This Cheesy Sour Cream Pasta is the ultimate in creamy, comforting weeknight dinners. It’s made with just three ingredients and ready in under 15 minutes! Have this kid-friendly cheesy pasta as an easy toddler or family main meal, or a side dish. Inspired by a traditional Hungarian pasta dish, it combines small pasta shapes with tangy sour cream and melty Gouda cheese for a rich and creamy, savoury flavour that both kids and adults will love.
Why you’ll love this easy cheesy pasta
This sour cream pasta is perfect for picky eaters, thanks to its smooth, cheesy texture and mild taste.
Whether served as a quick main or a simple side dish, this fast, no-fuss pasta is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. It delivers maximum comfort with minimal effort!
A nostalgic Hungarian-inspired pasta
This recipe is inspired by a much-loved Hungarian dish (I lived there as a teen). The original is made with tejföl (Hungarian sour cream) and Trappista sajt (Trappista cheese), a mild melting cheese similar to Gouda.
It’s traditionally a simple but satisfying meal – often served as a vegetarian main, a side dish, or even a school lunch.
I’ve never been able to source Trappista cheese in Australia, and so I’ve adapted the version I loved to use ingredients found at my supermarket. Mild Gouda is most similar, but you can also use Edam.
If you grew up in Hungary, this dish might bring back memories. And if it’s new to you, I hope it becomes a fast favourite!
Ingredients in Cheesy Sour Cream Pasta
You’ll need just a few everyday ingredients to make this creamy cheese pasta:
Pasta – Use small shapes like fusilli, elbow macaroni or shells. These catch the sauce nicely!
Sour cream – Choose full-fat sour cream for the best creamy texture and tangy flavour.
Gouda cheese – Grated Gouda melts really nicely into the sauce. Choose young Gouda, Dutch Gouda, mild Gouda, or Edam as a substitute.
Salt and pepper – A pinch of both rounds out the flavour. If serving to family under 12 months, leave out the salt.
How to make Sour Cream Pasta
This is a such a great, fast pasta recipe to have in your arsenal. Just 15 minutes and 3 steps!
Scroll down to the recipe card below, to find exact ingredient amounts and full detailed steps for both regular and thermo cooker methods.
Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Turn off the heat. Drain the pasta well.
Step 2: Return the cooked pasta to the empty pot, and stir in the sour cream until the pasta is well coated.
Step 3: Add the grated Gouda, salt and pepper and stir until the cheese is melted.
Thermomixer? This cheesy pasta is also quick and easy to make with a Thermomix. Cook the pasta in your machine using the simmering basket, and then drain it. Stir the sour cream in the mixing bowl until creamy, then add the pasta, Gouda, salt and pepper. Using the reverse stir function on the slowest speed, mix the pasta through the sauce as the cheese melts.
Serving
Serve this Cheesy Sour Cream Pasta as a quick weeknight dinner, a comforting kid’s lunch, or a side dish with grilled meat or vegetables.
For toddlers, it’s a creamy, mild-flavoured meal that’s easy to eat and loved by picky eaters!
Storing
This cheesy pasta recipe is definitely best when served fresh. You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a very small splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce if needed, as it warms.
Love easy, family-friendly pasta recipes? Try this vibrant spinach pasta – a veggie-packed favourite that’s perfect for toddlers and kids! Or this easy butternut squash pasta sauce for another vegetarian dinner option.
If you make this Cheesy Sour Cream Pasta, please leave a 🌟 star rating and a 📝 comment below. I love hearing how my recipes work for you and your family! Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest too for more family-friendly dinner recipes.
Happy cooking,
Chloe x
Cheesy Sour Cream Pasta
Category: Family Mains, SidesIngredients
- 300 g pasta small shapes like elbow macaroni or fusilli
- 300 g sour cream full-fat
- 200 g Gouda cheese grated. Choose young Gouda, Dutch Gouda, or mild Gouda (Note 1)
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp salt for family over 12 months
Instructions
- Cook 300 g pasta in boiling water as per packet instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Return the hot pasta to the empty pot and stir through 300 g sour cream until evenly coated and creamy.
- Add 200 g Gouda cheese, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper and 1/4 tsp salt and stir until melted and gooey. Serve.
Thermomix instructions
- Cook 1 litre of water in the Thermomix bowl for 10 minutes, 100°C, speed 1, MC off. Add 300 g pasta to the simmering basket and cook for time on packet, 100°C, speed 1, MC off. Drain and return pasta to the empty mixing bowl.
- Add 300 g sour cream. Mix for 10 seconds, reverse, speed 1, MC off until pasta is evenly coated.
- Add 200 g Gouda cheese, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper and 1/4 tsp salt. Mix for 10 seconds, reverse, speed 1, MC off until cheese has melted. Serve.
One Response
I love this pasta! It’s so good, a super easy mac and cheese style recipe that the kids love too.