepared just like the dairy version, but made with cashews instead of dairy milk), and a friend of mine who loves Brie was shocked at how realistic it tastes. So when I saw it on sale, it was my opportunity to try it. I’m definitely not a fan! The rind is especially unbearable. But I don’t like throwing out food, so I’m very thankful for finding this recipe. The sauce is so rich and flavorful, with just a hint of the unpleasant, but bearable, moldy taste.
Colin L Ma says:
If using regular milk is there any fat % that works better? I typically have 2% in the house but worry it might make the sauce a little runny.
Christine McMichael replied:
2% milk is great! That’s typically what I have in my house as well. I wouldn’t use fat free, but whole milk would work great as well.
Gail says:
Absolutely loved this! Made this tonight for dinner with my Granddaughter. Simple and so fast to throw together. It is so good. Added chicken to the recipe. Will definitely make again!
Jena Teer says:
Super easy and delicious recipe. Very rich and flavorful. I added a few mushrooms with my protein.
Hayley Dhanecha says:
I have never had brie pasta but I am so glad I tried your recipe! It tastes absolutely fantastic!
Tristin says:
My kids love pasta, so we love trying new pasta recipes. The brie flavor was amazing and we topped it off with a little parm, too!
Erica says:
I loved everything about this pasta the creamy brie, tomatoes and basil with the lemon and garlic created such wonderful flavors together. It came together beautifully and was delicious. Thanks for the recipe.
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says:
This is a great way to add some flavorful interest to pasta! I love Brie and this is a great way to enjoy a main dish w/ great, big flavor!
Megs says:
Great combination and so easy to make! Thanks for another great recipe that everyone loves.