↑

Cook Click N Devour!!!

Easy Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes For Everyone

  • About Me
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Privacy policy
Home / Main Course / White sauce pasta- Bechamel Sauce Pasta

Published: April 12, 2021 | By Harini

White sauce pasta- Bechamel Sauce Pasta

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

White sauce pasta or pasta in béchamel sauce is one of our most favorite pasta recipes at home. Wonderfully rich and creamy with perfectly seasoned sauce, this pasta spells comfort in every bite.

I always add some vegetables to make it hearty. Tastes delicious served piping hot and perfect dish in a continental meal.

For more delicious pasta recipes please check penne arrabiata, pasta in spinach sauce, pasta in pumpkin sauce, pasta salad, masala pasta recipes.

Creamy white sauce pasta served in a ceramic white dish.

So how many fans for creamy sauce laden pasta here? My husband and daughter are great fans and would have this pasta happily everyday if given.

Pasta cooked al dente slathered in creamy and delicious creamy sauce further adorned with vegetables is sure a treat for all pasta lovers. At our home we like it really loaded with veggies and piping hot 🙂

This is my tried and tested keeper recipe for white sauce pasta and I am sure you will love it too. Do follow my recipe with step by step photos and a short video. Do check out my tips and variations to make this dish more delicious. Let’s get started 🙂

Table Of Contents
  • About This Recipe
  • How To Make Bechamel Sauce
  • How To Make White Sauce Pasta Recipe
  • Recipe Variations
  • Tips To Make Bechamel Sauce Pasta
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe

About This Recipe

White sauce pasta or béchamel pasta is a classic Italian pasta recipe where al dente penne pasta in tossed in a creamy, mildly spiced rich white sauce or béchamel sauce.

I have been making this pasta in white sauce for years and I can confidently say I make one of the best. This comes from after tasting this pasta in many restaurants. My family says they are nowhere close to our homemade pasta 🙂

It is no wonder as most of the restaurants serve either overcooked or undercooked pasta with a pasty bland sauce and hardly there are vegetables. Only a few restaurants get the knack.

If you have tasted this pasta in a good restaurant and crave for more, the good news is you can make the best white pasta at home 🙂 With this recipe and a short video below, it is so easy and quick 🙂

While making at home you can totally control the amount of butter or cheese, add more vegetables or even your preferred protein and make it interesting.

Creamy white sauce pasta served with a spoon

Making pasta in white sauce is easy and just takes around 30 minutes. I usually prepare the sauce and cook the pasta simultaneously and it takes just 20 minutes for me.

You can really use any type of pasta here. I have used penne pasta here this time. When making for kids instead of penne pasta you can use mini elbow for ease of eating.

You can also use whole wheat penne pasta or even quinoa or millet pasta to keep it healthier.

While I always prefer to make this sauce for pasta fresh, you can easily make it a day ahead or use store bought sauce too.

Smooth and creamy sauce, al dente pasta and added veggies to compliment the smoothness of the sauce, what is not to love about this 🙂

The key for making perfect pasta in white sauce is making perfect sauce. Make sure to do the whole preparation in low flame. Use boiled and cooled milk, after adding milk make sure that you keep stirring the sauce until it turns thick and smooth.

This will be delightful lunch or dinner that toddlers and kids will adore especially. You can use whole wheat pasta, but the flour used in sauce cannot be replaced with wheat. So it is better to eat this in moderation and once in a while.

Serve this yummy Italian bechamel sauce pasta with bruschetta or garlic bread salad and soup for a hearty and lovely Italian meal. May be you could add a salad to go with it. It is one of our comfort food and my favorite dinner recipe.

This White Sauce Pasta Is

So easy, comes together in minutes

Made from scratch at home with recipe for creamy sauce

So delicious and flavorful, crazy addictive!

Turns out very creamy and rich without any cheese

Loaded with veggies

Way, way kid friendly

How To Make Bechamel Sauce

White sauce or bechamel sauce is the base for many delicious Italian recipes. This sauce can be made very easily at home with three main ingredients that are flour, butter and milk.

The consistency of sauce depends on the dish you are making. For this pasta we need sauce to be of medium thickness. I have not added any cheese in this recipe but you can add if you like.

Heat butter in a thick pan. Do not let it brown. Add the all purpose flour and stir continuously till it cooks and turns aromatic. Now very slowly add the boiled and cooled milk, stirring continuously. Maintain low flame.

Make sure there no lumps absolutely. Once the flour is well cooked and sauce thickens now salt, pepper powder and nutmeg. Mix well and remove from flame.

If you want to add cheese add grated cheese now and mix well. Do not add cheese while the sauce is cooking. Add once you remove it from flame yet the sauce is still warm.

You can make the sauce ahead and store airtight in refrigerator. While you need it in the recipes just reheat it either in microwave or stove top whisking continuously.

How To Make White Sauce Pasta Recipe

First of all bring plenty of water in a pot to boil. Add pasta along with a drop of oil and cook till done. Drain and reserve the stock. Set aside the boiled pasta.

Cooking pasta

Now to make the sauce,  in a pan add 1/2 teaspoon butter. Add the chopped bell pepper, boiled sweet corns, peeled and chopped carrots and saute for few minutes over medium heat. Remove to a plate.

Sauteing vegetables in butter

Next melt 1.5 tablespoons butter in a sauce pan. To the melted butter, add 1 tablespoons all purpose flour

Roasting flour in butter for making bachamel sauce

Whisk very well.

Roasted flour for making creamy white sauce

Also add 1/4 cup boiled and cooled milk. Keep whisking in low flame.

Cold milk added for making bachamel sauce

The mixture will start to thicken. At this stage add red chili flakes, salt and pepper, oregano flakes.

Seasoning bechamel sauce

Keep whisking till the white sauce further thickens and turns smooth.

Bachemel sauce making

Add the sautéed vegetables and mix well.

Adding veggies to the white sauce

9. Finally add the boiled pasta to the prepared white sauce.

al dente pasta added to cooked bechamel sauce

Mix well and add some more dried herbs if needed.

white sauce pasta recipe ready

Serve white sauce pasta hot. You can add some grated parmesan before serving. Make sure to use vegetarian parmesan if you want to keep this pasta vegetarian.

closeup shot of pasta in white sauce

Recipe Variations

Cheese- To make this white sauce pasta recipe with cheese you can use grated mozzarella or cheddar. Just add the grated cheese while serving and mix well while the pasta is hot. Alternately you can also add some cheese in sauce and mix well.

Generally the cheese used in béchamel sauce pasta is processed ones. I sometimes add a good dollop of cream cheese to give this pasta a wonderful creamier and richer taste.

You can serve with grated parmesan cheese.

Garlic– Add minced garlic while making the sauce or along with veggies to elevate the flavor of the dish.

Mayonnaise– You can make 2 tablespoons mayonnaise while making the sauce. It lends a creaminess and rich taste. Add mayo towards the end and whisk very well off the flame.

Protein – If you like to add some proteins and make this a complete meal yo can add sautéed mushrooms or any meat.

Vegetables- We prefer our white sauce pasta with veggies. So I usually sneak in as much as possible. Time and again I wonder how pasta is a best vehicle to carry all the vegetables. I mean there is no way I make a pasta dish with out loading it with vegetables.

Here, I have added vegetables like different colored bell peppers, sweet corn kernels and carrots. You can also add onions, broccoli florets, baby corns and more. Adding vegetables in pasta is a good idea especially when serving for kids. You can also add halved cherry tomatoes.

Herbs & spices– To make this white pasta sauce more flavorful you can finely chopped herbs like basil, parsley to it. Add after removing the sauce from flame and mix well. You can also add dried herbs.

Spices can also be added to this sauce base bring a new dimension in taste and flavor. A big pinch of freshly cracked black pepper or some red chilli flakes adds some heat and flavor to the sauce.

Sauces- Sometimes I also add a splash of flavorful sauces like tomato sauce or red pepper sauce to make the dish more interesting. You can also add marinara sauce. Just 2-3 tablespoons would do.

Tips To Make Bechamel Sauce Pasta

Cooking pasta– The cooking process of pasta can make or break any pasta dish. We need al dente texture with pasta which means it is well cooked but has slight bite that is toothsome. Make sure to use a large pot or pan so that pasta does not over crowded on cooking. It helps to cook pasta for a minute lesser than motioned in package instructions

Next always add plenty of water for boiling pasta. I usually add 3.5 cups of water for 1 cup paste. Bring the water to full rolling boil before adding dry paste to it. Also add 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon oil to the boiling water. This will make the pasta non sticky. After draining the cooked pasta, make sure to keep it covered in a large bowl before tossing in the sauce. Also retain the pasta water or stock after cooking pasta to add later in the dish.

Choosing Pasta– You can add any type of pasta you like here. If you use spaghetti the dish will be spaghetti in white sauce 🙂 While making for kids you can use mini penne or elbow macroni that is easier to eat. I usually use penne, rigatoni or fusili pasta for this recipe.

Other notes– Make sure the milk used for making white sauce for pasta is boiled and thoroughly cooled. This will ensure that the sauce is smooth without lumps.

Always make the sauce in low flame. It goes from cooked to burnt very easily.

Roast the all purpose flour very well until it turns golden for flavorful sauce.

Serve with some grated parmesan cheese for more rich taste.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to make vegan white sauce pasta?

You can use dairy free milk like almond milk and vegan butter or olive oil to make vegan béchamel sauce.

Can I use wheat flour for making the sauce?

I would not recommend it, the texture varies.

Can I make ahead and store this sauce?

Yes this white cream sauce can be stored in refrigerator for a week.

How to make a very creamy white sauce?

You can add 1/4 cup cream or cream cheese at the end.

Are Alfredo sauce, white sauce and mornay sauce the same?

white sauce– Mainly made with a roux of butter and flour using milk to get the desired consistency.
Alfredo sauce- Contains cheese like parmesan and usually cream is also added. Most recipes do not call for flour.
Mornay sauce is simply béchamel with added cheese like gruyere, emmental or white cheddar cheeses

More Pasta Recipes

  • butter corn pasta,
  • vegetable pasta 
  • spinach pasta

I hope you will try this white pasta recipe and enjoy as much as we did. Do snap a pic and share on Instagram with hashtag #cookclickndevou and please give a star rating ★ in the recipe card below. Follow us on Pinterest , Instagram, Facebook   for more recipes and ideas.

Recipe

white-sauce-pasta-recipe

White Sauce Pasta (Bechamel Sauce Pasta)

Prevent your screen from going dark
Harini
White sauce pasta or pasta in béchamel sauce is one of our most favorite pasta recipes at home. Wonderfully rich and creamy with perfectly seasoned sauce, this pasta spells comfort in every bite. I always add some vegetables to make it hearty. Tastes delicious served piping hot and perfect dish in a continental meal.
4.78 from 35 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 25 mins
Course main
Cuisine continental, Italian
Servings 3
Calories 251 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1.25 cups pasta I used penne
  • 1 carrot peeled and chopped fine
  • 1/3 cup sweet corn kernels boiled
  • 1/2 green bell pepper chopped fine
  • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped fine
  • 1/2 tablespoon butter

For white sauce

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon plain flour
  • 1 1/4 cup milk boiled and cooled
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano or basil or thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon chilli flakes
  • Salt

Instructions
 

  • Boil the pasta until al dente and set aside.
  • Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a pan and saute the chopped vegetables. Remove to a plate.
  • Add 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in the same pan and add maida/flour. Whisk very well.
  • Add boiled milk and mix well. Whisk very well in low flame to avoid lumps.
  • Once the sauce starts to thicken, add salt, pepper powder, chilli flakes and dried herbs. Mix well.
  • Cook further in low flame till the sauce thickens and turns smooth.
  • Add sauteed veggies and mix well.
  • Add boiled pasta and mix well.
  • Serve white sauce pasta hot.
    white-sauce-pasta-recipe

Video

Notes

  • While making the sauce for pasta, make sure there are no lumps. Cook in low flame to ensure there are no lumps.
  • If you want to add cheese, you can add two tablespoons grated cheese while cooking the sauce.
  • You can any dried herb or even mixed pasta spice instead of oregano.

Nutrition

Serving: 3servingsCalories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 7gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 133mgPotassium: 350mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 4727IUVitamin C: 43mgCalcium: 134mgIron: 1mg
Keyword bechamel sauce pasta, white sauce pasta
Tried this recipe? Snap a pic and share 🙂Mention cookclickndevou or tag cookclickndevour
1441shares
  • Share 19
  • Yummly 4
  • Flipboard
  • Twitter

Shared by Harini

About Harini

I am Harini. The recipe developer, food photographer and chef behind cook click n devour. My aim behind this blog is to provide easy, tried and tested recipes that beginners can cook with confidence. I took keen interest in cooking and took courses on cooking, baking during teens purely out of passion. With a decade of cooking experience I am glad to share my recipes and culinary knowledge with you all here. Stay tuned and happy cooking!
Harini :)

Comments

  1. shumail says

    August 18, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    what is oregano and sweet corn kernels???

  2. Harini says

    August 19, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    sweet corn kernels is a vegetable you will get in vegetable markets based on where you live and oregano is a herb, you can use fresh or dried ones from spice store.

  3. Indu says

    February 28, 2016 at 8:50 am

    Thanks for this recipe. It came very well.. yummy and tasty.. Instead of maida I used aashirvad wheat flour.. Thanks again for this cheese free recipe

  4. Harini says

    February 28, 2016 at 10:16 pm

    You are most welcome!

  5. Dinesh Kukreti says

    March 22, 2016 at 4:57 pm

    Oregano is Ajwayin

  6. Harini says

    March 22, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    no they are different

  7. Subho says

    April 6, 2016 at 12:22 am

    5 stars
    Nice recipe though… I love it. Thank you

  8. abhirami says

    April 9, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    thanks . taste of this white sauce pasta recipe is too good

  9. Ankita Bora says

    May 29, 2016 at 5:51 pm

    Can I use wheat flour instead of maida? If not, then what can I use as a substitute, as at present am not having maida. Also, will there be a difference in taste if used an alternate?

  10. Harini says

    May 29, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    I would not suggest any substitute for maida in white sauce. You can try using wheat flour but I am not sure of the results.

  11. zida says

    June 3, 2016 at 7:23 pm

    Oregano is Italian herbs masala whuch made by some mixture of dry leaves… Now days u can eadily get them in any departmentalmental store… Kaya is the brand we do have easily availabe in reliance fresh big bazaar etc..

  12. cid says

    June 15, 2016 at 12:37 am

    5 stars
    i love it…simple but tasty…tnx for the recipe…

  13. lakshita says

    June 19, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    5 stars
    Nice seriously….so yummieeee..

  14. Rajkamal says

    July 18, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    5 stars
    I love white pasta n’ tnx 4 d recipe

  15. Ruby says

    July 28, 2016 at 11:25 am

    5 stars
    It’s delicious. I tried it last weekend and kids loved it very much. Now I don’t think my kids will ask for Domino’s pasta any more. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

  16. Sayandipa says

    August 6, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for thiz nice recipe.. Today I try it and it’s really delicious….

  17. akshi says

    August 6, 2016 at 10:04 pm

    5 stars
    its delicious….thankyou for sharing this with us 🙂

  18. Sadiya says

    August 25, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    Is it fine to use milk prepared with milk powder instead of fresh milk ?

  19. Prekshya says

    September 10, 2016 at 7:56 pm

    5 stars
    I tried pasta for the first time and it turned out soo well..yummy and creamy.. it was so tasty.. thank you so much..

  20. ACHU says

    October 6, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    5 stars
    AWESOME TASTE…IT WAS VERY HELPFUL FR ME COZ MA DAUGHTER IS A CHOOSY EATER N I WAS ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT HER HEALTH.THIS WHITE SAUCE PASTE RECIPE WAS FANTASTIC N GAV ME LOTS OF HUGS N KISSES

  21. Rajinder Singh says

    October 16, 2016 at 10:31 pm

    Its really yummy, I made it today and everybody likes it very much, thanks for the receipe buddy……

  22. laksha says

    October 23, 2016 at 5:27 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for the recipe buddy .Frist I WAS HUNGRY AFTER EATING THIS I AM FEELING GOOD.

  23. Saumya says

    November 6, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    5 stars
    It came out fantastic. I used normal wheat flour. Thanks a ton for amazing recipe!

  24. Shruti says

    November 10, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    Very nice receipe.i make it.its yummy tasty

  25. Batoolbc says

    November 11, 2016 at 6:33 am

    Thank you so much for this recipe!! ? I just tried it and it was awesome!! Much love~

  26. Anu says

    November 13, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    Hi, If using cheese, what’s the best type to use?

  27. Harini says

    November 14, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    any processed cheese

  28. Saurabh Ranjan says

    January 7, 2017 at 6:56 pm

    5 stars
    Turned out great. Thanks

  29. sush says

    January 11, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    Can I skip oregano

  30. Harini says

    January 16, 2017 at 6:54 pm

    yes

  31. Kb says

    February 24, 2017 at 2:47 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for fulfilling the dream of preparing white sauce pasta at home rather that always ordering it…. ????☺

  32. Melani says

    March 1, 2017 at 11:33 am

    Thanks a lot. It was amazing

  33. S. Choudhury says

    March 29, 2017 at 11:44 pm

    5 stars
    I must thank you for this white sauce pasta recipe,i tried it tonight for dinner and this was the first time i tried cooking anything (well,except for maggi).it turned out really well!

  34. VJ says

    May 5, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe for pasta in white sauce!!! Thanks for sharing. Mine turned out pretty tasty. ?

  35. Sanchita says

    July 27, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe for white sauce pasta.
    Thank u sooo much for sharing

  36. rihana says

    September 12, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    5 stars
    such an easy recipe. I already made it thrice, thanks so much!

  37. shiney says

    September 12, 2017 at 9:47 pm

    5 stars
    ek dum restaurant style cream whote sauce pasta it was. loving it!

  38. deepthi says

    September 12, 2017 at 9:48 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for this pasta recipe with bechamel sauce harini. Very helpful!

  39. sowjanya says

    September 12, 2017 at 9:49 pm

    5 stars
    Can we use wheat in place of maida for white sauce in this pasta recipe?

  40. swetha says

    September 12, 2017 at 9:50 pm

    5 stars
    I love pasta with white sauce and now I make it at home itself 🙂 thanks a lot

  41. Harini says

    September 14, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    Ho Sowjanya, no wheat flour will not be good in this sauce recipe.

  42. asif ansari says

    October 6, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    5 stars
    It’s a lovely dish . I love this white sauce pasta recipe.

  43. vaidhiya says

    July 20, 2018 at 8:21 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best white sauce pasta recipe I ever tried Harini.
    I add some finely grated cheese to the sauce auce and also garnish my pasta with fresh basil leaves. Yum!

  44. sapna says

    July 20, 2018 at 8:22 pm

    4 stars
    Can I use wheat flour instead of plain flour for white sauce?

  45. Harini says

    July 20, 2018 at 8:55 pm

    Hi Sapna, I would not suggest wheat flour in place of plain flour while making the sauce. You can try use non bromated flour probably. Do let me know if any questions.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hello, I am Harini


The chef, author and photograper of cook click n devour.Here I bring to you tried and tested vegetarian recipes with step by step photos and videos to make cooking a pleasure and fulfilling experience. Happy cooking!
Read More

As Seen In

AboutContactPrivacy
Copyright ©2021, Cook Click N Devour!!!. All Rights Reserved.