For the most creamy, cheesy pasta, you must try this Baked Boursin Pasta recipe! Not only is it the epitome of cheese + pasta goodness, it’s super, duper easy to make.
Just throw cherry tomatoes and blocks of cheese in a baking dish, bake until tender and soft …
… Then just stir it, add the spinach and add a little pasta water to make a sauce, and stir in your cooked pasta! It’s seriously SO easy and so, so good.
Table of Contents
- The Story Behind the Recipe
- About This Recipe for Boursin Pasta
- Ingredients
- Adaptations/Variations
- How to Make Baked Boursin Pasta
- Tip for Success
- What to Serve With Baked Boursin Pasta
- More Cheesy Pasta Recipes
The Story Behind the Recipe
Okay, so here’s what I have to admit that I really dislike TikTok. I tried it back when it was first becoming popular, and I hated it. I’d just be scrolling (and scrolling and scrolling) along when WHAM! Something super disturbing would slap me in the face. Maybe it was a cute little dog getting hurt. Maybe it was people laughing in a distraught crying kid’s face. I don’t know, I’m sensitive. I didn’t like that feeling. Yet it was also weirdly addicting, but ultimately, I peaced out of TikTok.
But then Instagram came up with a version of TikTok called Reels, and, yeah. I can handle those! I think that’s more … my demographic? Gen X here, so, you know. That and Facebook.
There are still a few slap-me-in-the-face moments, but the algorithm is super dialed in now so they’re pretty few and far between. Basically it’s recipes, home decor, cute dogs (especially dachshunds, my kid is obsessed), and Taylor Swift (my kid and I are both obsessed).
Anyway, since I opted out of TikTok, I’ve missed out on the whole FoodTok viral recipe genre. Many of those recipes make their way over to Instagram, so I do see some now and then. But I suspect I miss a lot of others. (Note that I tried TikTok again recently to peruse FoodTok and it was still a hard nope for me! It’s crazy over there!)
I realize my loathing of TikTok makes me sound old. I mean, at this point, I kind of am. The other day, my kid and I were talking about TikTok and I accidentally called it Tik-Tac, and now if we ever reference it it’s going to be in an old lady voice with the phrase “oh, oh, you found it on the Tik-Tac?!”
Anyway, I digress.
Baked Feta Pasta was, I believe, one of the first viral TikTok recipes. Basically, you take a hunk of feta, place it in a baking dish, and roast it up with the tomatoes. Then, you stir the melty feta and juicy baked tomatoes, and it makes a cheesy sauce that’s amazing with pasta. I’m a fan and have made it a gazillion times, more or less.
But I have to admit, I like this variation, Boursin Pasta, even better. (This Boursin Pasta, by the way, is also known as TikTok Boursin Pasta – it was viral there too. Can’t get away from it!)
Maybe someday I’ll get back on that there Tik Tac to share about it. But for now, I’m just going to share it here. And maybe on Facebook and Instagram!
About This Recipe for Boursin Pasta
I really like that Boursin cheese has garlic and herb flavors. And if you like that too, you can actually use two blocks of Boursin.
I find that two blocks are a bit overwhelming, so, enter: Cream cheese! Half a block of cream cheese along with one hunk of Boursin makes a full-of-flavor sauce that’s luxuriously creamy and perfect, in my book.
We’ve also got some spinach in there because that’s how I like to roll.
Ingredients
- Cherry tomatoes – Any will do. They’ll bake up bubbly and soft, then you smash them and mix them all up and it’s heaven!
- Garlic – A few cloves, cooked, then smashed into the sauce. Yum!
- Olive oil – Use your fave.
- Italian seasoning – This easy dried herb mix adds wonderful flavor to this Boursin cheese pasta recipe.
- Salt & pepper – To taste.
- Boursin cheese – I use the most common Boursin cheese, the garlic and fine herbs version.
- Cream cheese – Half a block (4 ounces) of your standard cream cheese.
- Spinach – This is optional, but I love the added heft and nutrition, and I think the spinach is so good with the creamy cheese sauce.
- Lemon juice – This just adds a nice hit of brightness and vibrant flavor to your baked Boursin pasta.
- Pasta – I use penne here, but use any pasta you like! I do think that medium tubular pastas are best with the creamy sauce.
- Parmesan and parsley – For a little added flavor and color, garnish with these two ingredients.
Adaptations/Variations
- One dish, two ways: Stir cooked, shredded chicken into the meat-eaters’ portions.
- Gluten-free option: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta. Brown rice spirals would be delicious!
- Double up on the Boursin and omit the cream cheese for an extra Boursin-y Boursin pasta recipe.
- Add more pasta. If you want to stretch this baked Boursin pasta recipe to feed more people, you can use up to 12 ounces pasta instead of the 8 ounces the recipe calls for. You may want to increase the amount of pasta water to 1 cup to compensate for the extra pasta.
- Add a touch of heat with crushed red pepper flakes tossed in with the seasonings or sprinkle individual portions with a pinch or two when serving.
How to Make Baked Boursin Pasta
It’s so easy to make this Boursin cheese pasta recipe!
Preheat your oven, then toss the tomatoes and garlic with the olive oil, herbs, salt, and pepper.
Make space in the center and place your Boursin cheese and cream cheese in the middle.
Bake until the cherry tomatoes and garlic are soft, and the cheese is melted and bubbling. Meanwhile, cook and drain your pasta.
Use a fork to smash the cherry tomatoes and garlic and start mixing the sauce together.
Stir in the spinach and lemon juice, then drizzle in some of the reserved pasta water. Stir until a sauce forms. It will be a bit thin at first.
Add your pasta and toss everything together. If the sauce seems too thick, splash in a little more pasta water.
Top with Parmesan and fresh parsley and serve!
Tip for Success
- Chop up the spinach so it’s smaller and more bite-size, and also is able to wilt directly within the sauce. Be sure to add it when the cheese and tomatoes are bubbling hot, before you add the pasta and pasta water, which should give it ample time to wilt/cook.
What to Serve With Baked Boursin Pasta
- Hearty kale salad stands up to the bold flavors in this TikTok baked pasta dish.
- A simple loaf of garlic bread goes perfectly with this Boursin pasta!
- How about some classic Wacky Cake for dessert?!
More Cheesy Pasta Recipes
- One-Pot Vegetarian Chili Mac
- The Best Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Ever
- Veggie Mac & Cheese
- Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
Baked Boursin Pasta
Ingredients
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 5 garlic cloves (peeled but left whole)
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 5.2 ounces Boursin garlic & herb cheese (1 package)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (1/2 block)
- 8 ounces penne pasta (or another favorite medium pasta)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves, lightly chopped (about 3 ounces)
Toppings
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley
Equipment
- 1 9"x13" baking dish
- 1 large pot or Dutch oven
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉.
- Add the cherry tomatoes, garlic cloves, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and olive oil to a 9×13” baking dish. Toss until everything is evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.
- Create space in the center of the baking dish and place the Boursin cheese and cream cheese in the middle of the tomatoes and garlic cloves.
- Place the baking dish in the oven and cook for 30-35 minutes or until the tomatoes and garlic are soft and fork-tender.
- While the dish is baking, boil the pasta per the directions on the package. Then set the pasta aside. Reserve 3/4 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta.
- When done baking, use a fork to mash the tomatoes and garlic. Add the lemon juice and the spinach to the baking dish and stir to combine it with the softened cheeses, tomatoes, and garlic.
- Add 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water to the sauce in the baking dish and mix it together. Pour the cooked pasta into the baking dish and toss to coat it in the sauce. If the sauce seems to need to be thinned out more, add the remaining cooking water.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Garnish the pasta with freshly grated Parmesan and chopped parsley if desired. Serve.
I’m so glad you’re here! I’m a vegetarian home cook, certified plant-based pro, and mom. I’m married to an enthusiastic carnivore, and my mission is to achieve peace in the kitchen – one tasty recipe at a time. These days, with a name like mine, I also try not to ask to speak to the manager.
