This easy Blue Cheese Pasta recipe is a great way to use up leftover blue cheese and it is a super comforting pasta dish. A creamy, rich and delicious dish, you need just a few ingredients to bring together a hearty pasta with blue cheese in just 15 minutes.
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You can make an incredible blue cheese pasta sauce in minutes with a little cream, pasta water, Stilton and a few extra flavour boosters like shallots and ham (another way to use leftovers).
This is our go-to leftovers recipe at Christmas time when we are bored of cheese boards and sandwiches. Blue cheese is so creamy and has a really strong flavour, that it makes a delicious pasta sauce.
Feel free to adjust the amount of blue cheese used too, depending on how strong you like the flavour. This blue cheese pasta is our favourite way to cook with Stilton.
If you are looking for more blue cheese recipes, why not try our creamy Broccoli and Stilton Soup, simple Blue Cheese Dip and our tasty Blue Cheese Salad?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Pasta - Use a chunky pasta shape like penne, rigatoni or fusilli as the sauce really clings to it and gets inside the shapes too.
- Butter - We used unsalted.
- Shallots - You could swap it for a small brown onion if you prefer and use frozen to save time.
- Garlic - Freshly crushed is always best. However if you want to save some time, then you can use some garlic puree instead.
- Ham - This adds a lot of extra flavour, and is also a great way to use some more leftovers. You could use bacon or leftovers from our Slow Cooker Gammon or Air Fryer Gammon recipe. You could also leave it out if you prefer.
- Blue cheese - We used Stilton as it has a really strong flavour, but you could use Gorgonzola cheese if you wanted something a bit more mild.
- Cream - If you wanted to lighten it up a little, you could use reduced fat crème fraiche instead.
- Pasta water - This help to loosen up the blue cheese pasta sauce. Adding a little bit of the starchy pasta water makes the sauce really silky smooth and cling to the pasta. It also loosens the sauce up a little, helping it go further.
- Salt and pepper - Generously season.
- Pine nuts - We put these on top to add some crunchy texture. You could swap these for walnuts which always go well with blue cheese.
Blue Cheese Pasta Variations
Vegetables - You could add some spinach to this recipe for blue cheese pasta or peas for a green boost. If you wanted something with more of a meaty texture, then mushrooms work well. Roasted Butternut Squash is also really good in it.
Meat - We added ham to this Stilton pasta, as it's also a good way to use up leftover meat at Christmas time. You could add chicken or turkey too. If you wanted something really indulgent, then make some Air Fryer Steak to add on top of this blue cheese pasta.
How to Make Blue Cheese Pasta
- Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions.
- Step 2: Melt the butter in a large pan and add the shallots and garlic. Cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
- Step 3: Add the cream and ham and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Step 4: Drain the cooked pasta, reserving a small amount of the water. Add the pasta, blue cheese, salt, pepper and the reserved pasta water. Mix well.
- Step 5: Serve immediately. Top with more blue cheese and the pine nuts.
Serving Suggestions
Everyone know that garlic bread and pasta are a match made in heaven. Carby heaven! Why not try our Cheesy Garlic Bread or Air Fryer Garlic Bread recipe?
If you want to add a big side of vegetables, then we recommend our Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli, Garlic Green Beans, Air Fryer Carrots, or Roasted Lemon Asparagus.
Storage
Store: If you have leftovers, then you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge until the next day.
Freeze: We wouldn't recommend freezing this blue cheese pasta because it has a strange texture once defrosted.
Reheat: You can reheat this in a frying pan on a low heat. Add a splash of full fat milk to the pan to loosen it up.
Dannii's Top Tips
- For something a little different, you could serve this blue cheese sauce on gnocchi instead.
- To make this even quicker, use some fresh tagliatelle which is ready in a few minutes.
- Don't forget to reserve some of the pasta water. You really don't want to skip this step, as it makes the sauce so silky. Take it out a minute before the pasta is cooked.
- If you like your food spicy, then add a sprinkle of red chilli flakes on top before serving.
- Add a splash of olive oil to the pan before serving for an extra boost of flavour.
More Pasta Recipes
If you've tried this blue cheese pasta recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Blue Cheese Pasta
Ingredients
- 140 g (4.94 oz) of Penne pasta
- 2 tablespoon of Butter
- 4 Shallots - diced
- 2 Garlic cloves - crushed
- 100 ml (0.5 cups) of Single cream
- 50 g (1.75 oz) of Ham - chopped
- 50 g (1.75 oz) of Blue cheese - crumbled
- 50 ml (0.25 cups) of Pasta water
- 2 pinch of Sea salt and ground black pepper
- 40 g (0.33 cups) of Pine nuts
Instructions
- Cook 140 g of Penne pasta according to the packet instructions.
- Melt 2 tbsp of Butter in a large pan and add 4 Shallots and 2 Garlic cloves. Cook until softened, about 4 minutes.
- Add 100 ml of Single cream and 50 g of Ham and simmer for 2 minutes.
- Drain the pasta, reserving 50 ml of Pasta water. Add the pasta, 50 g of Blue cheese, 2 pinch of Sea salt and ground black pepper and the reserved pasta water. Mix well.
- Serve immediately. Top with more blue cheese and the 40 g of Pine nuts.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- For something a little different, you could serve this blue cheese sauce on gnocchi instead.
- To make this blue cheese pasta even quicker, use some fresh tagliatelle which is ready in a few minutes.
- Don't forget to reserve some of the pasta water. You really don't want to skip this step, as it makes the sauce so silky. Take it out a minute before the pasta is cooked.
- If you like your food spicy, then add a sprinkle of red chilli flakes on top before serving.
- Add a splash of olive oil to the pan before serving for an extra boost of flavour.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Colleen says
I love blue cheese but I never would have thought to use it with pasta. I used gorgonzola and my family loved it. Thanks for this easy, yummy recipe!
dana says
Blue cheese on pasta is a game changer. Never tried this before, always kept it for pizzas and salads, but wow! We loved it!
Kathleen says
What a hearty, comforting and delicious pasta. Looking forward to trying it.
Tara says
Oh yum! Such a wonderful way to use up leftover blue cheese. The pasta looks so comforting and I love how easily it all comes together.
Mahy says
... Well, this reminds me that I have not made a proper pasta dish for so long now. Fantastic recipe!
kushigalu says
Drooling over this delicious blue cheese pasta. Thanks for sharing
Gina says
Love trying new pasta recipes, and this was incredible. Can't wait to make again!
Sara Welch says
Pasta and pine nuts has to be my new favorite combination! Easily, a new favorite recipe; hands down delicious!
MacKenzie says
This 15 minute pasta meal was fantastic. Love the combination of ham and Bleu cheese.
MJ says
This made for a quick and easy lunch! Love the crunch and nutty flavor the pine nuts add to this blue cheese pasta.
Jill says
What a fantastic combo of flavors. Made this with some leftover ham from another dinner we had. So good!