Creamy Cheese Pasta (Printable)
A comforting pasta dish featuring a velvety cheese sauce, perfect for simple and satisfying meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 ounces dry pasta (penne, fusilli, or fettuccine)
02 - 8 cups water
03 - 1 tablespoon salt
→ Cheese Sauce
04 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
06 - 2 cups whole milk, room temperature
07 - 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Garnish (optional)
12 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
13 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring water and salt to a boil in a large pot. Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
02 - Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
03 - Gradually whisk in milk, avoiding lumps. Cook, whisking, until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 3-5 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until melted and smooth. Season with garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
05 - Add drained pasta to cheese sauce and toss to coat. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water if needed.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- A silky sauce that actually clings to the pasta instead of pooling at the bottom of your bowl.
- Ready in thirty minutes, which means you can feed people without sacrificing your entire evening.
- The kind of comfort food that tastes fancy but requires zero culinary ego to pull off.
02 -
- Cold milk will seize a hot roux and create lumps, so let it sit on the counter for a few minutes before you use it.
- Reserve that pasta water before you drain, because a splash of it is liquid gold for loosening a sauce that's gotten too thick.
- Taste the sauce before the pasta goes in, because salt and pepper are your only chances to fix the flavor once everything is combined.
03 -
- If your sauce breaks or gets grainy, remove it from heat and whisk in a splash of cold milk to smooth it back out.
- Toast your pasta in a dry pan for a minute before cooking it, and it'll have more flavor and a better bite to it.