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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.
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.
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.
How to Make a White Sauce
- PASTA. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- 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.
- BOIL. Add milk and broth to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens about 5 minutes.
- SEASON. Add Parmesan, parsley, garlic salt, and pepper. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted.
- 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!
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.
For more easy pasta recipes:
White Sauce Recipe
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
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe adapted from HERE.
Can’t wait to try
It was such hard choice on which dish to rate but, my grandkids and greatgrand children seem to love this recipe alot. I make it at least once a week. I have 4 grands and 3 greats that live with me so, I am always looking for recipes that are simple and plentiful to make and you have plenty. Thank you so much for all the recipes, cooking ideas and time you spend to enable your followers and fans to make delicious meals for our families.
I can’t have this one too much, it’s so easy and delicious! One of my alltime favorite dishes. I add chopped rotisserie chicken most of the time but it’s great all by itself. Yum!
This sauce is so easy & delicious & so so good . Thanks for a perfect & yummy recipe⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😊
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.
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.
Thanks for the feedback. We’ll look into that!
I think I put in too much flour.. should I add water or milk or anything?
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
Love this!! Made it couple times before, no problems, so cheesy and creamy, definitely would recommend this
Thank you!! So glad you enjoyed the pasta!