Description
Creamy white sauce penne pasta emerges as a comforting Italian classic that delights pasta enthusiasts. Home cooks can easily master this rich, cheesy dish with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (16 oz/454 g) package penne pasta
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter
- 2 tsps minced garlic
- 2 tsps dried parsley
- 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
- Garlic salt with parsley flakes, or salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- 3 tbsps all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring salted water to a rolling boil and cook penne until perfectly tender, then drain while preserving a small amount of cooking liquid.
- Sauce Foundation: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat, creating a golden base and introducing minced garlic to infuse rich, aromatic flavors without scorching.
- Sauce Development: Whisk flour into the butter-garlic mixture, forming a smooth roux, then gradually incorporate milk and chicken broth, stirring continuously to prevent lumping and achieve a silky, consistent texture.
- Flavor Enrichment: Simmer the sauce until it thickens, then blend in Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, garlic salt, and black pepper, stirring until the cheese melts completely and creates a luxurious, creamy consistency.
- Final Assembly: Gently fold the cooked penne into the velvety sauce, ensuring each pasta piece is thoroughly coated, then transfer to serving dishes and top with a sprinkle of mozzarella or additional Parmesan, allowing the cheese to melt gloriously.
- Presentation: Garnish with a light dusting of fresh parsley or grated Parmesan, creating an elegant and inviting finish to the creamy pasta dish.
Notes
- Master Roux Technique: Whisk flour into butter steadily and smoothly to prevent clumping and achieve a perfect golden base for your sauce.
- Prevent Garlic Burning: Stir minced garlic quickly over medium heat to release flavor without scorching, which can create bitter undertones.
- Cheese Melting Secrets: Add Parmesan gradually and stir constantly to ensure seamless integration and a silky, lump-free sauce consistency.
- Pasta Coating Trick: Fold pasta into sauce gently but thoroughly, ensuring every piece gets an even, luxurious sauce coverage for maximum flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 55mg