White Wine Pasta Sauce

White wine pasta sauce is a simple yet delicious dish that's perfect on its own or as a base for seafood or chicken. The dry white wine gives it a subtle flavour that's then enhanced by a splash of lemon and loads of freshly grated Parmesan. Perfection doesn't begin to cover it!

Pasta and wine go hand in hand, and this white wine pasta sauce is proof they are the most amazing pairing.

Light and naturally creamy just from the starch in the pasta, this wine sauce is quite irresistible. It's a restaurant-quality dish that's perfect on its own or as a base for a seafood or chicken pasta dish.

It only takes 15 minutes to make this wine sauce for pasta, which makes it perfect for those moments you want a delicious dinner quickly or for an impromptu surprise for your loved one.

Why you'll love this white wine pasta sauce

• It's full of flavour and from a very simple mix of dry white wine, garlic, lemon and Parmesan.
• You can make seafood pasta with this white wine cream sauce or simply serve it as is for a lighter, veggie-friendly option.
• It's just the perfect accompaniment to a glass of white at the end of a busy day.

What goes into this white wine cream sauce for pasta

Olive oil - Use the a quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour.

Butter - A knob of butter melted in olive oil sets up a creamy base for the white wine pasta sauce. Use vegan butter to make this wine pasta vegan.

Garlic - Freshly chopped or minced garlic pairs perfectly with the flavour of wine. Don't substitute it with garlic powder because it just won't be the same. Feel free to adjust the quantity to your liking.

Red chilli flakes - Only add red chilli flakes if you want your pasta to have a bit of a kick.

White wine - The star of the recipe! Even though it looks like a lot of wine to add to a pasta sauce, you won't feel the alcohol and you'll certainly not get drunk from it. The alcohol evaporates as it cooks, leaving behind an amazing flavour.

Any crisp dry white wine would work here - I typically go for a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc. Avoid any sweet wine; just pick something that you'd enjoy drinking with a pasta dish.

Lemon juice - This is optional, but I love how it enhances the flavour of the sauce. For even more brightness, add some lemon zest, too.

Parmesan - Use a vegetarian or vegan hard cheese alternative if you want. Freshly grated hard cheese is always best in sauces like this.

Fresh parsley — You can substitute this with fresh basil or use a mix of fresh herbs.

How to make creamy white wine pasta sauce

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it generously and cook the pasta al dente according to the instructions on the package. Reserve 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, deep pan and melt the butter in it. Stir in the garlic and red chilli flakes and cook on medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring often (be careful not to burn the garlic).

Add the white wine and cook for 5 minutes until you can no longer smell the alcohol. Then add the lemon juice and continue to simmer for another minute.

Transfer the cooked pasta to the pan and toss well. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if it looks too dry.

Stir in the grated parmesan and parsley, season to taste and serve immediately.

Recipe notes and tips

• To make this white wine sauce creamy, add ½ cup double cream (heavy cream) at room temperature before stirring in the lemon juice.
• You can add some fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary with the garlic. A finely chopped shallot is another idea to enhance the flavours even more.
• Some ideas that go well with this wine pasta sauce include shrimp, scallops, mussels, salmon or any other fish, chicken or mushrooms. You can also add some cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes.
• This sauce is best served immediately. If you have any leftovers, you can reheat them in the microwave.
• If you're looking for a pasta sauce made with red wine, check out my spaghetti all'ubriaco recipe.

If you liked this white wine pasta sauce, you might also like some of my other easy pasta recipes:

• Tagliatelle ai Funghi (Tagliatelle with Mushrooms)
• Pasta alla Cenere (Gorgonzola and Black Olive Pasta)
• Spicy Nduja Pasta
• Pink Sauce Pasta
• Lemon Butter Garlic Pasta Sauce (Pasta al Limone)

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