This homemade white sauce penne pasta recipe is rich, creamy, absolutely delicious, and loaded with vegetables.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 20 minutes
  • Total time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

To Cook Pasta

  • 1 cup penne pasta
  • 3 cups water
  • salt (to taste)

To Saute Veggies

  • 1/2 tablespoon butter ((or olive oil))
  • 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
  • 1/4 cup sweet corn
  • 1/4 cup broccoli
  • 1/4 cup bell pepper
  • 1/4 cup sweet corn

For the White Sauce

  • 1.5 tablespoons butter
  • 1.5 tablespoons flour
  • 1.5 cups milk
  • 2-3 tablespoons cheese (grated)
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • black pepper (to taste)
  • salt (to taste)

Method

Cooking Pasta

  1. In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Then stir in the salt.
  2. Add the dry pasta to the water, and stir a few times to prevent the pasta from sticking together.
  3. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions (about 10-12 minutes), occasionally stirring, until al dente or softer according to your desired texture.
  4. Once the pasta is cooked, reserve some starchy water for the sauce and drain the pasta in a colander over the sink. Set the cooked pasta aside.

Saute Veggies

  1. Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and saute until fragrant for about 30 seconds.
  2. Then add mixed veggies like carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, sweet corn, and salt. Cook the veggies till they are tender but still crunchy, for around 2 minutes. Turn off the flame and keep it aside.

Make White Sauce (Béchamel Sauce)

  1. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add all-purpose flour, and stir continuously until well combined and smooth. Cook for a minute until the raw smell of the flour goes away. Do not over-roast the flour, and ensure the color of the flour doesn’t change.
  2. Slowly add in milk and stir continuously with a whisk until no lumps are left. Then add the remaining milk and whisk to combine. Cook it for about 4-5 minutes stirring constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens.
  3. Once the sauce is slightly thick, add the heavy cream, cheese, oregano, red chili flakes, black pepper, and salt. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted. When the sauce coats the back of the spoon, then it is done. The sauce will thicken as it cools.

Make White Sauce Pasta

  1. Add the sauteed veggies and the cooked penne pasta to the sauce. Toss well to coat the pasta with creamy white sauce. (If needed, add 2-3 tablespoons of reserved starchy pasta water, it will help to bind and thicken the sauce.)
  2. Lastly, transfer it to a serving plate and sprinkle some cheese and red chili flakes, if desired, and serve it immediately Enjoy!

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.