Spicy White Sauce Pasta 🌶️🧄🧈🔥 Creamy, Bold, and Laced With Heat in a Garlicky Cheese Sauce That Bites Back

This pasta starts with a classic garlic white sauce but dials it up with red pepper flakes, cayenne, and optional hot sauce or chili oil.

The result is a velvety, spicy, garlicky bowl of pasta that feels both indulgent and energetic — creamy meets fire, in perfect balance.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

For the pasta

• 12 oz spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni
• Salted water for boiling
• ½ cup reserved pasta water

For the white sauce

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups whole milk (or 1½ cups milk + ½ cup cream)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino
• ½–1 tsp red pepper flakes (to taste)
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: 1 tsp hot sauce or 1 tbsp chili crisp

To finish

• Extra grated cheese
• Chopped parsley or scallions
• Optional: drizzle of chili oil or squeeze of lemon

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.

Step 2: Make the spicy roux
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. Sauté 30–60 seconds until fragrant (don’t burn the garlic). Whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes until lightly golden.

Step 3: Build the sauce
Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly. Simmer 4–5 minutes until thickened. Turn heat to low and stir in cheese, salt, pepper, and optional hot sauce or chili oil.

Step 4: Combine and toss
Add cooked pasta to the sauce and toss until fully coated. Thin with pasta water as needed for gloss and flow.

Step 5: Serve hot
Top with more cheese, herbs, and extra heat if desired (chili oil, hot sauce, or fresh chili slices).

Flavor Variations

• Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or peas
• Stir in cooked spicy sausage, bacon, or shrimp
• Use smoked cheese for depth (Gouda, mozzarella)
• Add chipotle powder or gochujang for different heat profiles
• Finish with lemon zest or balsamic glaze for balance

Pro Tips

• Bloom the spices in butter for max flavor — don’t rush it
• Use fresh garlic and grate cheese yourself for best results
• Keep the sauce just below a boil after adding dairy to prevent curdling
• Adjust spice after adding cheese — heat can mellow out
• Pasta water helps loosen and emulsify — don’t skip it

Final Thoughts

Spicy White Sauce Pasta is creamy comfort with a bold attitude — garlicky, cheesy, and spicy enough to make you crave the next bite. It’s perfect when you want a pasta dish that brings both the heat and the hug.

Melt it. Stir it. Set your white sauce on fire. 🌶️🧄🧈🔥

🍝 Pasta Recipes Collection

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