Best White Sauce Pasta Recipe
A creamy, comforting, and easy-to-make white sauce pasta that combines a classic French béchamel with Italian pasta tradition for a rich, velvety dish perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g pasta (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
- Water for boiling
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder (optional)
- 1 cup sautéed mushrooms (optional)
- 1/2 cup steamed broccoli (optional)
- Grilled chicken strips (optional)
- Red chili flakes for heat (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add salt and pasta, cook until al dente as per package instructions.
- Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, drain pasta, and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in flour, cook 1–2 minutes until golden.
- Slowly pour in milk while whisking to avoid lumps.
- Cook until sauce thickens and coats a spoon.
- Stir in parmesan until melted.
- Add salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste.
- Toss cooked pasta into sauce.
- Add reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Mix until pasta is well coated.
- Serve, garnish with parsley or basil, and sprinkle extra cheese if desired.
Notes
Whisk constantly to avoid lumps, don’t overcook pasta, and use fresh cheese for the best texture. Nutmeg adds warmth while pepper provides a gentle kick.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: white sauce pasta, creamy pasta, béchamel pasta, pasta recipe, easy dinner