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White sauce pasta recipe

By swasthi , on January 13, 2020, 84 Comments, Jump to Recipe

White sauce pasta is a delicious dish made of pasta, butter, milk, cheese & herbs. It is basically cooked pasta tossed in cheesy white sauce. White sauce is also known as bechamel sauce & is made using flour, butter and milk. It originated from the Italian & french cuisines and is a base for many other sauce recipes.

white sauce pasta

White sauce is used in the preparation of various dishes like pasta, lasagne and pies.

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This cheesy white sauce pasta is a favorite with my kids and I make this with so many different variations. The recipe shared in this post is the basic vegetarian version. Feel free to tweak & add in your favorite veggies, shrimp or chicken.

This recipe just takes about 20 mins and is great to make for a quick weeknight dinner. It makes a meal by itself and doesn’t need anything else on the side.

You can also make the sauce ahead and refrigerate. Then later toss in the cooked pasta when you like to have the dish.

Preparation

1. Add salt to 4 to 5 cups of water and bring it to a rapid boil .

adding salt to pot to boil pasta

2. Then add pasta. I used organic pasta. Cook as per instructions until done al dente.

adding pasta to boiling water

3. Drain to a colander and reserve some water.

draining pasta to a colander

4. Pour oil to a pan.

5. Saute mixed vegetables until they are slightly tender yet crunchy. Set these aside.

frying veggies to make white sauce pasta

How to make white sauce pasta

6. Add more butter and then saute the garlic for a minute. I did not use garlic. Then add flour. To make white sauce a generous amount of butter is used to dissolve the flour. I had to reduce it due to personal preference.

melting butter to make white sauce pasta
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7. Saute well until the flour loses the raw smell.

adding flour to butter

8. Lower the flame completely and add ¼ cup milk.

adding milk to make white sauce pasta

9. Begin to stir with a spatula and dissolve the flour completely without any lumps.

creamy mixture for white sauce pasta
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10. Pour the rest of the milk and stir. Do not pour milk at this stage until you break up the lumps of flour and dissolve it completely.

pouring to sauce

11. Cook this until the sauce slightly thickens.

12. Add cheese if using. Also add pepper and oregano.

adding cheese and herbs to make white sauce pasta

13. If needed add salt. Mix well until the cheese blends well. If the bechamel sauce is too thick you can add the reserved pasta cooked water/ stock. Switch off the stove.

creamy white sauce for pasta

14. Add vegetables and pasta to the white sauce.

adding veggies to make white sauce pasta

15. Mix the pasta well. If needed you can add more pasta cooked water to make it creamy.

Garnish white sauce pasta with red chilli flakes and crushed pepper.

white sauce pasta recipe
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Tips to make white sauce pasta

Pasta: You can use any kind of pasta you like like macaroni, fusilli, penne or even spaghetti. Pasta made with any grain also goes well.

Flavoring: I have flavored this white sauce pasta with just some oregano, pepper & red chili flakes. However you can also add Dijon mustard, mixed herbs or garlic for added flavors.

Milk: Full fat milk works well as it adds richness. You can also use any vegan milk. You can also make your own almond milk and use for this recipe. I have shared it in the recipe notes below.

Cream: You can also substitute a portion of the milk with cream if you have. It does make the white sauce pasta rich in taste.

Cheese: Usually cheddar cheese or Parmesan cheese or a mix of many kinds of cheese are used to make this bechamel sauce pasta. Use what ever you desire. I have used cream cheese here since I was running out of the others.

For variations use heavy cream or cheddar cheese or cream cheese to suit your taste. There are a lot of options to tweak this basic recipe.

Using full fat milk and cheese or cream are the key to making yummy and delicious white sauce pasta.

You can also use the same recipe to make chicken pasta in white sauce, it turns out good with mustard and lots of black pepper.

More Pasta recipes
Masala pasta
Vegetable pasta in red sauce
Pasta soup
Red sauce pasta

White sauce pasta recipe

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white sauce pasta

White sauce pasta (bechamel sauce pasta)

Pasta tossed in vegetarian, creamy & delicious white sauce or bechamel sauce. Garnished with herbs and chilli flakes.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

  • ¾ cup pasta (penne, macaroni or spaghetti)
  • 1¼ cup milk full fat (refer notes)
  • ¾ tbsp flour (all-purpose flour (maida) or whole wheat pastry flour)
  • 2 to 4 tbsps Cheese (cheddar, cream cheese or mozarella or a mix)
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp oil or butter
  • ¼ tsp pepper crushed or ground
  • 2 garlic cloves finely chopped (optional)
  • ½ tsp oregano or italian herbs
  • Salt as needed
  • ½ tsp red chilli flakes (adjust to taste)

optional ingredients

  • 1 cup Mix veggies (carrots, bell peppers, sweet corn & peas)(optional)
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Instructions

Cooking pasta

  • Bring 4 to 5 cups water to a boil in a large pot along with salt.
  • When the water begins to boil rapidly then add pasta.
  • Cook al dente. When done, pasta should be tender yet should get a bite into it (not too soft).
  • Drain off to a colander completely reserving 2 to 4 tbsp of water.
  • If using veggies, chop them and set aside.
  • You can also use frozen mix veggies like carrots, peas and sweet corn.

Making white sauce

  • Add 1 tsp oil to a pan and saute vegetables until al dente. Set these aside.
  • Set the flame to low. Add rest of the butter to the pan and saute the garlic for a minute if using. Then add flour.
  • Saute it in butter until the raw smell goes off. The flour may turn slightly lumpy.
  • Just break up the lumps and continue to saute until it no more smells raw.
  • Make sure the color of the flour doesn't change.
  • Pour ¼ cup of milk. Whisk continuously breaking up the lumps. I used a spatula to break up the flour.
  • When you see the flour is well blended with milk, pour rest of the milk and mix well.
  • Cook this until the sauce turns slightly thick.
  • Add cheese if using and gently stir until the mixture reaches a thick sauce consistency.
  • Next add oregano and ground pepper. Switch off the stove.

How to make white sauce pasta

  • Add more salt if needed along with veggies & cooked pasta. 
  • Mix well to coat the pasta with the creamy sauce.
  • If the sauce is too thick then, you may add 1 to 2 tbsps of reserved hot pasta cooked water.
  • Sprinkle red chili flakes.
  • Serve white sauce pasta immediately.
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Notes

I used cream cheese for this recipe. You can use mozarella, cheddar or a mix of all.
For vegan white sauce pasta
  1. If you do not prefer to use regular dairy milk in this recipe, then soak about 12 to 15 almonds for 2 hours in warm water.
  2. Remove the skin and blend them with just 1/4 cup water to a smooth paste. Then mix with 1 cup water and make it 1 1/4 cup as needed in the recipe.
  3. If your blender does not blend almonds well then you may need to filter the milk and use. A mini blender or a bullet works good for this.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

Video

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
White sauce pasta (bechamel sauce pasta)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 412 Calories from Fat 198
% Daily Value*
Fat 22g34%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 62mg21%
Sodium 267mg12%
Potassium 464mg13%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 5570IU111%
Vitamin C 9.5mg12%
Calcium 210mg21%
Iron 1.4mg8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

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About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
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Comments

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  2. Sangamitra says

    September 13, 2020

    5 stars
    Hi Swasthi, thank you so much for the great receipe. I have tried many, of them my children love it all.

    Thank you once again.

    Reply
  3. Althea Mastriani says

    July 14, 2020

    5 stars
    Great recipes. 😋

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 16, 2020

      Thank you

      Reply
  4. Kavya says

    May 25, 2020

    I never knew making this was so easy and when I tried it was just yum. Your blog is one stop shop for whatever I try to cook. For a person like me who always want to stay away from kitchen yet have to cook different dishes, your blog will definitely not make one disappointed. Thank you for your recipes.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 26, 2020

      Welcome Kavya
      Glad to know!
      🙂

      Reply
  5. Faru says

    May 19, 2020

    Can we use corn flour or whole wheat flour instead of maida

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 20, 2020

      Hi Faru
      Whole wheat flour works but the flavor will be different.

      Reply
  6. Prapti Arora says

    May 10, 2020

    5 stars
    I made it and it was really nice… Thank tou so much mam

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 10, 2020

      Welcome Prapti
      Glad to know!

      Reply
  7. Adrija Roy says

    February 25, 2020

    Hi mam your pasta is too delicious I have tried it .Mam instead of butter I can use ghee bcz my child can’t it butter bcz of some problem

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      February 25, 2020

      Hi Adrija
      Thank you! Yes ghee can be used. You can also use olive oil.

      Reply
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  9. MUQADAS says

    November 2, 2019

    Thanks dear for sharing recepie.its yummy

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 3, 2019

      You are welcome!

      Reply
  10. Hetanshi Kapadia says

    September 17, 2019

    Your recipes are just amazing I made this pasta on my mom’s birthday and she just started loving it. Thank u so much 👍😁😄😊

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 17, 2019

      Hi Hetanshi,
      You are welcome! Glad you liked it!.Thank you.
      🙂

      Reply
  11. Lavanya says

    July 25, 2019

    5 stars
    I have been meaning to thank you for a long long time now. I have made this pasta several times and it has always been a delight. Thank you for such a wonderful recipe! 🙂

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 26, 2019

      Welcome Lavanya,
      Glad you liked the white sauce pasta. Thank you so much!

      Reply
  12. Sheetal says

    June 27, 2019

    2 stars
    Wheat flour thicken the sauce too much & taste of wheat flour is not looking good.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      June 28, 2019

      Hi Sheetal,
      Wheat flour adds a nutty flavor to the white sauce pasta. If you roast it well and add enough cheese it will be fine. I have used all-purpose flour but I don’t think wheat flour thicken the sauce too much. I have mentioned in the recipe to adjust the thickness by adding pasta cooked water.

      Reply
  13. Hema nandhini Vijaykumar says

    October 8, 2018

    Hai tried your macaroni recipe it came out very well.
    Thank you so much.
    For this white sauce pasta can I add mushrooms instead of vegetables.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      October 8, 2018

      Hi Hema
      Thanks for trying. Yes you can add only mushrooms.

      Reply
      • Radhika Madhav says

        December 15, 2019

        5 stars
        After burger this one’s a hit ..thx for a yummy recipe

        Reply
        • swasthi says

          December 16, 2019

          Ho Radhika,
          You are welcome. Thanks for the comment. Glad it turned out good!

          Reply
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  15. Helen says

    August 15, 2018

    5 stars
    This turned out to be extremely delicious than what I expected. Will be making it again.

    Reply
  16. Rama says

    May 19, 2018

    5 stars
    So neatly done and explained.I am loving to cook this way

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 19, 2018

      Thanks Rama

      Reply
  17. Uzair Lokhandwala says

    May 9, 2018

    5 stars
    Lovely recipe my friends loved it. You are a saviour

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 10, 2018

      Thanks a lot Uzair Lokhandwala
      Thanks for trying

      Reply
  18. Aanand says

    April 27, 2018

    it looks nice,will definitely try it.Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      April 27, 2018

      You are welcome Aanand.
      Thank you. Yes do try it.

      Reply
  19. venkat says

    April 3, 2018

    instead of butter can we use ghee?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      April 3, 2018

      Yes you can use ghee or even oil

      Reply
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  21. Monika says

    March 14, 2018

    Hi, can mozzarella cheese be used ? Can you guide which type of cheese go well in which dish. My kids are cheese lovers but i am confused over the type of and form of cheese available in the market. Pl guide

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      March 15, 2018

      Hi Monika
      Yes you can use it. Do not cook after adding it.
      For sandwiches – you can use cream cheese, feta cheese or mozarella
      For white sauce pasta, you can use cheddar, cream cheese, mozarella
      parmesean goes well on spaghetti,
      For salads you can use Feta cheese or cream cheese.
      for Pizza you can use mozarrella or four cheese.
      Not all kinds are vegetarian. If you do not consume products with animal rennet then you need to check the packing.
      Hope this helps

      Reply
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