White Sauce Pasta, a delightful Italian dish, features tender Penne Pasta enveloped in a homemade, creamy Bechamel Sauce. This sauce, known as the foundation of many Italian sauces, is a blend of butter, flour, and milk, enriched with garlic and Italian seasonings.
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Ideal for lunch, dinner, or as a wholesome after-school snack for kids, this pasta dish stands out for its rich, creamy texture and the aromatic infusion of Italian herbs. You have the flexibility to customize the sauce with your favorite add-ins like cheese, chicken, shrimp, clams, or vegetables, tailoring it to your taste.
Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
This White Sauce Pasta recipe features ingredients that are commonly found in grocery stores. Let's take a look at what you'll need.
- Penne Pasta: While Penne is my choice for this recipe, feel free to substitute with rotini, spaghetti, or linguine.
- All-Purpose Flour: Essential for creating the sauce's base.
- Butter: I've used salted butter, but unsalted butter is also suitable. If using salted butter, adjust the salt accordingly.
- Milk: Room temperature whole milk or reduced-fat milk is ideal for achieving the right sauce consistency.
- Italian Herbs and Spices: I've included dried basil, oregano, parsley, pepper powder, and chili flakes.
- Vegetables: Bell peppers, carrots, peas, corn, mushrooms, and broccoli are excellent in this dish. Customize with your family's favorite veggies.
How to make White Sauce Pasta?
Discover the art of cooking pasta to perfection, stir-frying a medley of fresh vegetables, and creating a creamy, flavorful white sauce. Our step-by-step instructions, accompanied by photos and video, make it easy to recreate this classic dish in your kitchen. Let's explore this culinary journey together!
Explore a Variety of Pasta Dishes:
- Fettuccine Alfredo
- Shrimp Alfredo
- Pesto Pasta
- Pesto Chicken Pasta
- Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
- Salmon Pasta
- Pasta Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Masala Pasta
White Sauce Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 cup Penne Pasta
- ¼ cup Carrot, chopped
- ¼ cup Red Bell Pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup Yellow Bell Pepper, chopped
- ¼ cup Onion, chopped
- 2 tsp All-Purpose Flour
- 2 cups Milk
- 3 tbsp Oil
- Salt, as needed
- 1 tsp Parsley, dried
- ½ tsp Basil Leaves, dried
- ½ tsp Oregano
- ½ tsp Pepper Powder
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- 2 tsp Garlic, minced
- 3 tsp Butter, salted
- 3 cups Water
Instructions
To Cook Penne Pasta
- Fill a wide-bottomed pan with water, add oil and a pinch of salt, and bring it to a boil. Then, gently stir in the Penne Pasta.
- Let the pasta cook for 7 to 10 minutes until it's tender. Once done, drain the pasta and set it aside for later.
To Stir Fry the Vegetables
- Heat a pan over medium heat and melt 1 tsp of butter. Add garlic and sauté until it becomes aromatic.
- Then, add onions, red and yellow bell peppers, and carrots to the pan. Sauté until they soften.
- Once the vegetables are cooked, remove them from the pan and set aside for later use.
To Make White Sauce Pasta
- Place a pan over medium heat and melt 2 tsp of butter, then stir in all-purpose flour.
- Blend the flour well to avoid lumps and cook until it becomes aromatic.
- Gradually add 1 cup of milk, stirring continuously until the mixture starts to thicken.
- Add the second cup of milk, continuing to stir. This gradual addition ensures a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Mix in dried basil, oregano, parsley, pepper powder, chili flakes, and the previously sautéed veggies.
- Once everything is well combined and the sauce has reached the desired consistency, your creamy White Sauce is ready to be served over Pasta.
To Serve
- Serve the creamy White Sauce over the cooked Penne Pasta and enjoy this delicious dish for lunch, dinner, or as a delightful evening snack.
Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Pasta Texture: Cook the pasta according to package instructions, ensuring it's tender but not overly soft or mushy.
- White Sauce: Achieving the right consistency for the White Sauce is key to this dish. For larger batches, refer to our dedicated post on making White Sauce to ensure perfect results.
- Pasta Choices: While I've used Penne, feel free to substitute it with rotini, spaghetti, or linguine, depending on what you have available.
- Adjusting Heat: The chili flakes and pepper powder add a nice warmth to the sauce. You can alter these amounts to suit your preferred spice level.
- Adding Protein: This recipe uses vegetables, but you're welcome to incorporate proteins like chicken or shrimp.
- Cheese Options: Though not included in this recipe, adding mozzarella or parmesan can enhance the creaminess and flavor.
- Flour-Free Alternative: If you prefer not using flour, a combination of cream and Mozzarella cheese can be used to create a similar sauce consistency.
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
Explore our specially curated collection of pasta, Italian, and comfort food recipes, ideal for any mood or occasion. Whether you're craving classic pasta delights, authentic Italian flavors, or simply seeking the warmth of comfort food, you'll find the perfect recipe to satisfy and delight your taste buds.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
- Best Served Warm: Enjoy this White Sauce Pasta fresh and warm for the most delicious and comforting experience.
- Refrigeration Over Freezing: Avoid freezing, as it diminishes the freshness and appeal. Instead, refrigerate leftovers for up to a day and reheat before serving.
- Serving Suggestions: While scrumptious on its own, pair the pasta with garlic breadsticks or garlic knot buns for a more satisfying meal.
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