This basic white sauce recipe is easy to make and an essential in my kitchen. It’s a versatile rich and creamy sauce for pasta recipes or add to it to use in a variety of ways!
Easy Basic White Sauce
This white sauce recipe is similar to a bechamel sauce and known in classic French cooking as one of five ‘mother sauces’. It’s a simple sauce to master and I love to dress it up or down depending how I am using it!
It’s more delicate than an Alfredo sauce and not quite as garlicky as my garlic white pizza sauce. This quick and easy white pasta sauce can be used to top gnocchi, on pizza recipes or drizzled on steamed vegetables.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients: With a few fresh ingredients and some simple pantry staples this easy recipe for white sauce can be whipped up in a moments notice!
- Easy to make: This white sauce recipe is made one pot in 15 minutes! Use it with anything from mac and cheese to scalloped potatoes.
Ingredient Notes
Find the printable full recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter: Salted butter provides the base of the white sauce.
- Garlic: Gives flavor to the sauce.
- All-purpose flour: Used to thicken the roux.
- Chicken broth: Thins the white sauce and adds another layer of flavor.
- Whole milk: Use 2% or whole milk for the best creamy texture.
- Salt and pepper: Balances the rich flavor of the butter and milk.
- Grated parmesan cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan from a block adds rich flavor and gives it a Mornay sauce twist with rich, cheesy flavors.
How to Make White Sauce
To start make the roux by melting butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over the top, whisk until smooth and cook until it no longer foams.
Whisk in the broth until smooth then slowly whisk in the milk until the sauce begins to thicken. Season with salt and pepper and cook a couple more minutes until desired consistency is reached.
Remove the pan from heat and whisk in the Parmesan cheese until smooth. Taste and season with salt and pepper then serve warm with cooked pasta and fresh chopped parsley.
Tips and FAQs
- Be careful to not burn the roux. Only cook the butter and flour until it is brown with a nutty aroma.
- How to avoid a lumpy white sauce? Avoid a lumpy white sauce by whisking continuously and adding the milk slowly instead of pouring it all in at once.
- What to do if lumps form? If lumps start to form while adding the milk, stop and stir or whisk until they are dissolved adjusting the heat as needed.
- How to make a thicker or thinner sauce: If you would like a thinner white sauce add more milk. For a thicker sauce, increase the butter and flour roux.
- What to do if the white sauce starts to curdle: If your sauce breaks, it’s a sign that the sauce got too hot! Lower heat and whisk in some warm milk, about a teaspoon.
- Use this sauce in recipes: As a white sauce pasta with fettuccine or penne, in a white chicken lasagna with pesto or casserole or over roasted veggies.
Recipe Variations
- Dried herbs: Sprinkle a teaspoon of dried parsley or Italian seasoning in with the Parmesan cheese.
- Heat: For spicy heat, add red chili flakes.
- Cheesier: Use up to 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella with the Parmesan cheese. Your white sauce will be thicker. For mac and cheese, add cheddar cheese.
- Protein: Drizzle the white sauce recipe over grilled chicken or salmon. Or add some shredded chicken when using it for white sauce pasta.
- Produce: A few favorites include halved cherry tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms, asparagus and bell peppers.
Storage Instructions
- To store leftover white sauce, cool to room temperature and store covered in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. The sauce will thicken as it cools. To thin the sauce, reheat it slightly in the microwave stirring occasionally until desired consistency is reached.
- Do not freeze the sauce as separation will occur upon thawing.
Want more pasta sauce options? Try pink pasta sauce, basil pesto or marinara sauce!
Recipes Using White Sauce
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White Sauce Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic , minced (1 1/2 teaspoons)
- 3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chicken broth , at room temperature
- 1 cup whole milk (or 2%) , at room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt , to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper , to taste
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese , plus more if desired
For serving: Cooked pasta, Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Roux. In a large saucepan, melt 4 Tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add in 3 cloves garlic and cook 1 minute. Sprinkle 3 Tablespoons flour over the top and whisk until smooth and no longer foaming. Cook another minute.
- Add milk. Whisk in 1 cup chicken broth until smooth (if wanting the sauce slightly thicker, start with 3/4 cup broth). Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk until the sauce thickens. Stir in 1/4 cpu salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook a couple more minutes.
- Remove from heat. Whisk in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Serve while warm as a white sauce pasta and topped with parsley, if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Condiments, Gluten-Free, Italian, Nut-Free, One Pot, Sauces, Stovetop, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Best ever. So easy. Everyone loved the sauce. Thank you so much.
So glad you enjoyed the white sauce!
Really good! Family loved it. I had some heavy cream to use up so I did use 1/2 cup of that but otherwise followed exactly. Will add this to our dinner rotation!
My kids love white sauce pasta!! This is a very family-friendly recipe!
I love finding better than a store-bought jar recipe, and this is a GEM! I have used this sauce to make Alfredo and white pizza – my family LOVES it!
Excellent. Early and tasty. I will be making this on a regular basis 😀
This is so perfect with our favorite pizza! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!