Easy Cheese Sauce For Pasta
Updated May 27, 2025, Published Sep 05, 2024
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This Easy Cheese Sauce for Pasta Recipe makes a rich and creamy white sauce with a blend of four cheeses. It’s packed with a depth of flavors that complement each other beautifully, and while it’s perfect for pasta, you can use it in so many ways. Best of all, it’s ready in just 20 minutes!
For more creamy sauces, you’ll also love my Traditional Alfredo Sauce Recipe and Truffle Sauce Pasta too!
Why you’ll love this family favorite!
This is an easy pasta recipe everyone will love! Most cheesy pasta sauce recipes start with a flour and butter roux. This one skips that and is an authentic “just cheese” sauce. We think the taste and texture when making it this way is the best!
- Ultra Creamy Texture: The combination of heavy cream and various cheeses creates an incredibly smooth and creamy sauce that coats every strand of pasta perfectly.
- Comfort Food Classic: This pasta is the ultimate comfort food, offering a warm, satisfying meal perfect for any occasion. It’s always a hit with the whole family and ideal for busy weeknights.
- Delicious Topping: The optional toasted panko topping adds a delightful crunch and a burst of fresh flavor from the lemon zest and parsley, elevating the dish to a new level.
Made With Amoré,
This post is sponsored by DeLallo – I only support and work with brands with high-quality products I love and actually use and eat. All opinions are my own. DeLallo pasta is one of my favorites; our pantry is always stocked with it!
Table of Contents
Simple Ingredients
Made with a few basic ingredients, this cheese sauce recipe is easy to prepare when you crave a simple pasta dish.
- Pasta: The vehicle for the creamy cheese sauce, choose your favorite type of pasta, such as fettuccine or penne. We love DeLallo Spaghetti, Shellbows, or Rigatoni for this one.
- Whole Milk or Heavy Cream: This forms the creamy base of the sauce, providing richness and a smooth texture. The whole milk makes the sauce a bit less rich.
- Butter: Adds a luscious, silky quality to the sauce, enhancing the overall flavor.
- Parmigiano or Parmesan cheese: Aged and sharp, this cheese adds a rich, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
- Mozzarella cheese: Melts smoothly into the sauce, contributing to its creamy texture and mild flavor.
- Provolone cheese: Adds a slightly tangy and buttery taste, enhancing the depth of the cheese blend.
- Pecorino Romano cheese: Sharp and salty, this cheese boosts the flavor profile and adds complexity to the sauce.
- Optional Crunchy Topping: Panko breadcrumbs toasted in olive oil and flavored with lemon zest and parsley, add a delightful crunch when toasted, providing a textural contrast to the creamy pasta.
See the recipe card for the full ingredient list and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add Protein: For a protein boost, add grilled chicken thighs or sautéed chicken breast slices to the pasta. You can also add sautéed garlic shrimp for a seafood twist
- Vegetarian: Turn this into a roasted vegetable pasta by adding vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, or bell peppers. T
- Spicy Kick: Spice up the sauce by adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce. This variation adds a bit of heat to the creamy, cheesy sauce.
- Pesto Twist: Stir in a couple of tablespoons of classic basil pesto into the cheese sauce for a fresh, herby flavor. Or you can experiment with my pistachio pesto sauce or arugula pesto for slightly different flavors.
You’ll also love my cheesy broccoli pasta, authentic carbonara recipe, and white sauce baked ziti.
How to Make Cheese Sauce Pasta
This easy cheese pasta sauce recipe comes together in just about 20 minutes, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner or a last-minute meal. See the recipe card at the bottom with full instructions.
To get started, cook your pasta in a pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Don’t forget to save some of your pasta water when draining it. We will be adding some with the pasta to make the sauce silky and smooth.
Step #1: Cook the garlic in olive oil in a medium saucepan until fragrant. Then add the heavy cream.
Step #2: Add the cheese to the saucepan.
Step #3: Cook the sauce until smooth. You want the cheese sauce creamy and combined before adding the cooked pasta.
Step #4: Add the al dente pasta to the pan with the sauce and mix to combine, adding a little of the reserved pasta water to adhere the sauce to the pasta.
Step #5: Cook the breadcrumbs until toasted. Add the parsley and lemon zest and stir to combine.
Step #6: Add the toasted breadcrumbs to the creamy cheesy pasta for an added layer of flavor and texture.
My Pro Tips
Recipe Tips
- Use Freshly Grated Cheese: Freshly grating your cheese rather than using pre-shredded varieties ensures a smoother sauce, as pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect the sauce’s texture.
- Low and Slow Heating: Heat the cheese sauce gently over medium-low heat to prevent the cheese from separating or becoming grainy. Patience is key for a smooth, creamy result.
- Reserve Pasta Water: Don’t forget to reserve some pasta cooking water. The starchy water helps thin the sauce if it becomes too thick and helps it adhere better to the pasta.
- Salt the Pasta Water: Generously salt the water any time you are cooking pasta. This is your chance to season the pasta itself, and it will enhance the overall flavor of the dish. See more tips in the recipe card.
- More Than Pasta: This homemade cheese sauce also works for more than just pasta! Make the recipe up through the third step and use it to drizzle over vegetables, crispy roasted potatoes and so much more!
- Storing Leftovers: Cool the creamy pasta completely and transfer it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Recipe FAQs
To prevent clumping, add the cheese gradually and stir constantly over medium-low heat. Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for even melting.
A variety of different cheeses will work including mozzarella, fontina, gruyere, provolone, Parmigiano, pecorino, sharp cheddar, white cheddar, gouda, and asiago are excellent cheeses for melting in pasta. These cheeses offer great melt and add rich, flavorful creaminess to your pasta dishes.
No, I do not recommend freezing it. Freezing changes the texture of dairy and the sauce will lose it’s creamy texture when thawed.
How to Serve and Use Pasta Cheese Sauce
This cheese sauce recipe for pasta works great with as a side dish for baked chicken breasts with a side of roasted asparagus and tomato focaccia. Enjoy it as a meatless main dish and serve with an Italian chopped salad or with some tomato mozzarella bruschetta to start!
Skip the pasta and get creative! There are so many other ways you can enjoy this cheese sauce! Top your favorite breakfast casserole for a cheesy finish, drizzle it over some steamed asparagus, or use it as a dip for French fries or some polenta fries.
More Creamy Pasta Sauce Recipes
Looking for other recipes? Try these:
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Simple Cheese Sauce For Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 package of your favorite DeLallo pasta (we love DeLallo Spaghetti, Shellbows, or Rigatoni for this sauce, but any shape will work)., 454 gr
Creamy Pasta Sauce:
- 1 cup whole milk , or heavy cream
- ½ cup butter
- 2-3 garlic cloves, finely chopped, or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ¼ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup freshly shredded provolone cheese
- ½ cup freshly grated pecorino romano cheese
- ½ cup grated parmigiano cheese
- Reserved pasta cooking water
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Topping (so good!):
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Optional Topping: In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast until golden brown, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in the lemon zest, chopped parsley, salt, and pepper. Set aside until ready to use.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. While the pasta cooks, make the sauce.
- Prepare the Cheese Sauce: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped garlic (or garlic powder) and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Make the Creamy Base: Pour in the whole milk or heavy cream, stirring constantly. Allow the mixture to heat through, but do not let it come to a boil.
- Add the Cheeses. Turn the heat to a low simmer. Gradually add the grated parmigiano, shredded mozzarella, shredded provolone, and grated Romano cheese. Stir continuously until all the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Cook another 2 minutes at a very low heat while continuously stirring the pasta into the sauce. Add a bit of the starchy pasta water (until desired consistency) and stir to combine. The sauce will thicken and coat the pasta.
- Serve the pasta immediately, garnished with the toasted panko mixture (if desired). Mangia!
Notes
- Use Freshly Grated Cheese: Freshly grating your cheese rather than using pre-shredded varieties ensures a smoother sauce, as pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect the sauce’s texture.
- Low and Slow Heating: When making the cheese sauce, heat it gently over medium-low heat to prevent the cheese from separating or becoming grainy. Patience is key for a smooth, creamy result.
- Salt the Pasta Water: Generously salt the water when cooking your pasta. This is your chance to season the pasta itself and will enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Let the cheeses and dairy ingredients come to room temperature before adding them to the sauce. This helps them melt more evenly and smoothly.
- Stir Constantly: When adding the cheeses to the sauce, stir constantly to ensure they melt evenly and don’t clump or burn.
- Adjust Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, add the reserved pasta water a little at a time until you reach the desired consistency. Conversely, if the sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a bit to thicken.
- Serve Immediately: Cheese sauce pasta is best enjoyed fresh. The sauce can thicken and become less creamy if it sits too long.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Easy to make and everyone loved it. Make sure to use the Panko topping! yummy.
Yes, the panko topping really makes it! I’m glad you loved it.
The best cheese sauce for pasta ready in 20 minutes!
Perhaps I’m missing it, but I do not see the amount of pasta used.
It cut out! Yes, it is updated. 1 package, or 454 gr.