Description
Creamy White Sauce Pasta is a quick, comforting dish featuring tender pasta tossed in a homemade béchamel-style sauce. Rich, garlicky, and cheesy, it’s the perfect cozy meal for any night of the week.
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your choice)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning or dried herbs (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly to form a roux.
- Gradually whisk in milk (and cream if using), whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
- Simmer the sauce for 5–7 minutes, stirring until thickened.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and optional herbs.
- Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat, using reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve warm, garnished with parsley and additional cheese if desired.
Notes
- Add grilled chicken, mushrooms, or broccoli for variety.
- Use red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Swap cream for more milk for a lighter version.
- Gluten-free pasta and flour also work well in this recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
