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This super simple and delicious white sauce penne pasta recipe is packed with flavor. This dish is perfect by itself or you can add chicken too!

Whenever I crave a white sauce recipe, I also love to make Chicken Alfredo, Pasta Bake, or Chicken Lasagna.

White sauce recipe on top of penne pasta topped with fresh herbs.


Why We Love it So Much

We LOVE pasta! I mean, who doesn’t?! It’s one of our common go-to dinner recipes on a weeknight.

This pasta dish is especially one of our favorites, here’s why:

  • Simple and quick. You can make it start to finish in about 20 minutes.
  • Basic ingredients. This type of sauce uses a flour roux made with flour, butter, and milk.
  • Versatile. You can use the white sauce (also known as Béchamel sauce) as a base for other sauces (like Alfredo Sauce), add it to pizza, lasagna, etc.
  • Flavor. It’s super cheesy and has just the right touch of garlic and other spices.
  • Customizable. You can add any veggies or protein you like! Our favorite is adding chicken to make a Chicken Penne Pasta.
Cooked Penne noodles in colander.

Simple Ingredients

  • penne – or another short pasta like macaroni or rotini
  • unsalted butter
  • minced garlic
  • all-purpose flour – Make a gluten-free substitute using four parts potato starch to three parts cornflour. Once you have the mixture, measure out 3 tablespoons and use it in place of the flour.
  • milk – Use whole milk for the creamiest pasta sauce, but you can also use 2% or fat free milk. If you want it extra thick, use half and half or heavy cream.
  • chicken broth – or vegetable broth for a vegetarian version
  • mozzarella & parmesan cheese To make the cheese sauce extra cheesy, add up to ½ cup more of each. 
  • season with parsley, garlic salt & black pepper – You can also add a teaspoon of red chili flakes or nutmeg.
Creamy Pasta Sauce in a skillet.

How to Make a White Sauce

  1. PASTA. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. ROUX. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute more.
  3. BOIL. Add milk and broth to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens about 5 minutes.
  4. SEASON. Add Parmesan, parsley, garlic salt, and pepper. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted.
  5. SERVE. Add pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Add mozzarella and stir until melted. Serve warm.

Pro Tip!

When adding flour to the butter, make sure to cook it long enough or it will taste like flour. While adding milk, take your time pouring it slowly and whisk constantly or it may have lumps.

For even more tips, check out How to Make a Roux!

Close up image of penne pasta covered in white sauce.

Recipe Tips

  • Protein. Try adding meats such as grilled chicken, diced ham, or shrimp (we love our Chicken Penne Pasta).
  • Produce. Add produce such as halved cherry tomatoes, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, or mushrooms.

Storing + Serving Info

STORE. Leftover cream pasta sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. 

  • To reheat. We typically reheat this pasta in the microwave, but this can also be done in a pot on the stove. You may need to add a little more broth if it’s too thick when reheating.

FREEZE. If you plan to freeze this dish, leave the pasta undercooked as the freezing process will make thoroughly cooked pasta mushy. Store the cooked dish in a freezer-safe airtight container for months.

  • To reheat. Thaw this simple pasta recipe in the fridge and reheat on the stove top stirring constantly to keep the cream base from curdling. Adding a bit more milk will help smooth out the texture.
White Sauce recipe covered on penne pasta sprinkled with parsley in white bowl.

For more easy pasta recipes:

4.98 from 836 votes

White Sauce Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
This super simple and delicious white sauce recipe is packed with flavor. This dish is perfect by itself or you can add chicken too!
Servings: 6
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 (16-ounce) package (about 4 cups) penne
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • garlic salt with parsley flakes or salt to taste
  • pepper to taste
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese or additional Parmesan cheese optional

Instructions 

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
  • Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute more.
  • Add milk and broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens about 5 minutes.
  • Add Parmesan, parsley, garlic salt, and pepper. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted.
  • Add pasta to the sauce and stir to combine. Add mozzarella and stir until melted. Serve warm.

Video

Notes

Variations. Try adding cubed grilled chicken, chicken sausage, diced ham or shrimp for protein, or adding vegetables like halved cherry tomatoes or steamed asparagus, broccoli, bell peppers, or mushrooms. You can also change up the flavoring with spices and herbs such as red chili flakes (for heat), dried Italian seasoning, and fresh basil or parsley.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 191kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 512mg, Potassium: 117mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 450IU, Vitamin C: 0.4mg, Calcium: 251mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Making this recipe? Tag us!
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Recipe adapted from HERE.



About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




571 Comments

  1. Why count grams, with all the cream and milk? If for health, I would skip this one.

    I have made it and it is yummy.

  2. 5 stars
    This recipe is fantastic, but what’s up with the serving size in the nutrition information?? Serving size = 1 gram?? There’s no way that’s right. Nobody eats a gram of food at a time. There are 28.35 grams in an ounce, and a normal serving size of anything is a couple of ounces. Please correct the serving size; it makes it impossible to count calories for those of us who need to.

  3. 5 stars
    I loved this. I made it tonight without even measuring and with hardly any cheese. Used half 1% milk and half Fat free half and half and it thickened up super fast. Great fast, clean healthy sauce recipe