Creamy Boursin Pasta with Cavatappi Noodles

If you’ve been itching to try the viral TikTok pasta with Boursin cheese but didn’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place. My simply divine Creamy Boursin Pasta recipe requires just 12 ingredients and about 20 minutes to make. As if that weren’t enough to love, it tastes fancy enough for company but is easy enough for a weeknight!

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

If you have a soft spot for creamy noodle dishes like pasta alfredo and mac and cheese, you’re going to love this speedy recipe for herb Boursin cheese pasta. It’s super rich and creamy and is the most foolproof way I know of to achieve the perfect cheesy mornay sauce which easily becomes the star of the show. Creamy pasta and Gournay cheese FTW!

Quick weeknight quick dinners are always a huge help in the midst of a busy work week - if you're doing a meal prep day I'm one to shop and prep for this creamy pasta, sourdough grilled cheese sandwiches, cauliflower soup and a lavash pizza!

Aside from being absolutely luscious, this Boursin pasta recipe is also:

• Made With Just 12 Ingredients - Most are pantry staples, so your grocery list will be very short.
• Quick & Easy - This Boursin mac and cheese comes together in little more time than it takes to boil your noodles. Creamy, dreamy, guest-worthy pasta in just 20 minutes? No joke — this recipe is an easy weeknight dinner.
• Budget-Friendly - It’s hard to find a better base for rent-week meals than a box of pasta! 
• Crowd-Pleasing - You can’t really go wrong serving pasta with Boursin fine herbs cheese sauce. Depending on your crowd, you’re also welcome to swap in gluten-free noodles and dairy-free Boursin so everyone is happy. 

🍴Ingredients

As promised, you don’t need a ton of ingredients to make this social media-inspired TikTok Boursin pasta. Here’s what to grab:

• Cavatappi Macaroni - Cavatappi noodles are shaped like squiggly corkscrews, so they never fail to make me smile. Feel free to swap in your favorite (preferably short) noodle shape.
• All-Purpose Flour - For making the roux (a.k.a. go-to French thickener), which will become your bechamel (a.k.a. white sauce), which will eventually become your mornay (a.k.a. cheese sauce). You’re also welcome to use cake flour or bread flour if that’s what you have on hand. Gluten-free cup-for-cup flour blends should also do the trick.

Dairy

• Whole Milk - You can also use 2%, 1%, or skim milk, but you’ll want to slightly adjust the amount of milk you use down and the amount of cream you use up. You can also use a creamy plant-based milk substitute like unsweetened, unflavored oat milk if needed.
• Unsalted Butter - Butter just makes everything better. Feel free to use salted butter if that’s all you have on hand, but be judicious with adding extra salt to the Boursin cream sauce at the end. You’re also welcome to use plant-based butter if you prefer.
• Heavy Cream - Slightly lower-fat whipping cream will also work. If you’re going dairy-free, use canned unsweetened coconut cream or your favorite unsweetened vegan creamer.
• Boursin Cheese - These delightful rounds of crumbly, creamy spreadable cheese are a staple in our fridge (you can get a 3-pack at Costco for a steal!). They’re great for making charcuterie or cheese boards, adding to mashed potatoes, or turning into a super simple and decadent pasta sauce.
• Sharp, Aged Cheese - Aged cheddar, asiago, parmesan, pecorino romano, or grana padano all fit the bill.

Spices & Herbs

• Nutmeg - In case you didn’t already know, nutmeg is usually the secret ingredient in fancy mac and cheese that gives the sauce a hint of warmth and a little je ne sais quois. If possible, try to buy whole nutmeg — it’ll last indefinitely in the spice cupboard, and the flavor will be much more potent than the pre-ground kind.
• Garlic Powder & Onion Powder - For allium complexity with zero chopping, papery skins, sticky fingers, or teary eyes. 
• Salt & Black Pepper - For seasoning. 
• Fresh Herbs - Optional, for adding to the top of the pasta with a bit of color and fresh flavor. Any tender herbs will work here, including parsley (flat-leafed or curly), basil, thyme leaves, or even cilantro.

❓ What is the best Boursin cheese substitute?

While Boursin is typically easy to find — and is well worth keeping on hand — there may come a time that you can’t find it. If that happens, feel free to swap in herbed cream cheese, farmer’s cheese, or fresh goat’s cheese logs (a.k.a. chevre).

⚒️ Equipment

You don’t need a lot of fussy equipment to make this mac and cheese with Boursin sauce. Here’s what to grab:

• Large Pot & Colander - To boil and drain your noodles. 
• Cheese Grater - Freshly grated cheese is a MUST in any mac and cheese recipe. You can also use the grating disc in your food processor.
• Saucepan - Choose one that is heavy bottomed to ensure even heat distribution and to protect against scorching.
• Whisk - For making the bechamel.
• Silicone Spatula - For getting every last drop of creamy, cheesy goodness from the pan.

📖 Step by Step Instructions

This super simple and speedy easy pasta recipe comes together in just 20 minutes. Here’s how:

Step 1: Cook pasta according to the brand/packaging directions in a large pot of salted water. Drain the al dente cooked pasta and set aside. 

Step 2: Make Bechamel. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add your flour. Heat while whisking until the mixture has turned a slightly golden brown. Slowly stream in your milk while whisking continuously, ensuring there are no lumps leftover from the roux and heat until the milk starts to simmer.

Step 3: Turn It Into Mornay. Whisk in your heavy cream, spices, and cheese mixture whisking until completely melted over low heat and you have a creamy sauce.

Step 4: Toss. Add your drained pasta noodles into the Boursin pasta sauce and stir/fold to coat the noodles. 

Step 5: Serve. Once it’s all dished out, top each bowl with fresh herbs and a few cracks of black pepper before enjoying! 

⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

While Calvin and I will happily devour this Boursin pasta straight from the pan, there are plenty of ways for you to customize it to your liking. Here are a few variations to consider:

• Baked Boursin Pasta - Give your Boursin mac & cheese the casserole treatment by pouring it into a greased 8x8 dish. Top with herbed breadcrumbs, an extra sprinkling of cheese, and bake at 350F for about 25 minutes until golden.
• Vegan Boursin Pasta - Boursin actually makes a dairy-free version of their Gournay cheese that is vegan-friendly! Make sure to opt for plant-based butter, milk, and creamer options as listed above to make this a totally vegan meal.
• Gluten-Free Boursin Mac & Cheese - Swap in your favorite GF noodles and cup-for-cup all-purpose GF flour blend.
• Add-Ins/Add-Ons - Add your own spin by mixing and matching to your heart’s content:
  • Chicken, Taco Meat, Chili
  • Halved Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
  • Spinach or Arugula - no need to cook it first, it’ll wilt as you add it to the hot pasta.
  • Steamed, Sautéed, Grilled or Roasted Veggies - broccoli, peas, air fried cauliflower, caramelized onions, sweet onions, and asparagus are my favorites. 
  • Garnishes and Toppings - Breadcrumbs made from Sourdough Bread for a touch of crunch. Other crunchies like crumbled Ritz or Cheese-Its will also work. Red pepper flakes, fresh chives, grated parmesan, fresh basil or fresh parsley are all great options to add to your pasta dish. 

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Salt your pasta water. You only get one chance to add flavor to your actual noodles, so don’t miss it. Add enough salt that the water tastes like a sip of the sea when it’s dissolved.
• Grate your own aged cheese. While the urge to reach for those convenient bags of pre-shredded cheese might be strong, resist! Grating your own cheese will ensure that it melts perfectly into the Boursin sauce without any grittiness.
• Serve with garlic bread to double down on all the rich and carby goodness using caramelized air fried garlic. If you’re hosting a dinner party, I recommend following up all the decadence with my spiced stewed pears for dessert.

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