Creamy, garlicky, and packed with flavour – this air fryer Boursin pasta sauce is soooo tasty! Melty Boursin cheese, blistered cherry tomatoes and spinach for extra goodness. Just add your favourite pasta (cooked on the hob) for the ultimate comfort food… all with barely any effort! If you’re feeling extra hungry, add air fryer garlic bread as the perfect side dish.
Why Boursin pasta is so good
When I saw the Boursin pasta sauce trend on TikTok, I couldn’t wait to try it. Naturally, my first thought was would this work in an air fryer? Well, I’m happy to report that Boursin pasta sauce works perfectly in an air fryer. You get creamy garlic and herb flavor, plus roasted tomatoes that pop with sweetness.
I've adapted the original recipe by adding wilted spinach for vibrant green goodness - it adds an extra dimension to the dish and helps cut through the richness of the cheese sauce. I love to serve this Boursin sauce with pasta but it also makes a great melty dip with crusty bread.
An easy pasta dish that's full of flavor
• Creamy, garlicky, herby deliciousness in every bite
• Barely any prep
• All cooked in one air fryer dish
• Easily adaptable – add more of your favorite veggies, or toss in some cooked chicken or prawns
• Even picky eaters love this dish
Works so well in an air fryer
The air fryer roasts the cherry tomatoes until they’re soft, sweet, and just a little charred—perfect for stirring into that creamy cheese. It melts the Boursin to the ideal sauce consistency without overcooking it. Plus, it’s quicker than the oven, doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen, and makes this feel like a fancy dish without the stress.
What you’ll need (Ingredients/Equipment)
Ingredients (for 4 portions, or 3 larger portions)
- 1 pack Boursin Garlic & Herb cheese (feel free to use a different variety if you prefer)
- 300g cherry tomatoes (or baby plum tomatoes)
- 280g pasta (fusilli, penne or shells work well)
- 0.5 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- Dried herbs/spices (I used chili flakes and dried oregano)
- A handful of spinach to stir in at the end (optional)
- Splash of pasta water (to loosen the sauce)
Optional extras:
- A handful of spinach or rocket stirred in at the end
- Cooked chicken, prawns or bacon for extra protein
- Chilli flakes for a little kick
Equipment
- Air fryer (with an oven-safe dish or silicone liner that fits inside)
- Saucepan for boiling pasta
- A sieve or colander for draining your pasta
- Mixing spoon
How to make Boursin pasta sauce in an air fryer
Place cherry tomatoes and Boursin cheese (in the middle) in an air fryer-safe dish or silicone liner.
Drizzle the cheese and tomatoes with olive oil, season with salt, pepper and any dried herbs/spices that you are using (I used dried oregano and chili flakes).
Air fry for 15 minutes at 360°F (180°C) or until the tomatoes are soft and the Boursin is melting.
Meanwhile, cook your pasta in a pan on the hob, according to the packet instructions.
If using spinach, add it to the air fryer drawer on top of the cheese and tomatoes. Close the drawer and let the spinach wilt for a few minutes (there's no need to turn the air fryer back on).
Gently stir the cheese and tomato mixture to break up the cheese and get everything mixing together nicely. Add a splash of the startchy water from the pasta pan to loosen up the sauce.
It will look something like this once it's fully combined.
Once your pasta is cooked, drain and add to the sauce (or you can add the sauce to the drained pasta if you find that easier).
Gently stir until your pasta is coated in the delicious melty Boursin pasta sauce. Serve right away and enjoy!
How long to cook Boursin cheese in an air fryer
The tomatoes and Boursin take around 15 minutes at 180°C / 360°F. Keep an eye on them - you want bursty tomatoes and soft, creamy cheese that stirs easily.
Tips for making Boursin pasta in the air fryer
- Use a snug dish or silicone liner so the cheese doesn’t spread too thin.
- Stir the sauce while it’s still hot to get a silky finish.
- Don’t forget the splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce at the end - it helps bring everything together.
- Add more seasoning or a squeeze of lemon if needed.
Alternatives/Substitutions
- Swap Boursin for a different soft cheese (like garlic and herb cream cheese).
- Use cherry plum tomatoes or vine tomatoes if that’s what you have.
- Make it gluten-free by using your favourite GF pasta.
- Add roasted veggies or cooked chicken to bulk it out.
- Swap the pasta for crusty bread, cooked gnocchi or boiled rice.
Reheating/Storage
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce. It’s not freezer-friendly - but it’s so tasty fresh, it rarely makes it to leftovers!
What is Boursin cheese?
Boursin cheese is a soft, creamy, and spreadable Gournay cheese that’s known for its rich texture and bold flavor, especially its signature Garlic & Fine Herbs variety. It's a French cheese originally created in Normandy, and it's made from cow's milk.
What makes it special?
- Flavor: It's super flavorful — usually garlicky, herby, and a little tangy.
- Texture: Smooth, almost like whipped cream cheese, but firmer — it melts beautifully.
- Uses: Great spread on crackers, but also amazing in pasta sauces (like this one!).
There are other flavors too, like Shallot & Chive or Black Pepper, but the Garlic & Herb is the classic - and the one I love the best!
Yes! If you can't get hold of Boursin, any brand of cream cheese with herbs, or a soft goat's cheese would work well.
Nope! Just stir everything together once it’s done.
Short shapes like fusilli or shells are great—they hold the sauce beautifully.
If pasta isn't your thing, try serving this sauce with crusty bread, cooked gnocchi or cooked rice.
Definitely—try shredded roast chicken, crispy bacon, or pan-fried prawns.
Yes, Boursin cheese is vegetarain, so you can keep this dish veggie-friendly.
Ingredients
- 1 pack Boursin Garlic & Herb cheese
- 300 g cherry tomatoes
- 280 g pasta fusilli, penne or shells work well
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- Salt & pepper
- A handful of spinach to stir in at the end optional
- Splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 360°F / 180°C.
- Place cherry tomatoes and Boursin cheese (in the middle) in an air fryer-safe dish or silicone liner.
- Drizzle the cheese and tomatoes with olive oil, season with salt, pepper and any dried herbs/spices that you are using (I used dried oregano and chili flakes).
- Air fry for 15 minutes until tomatoes are soft and Boursin is melting.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta on the hob as per the packet instructions. Before draining the pasta, reserve a cupful of the pasta water to mix with the sauce later.
- Add the spinach if using and close the air fryer drawer (no need to turn it back on). The heat of the air fryer will wilt the spinach in a couple of minutes. Stir the wilted spinach through the sauce.
- Use a fork or spoon to mash and mix the Boursin and tomatoes together into a sauce. Add a spoonful of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce.
- Drain your pasta, and stir it into the Boursin sauce. Stir gently until the pasta is fully coated in the cheesy sauce.
Notes
- Use a snug dish or silicone liner so the cheese doesn’t spread too thin.
- Stir the sauce while it’s still hot to get a silky finish.
- Don’t forget the splash of pasta water to loosen the sauce at the end - it helps bring everything together.
- Add more seasoning or a squeeze of lemon if needed.
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