Gruyere Spaghetti Recipe

Gruyere Spaghetti Recipe: Cheesy Weeknight Magic

Gruyere changes ordinary spaghetti into a luxurious comfort dish that whispers culinary sophistication.

Melted cheese creates a silky, indulgent sauce that hugs each pasta strand with creamy intensity.

Rich and nutty, this Swiss cheese variety elevates a simple recipe into a gourmet experience.

Home cooks appreciate its smooth texture and complex flavor profile that distinguishes it from standard cheese preparations.

The combination promises a delightful twist on traditional pasta recipes, offering unexpected depth and warmth.

Cheese lovers will recognize the elegant potential of this ingredient to revolutionize familiar meals.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that dance across your palate.

Savor Creamy Gruyere Spaghetti Tonight

  • Craft Creamy Comfort: This spaghetti recipe transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious, velvety dish that hugs your taste buds with rich Gruyere cheese and silky sauce.
  • Quick Gourmet Magic: In just 30 minutes, home cooks can whip up a restaurant-quality meal that looks impressive but requires minimal culinary skills and basic kitchen tools.
  • Texture Explosion: Combining crispy breadcrumb topping with smooth, wilted spinach and perfectly coated pasta creates a delightful contrast of textures that makes every bite exciting and satisfying.
  • Versatile Weeknight Wonder: Perfect for busy evenings, this one-pan recipe allows easy preparation, minimal cleanup, and offers flexibility to swap ingredients based on what's in your pantry.

Your Gruyere Spaghetti Ingredient Guide

Pasta Base:
  • Spaghetti: Classic pasta with perfect texture for creamy sauces, choose high-quality durum wheat variety.
Cheese Collection:
  • Gruyere Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Rich, nutty Swiss and Italian cheeses that provide deep, complex flavor and smooth melting properties, select aged versions for more intense taste.
Sauce Components:
  • Butter: Provides rich foundation for sauce, select unsalted for better control of salt levels.
  • Flour: Creates smooth sauce base and helps thicken the mixture, all-purpose works best.
  • Milk: Adds creamy consistency and lightness, whole milk recommended for fuller texture.
Herbs and Seasonings:
  • Herbs de Provence: Classic French herb blend with aromatic Mediterranean profile, adds sophisticated flavor layer.
  • Salt: Enhances overall dish seasoning, use fine sea salt for even distribution.
Vegetable Addition:
  • Spinach: Fresh green element that adds nutrition and color, baby spinach recommended for tender texture.
Crispy Topping:
  • Breadcrumbs, Olive Oil, Black Pepper: Creates crunchy, flavorful topping with subtle spice and golden color, use fresh breadcrumbs for best results.

Combining Gruyere and Pasta for Perfect Spaghetti

Step 1: Prepare Crispy Topping

Create a zesty breadcrumb mixture:
  • Breadcrumbs
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Olive oil
  • Black pepper

Mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside for later.

Step 2: Boil Pasta

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add a generous pinch of salt to the water. Cook spaghetti 2 minutes less than package instructions, maintaining a slight firmness.

Step 3: Create Creamy Sauce Base

Grab an oven-safe pan and melt butter over medium heat. Watch for a frothy texture, then gently sprinkle flour into the butter. Stir continuously with a spatula to create a smooth paste. Cook for 60 seconds, being careful not to brown the mixture.

Step 4: Develop Sauce Consistency

Switch to a whisk and slowly stream milk into the butter-flour mixture. Whisk consistently to prevent lumps. Maintain a gentle heat to avoid boiling.

Step 5: Infuse Herb Flavors

Stir in herbs de Provence and salt. Allow the sauce to simmer and develop deep, rich flavors for 2-3 minutes.

Step 6: Melt Cheese

Add Gruyere cheese to the sauce. Stir until the cheese melts completely, creating a smooth, luxurious texture.

Step 7: Add Fresh Greens

Fold in fresh spinach leaves. Stir until the spinach wilts and integrates into the sauce, adding a vibrant green color and nutritional boost.

Step 8: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Transfer cooked spaghetti into the pan. Gently toss until every strand is beautifully coated with the creamy, cheesy sauce.

Step 9: Add Crunchy Topping

Sprinkle the prepared breadcrumb mixture evenly across the top of the pasta.

Step 10: Broil to Perfection

Slide the pan under the broiler. Watch carefully as the topping turns golden brown and crispy, which should take 2-3 minutes.

Serve immediately and savor the delightful combination of creamy sauce, tender pasta, and crunchy topping!

Insider Tips for Ultra Creamy Gruyere Spaghetti

  • Achieve Cheese Perfection: Grate Gruyere cheese freshly at room temperature for smoother melting and more even distribution throughout the sauce.
  • Control Sauce Consistency: Whisk milk gradually and steadily to prevent lumps, ensuring a silky-smooth texture that coats the pasta perfectly.
  • Optimize Pasta Cooking: Remove spaghetti from boiling water slightly before package instructions to allow it to finish cooking in the cheesy sauce, preventing overcooking.
  • Enhance Breadcrumb Crunch: Toast breadcrumbs briefly in a dry pan before mixing with Parmesan to develop deeper, nuttier flavors and guarantee extra crispiness.
  • Manage Broiler Technique: Watch the pan closely under the broiler to prevent burning, rotating it if needed for even golden-brown breadcrumb topping.

Keep Gruyere Spaghetti Smooth on Reheat

  • Refrigerate: Store leftover Gruyere Spaghetti in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. The dish will stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
  • Freeze: Transfer cooled pasta to a freezer-safe container, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. Note that the texture might slightly change upon thawing.
  • Reheat: Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of milk to restore creaminess. Stir gently to prevent breaking the sauce. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.

Best Sides and Wines for Gruyere Spaghetti

  • Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a bright Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to complement the rich, creamy Gruyere sauce. These wines cut through the cheese's richness and enhance the herb flavors.
  • Match with Fresh Green Salad: Create a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette. The peppery greens and tangy dressing balance the pasta's creamy texture and provide a refreshing contrast.
  • Serve Alongside Roasted Vegetables: Prepare roasted asparagus or Brussels sprouts with garlic and olive oil. These vegetables add nutritional value and provide a caramelized, slightly charred element that elevates the overall dining experience.
  • Add Crusty Bread on the Side: Include a rustic baguette or sourdough to soak up the delicious Gruyere sauce. The bread's crispy exterior and soft interior perfectly complement the creamy pasta.

Variations to Customize Gruyere Spaghetti

  • Smoky Bacon Upgrade: Crisp chopped bacon pieces and sprinkle them over the pasta before broiling, adding a salty and smoky dimension to the creamy Gruyere sauce.
  • Mediterranean Veggie Boost: Replace spinach with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes for a vibrant Mediterranean-inspired version that brings tangy and rich flavors.
  • Spicy Chorizo Fusion: Swap herbs de Provence with smoked paprika, add diced Spanish chorizo during sauce preparation, and top with spicy breadcrumbs for a bold, zesty transformation.
  • Mushroom Truffle Edition: Sauté mixed wild mushrooms like porcini and shiitake, fold them into the sauce, and finish with a drizzle of truffle oil for an earthy, luxurious experience.
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Gruyere Spaghetti Recipe

Gruyere Spaghetti Recipe


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4.8 from 15 reviews

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x

Description

Creamy Swiss gruyere spaghetti brings alpine comfort to your pasta night. Rich cheese melts into silky strands, creating a luxurious dinner that whisks you straight to mountain kitchens with minimal effort.


Ingredients

Scale

Cheese:

  • 1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Main Ingredients:

  • 5 ounces (142 grams) spaghetti
  • 2 cups roughly chopped fresh spinach

Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup 2% milk
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ tablespoon dried breadcrumbs
  • ½ teaspoon herbs de Provence
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • Ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare a flavorful topping by mixing crisp breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, fragrant olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
  2. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a vigorous boil, then add spaghetti and cook approximately 2 minutes less than package recommendations to ensure perfect al dente texture.
  3. While pasta cooks, create a velvety sauce foundation by melting butter in an oven-safe pan over medium heat, carefully monitoring temperature to prevent burning.
  4. Introduce flour to the melted butter, stirring consistently to form a smooth roux, cooking for roughly one minute until the mixture develops a light golden hue.
  5. Gradually incorporate milk into the roux, whisking continuously to prevent lumps and maintain a silky consistency, keeping heat low to avoid scorching.
  6. Enhance sauce with aromatic herbs de Provence and a delicate sprinkle of salt, allowing flavors to meld and develop for several minutes.
  7. Gently fold in rich Gruyere cheese, stirring until completely melted and creating a luxurious, creamy texture.
  8. Add fresh spinach to the sauce, stirring until leaves wilt and integrate seamlessly into the creamy mixture.
  9. Transfer perfectly cooked spaghetti directly into the sauce, gently tossing to ensure each strand is generously coated with the cheesy mixture.
  10. Distribute the prepared Parmesan breadcrumb mixture evenly across the pasta’s surface, creating a promising crunchy topping.
  11. Position pan under a preheated broiler, watching carefully and rotating as needed to achieve a golden, crispy breadcrumb crust without burning.

Notes

  • Timing is crucial when cooking pasta to achieve the perfect al dente texture, so remove it from boiling water 2 minutes before the package instructions suggest.
  • Create a foolproof roux by carefully monitoring butter heat to prevent burning and ensure a smooth, creamy sauce base.
  • Whisk milk gradually and consistently to prevent sauce separation, maintaining a gentle heat that promotes silky consistency.
  • Incorporate Gruyere cheese off direct heat to maintain its luxurious melting quality and prevent potential graininess.
  • Broiling transforms the dish with crispy breadcrumb topping, adding delightful textural contrast to the creamy pasta.
  • Select fresh spinach for vibrant color and quick wilting, enhancing both visual appeal and nutritional value of the final dish.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Lunch
  • Method: Boiling
  • Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 550
  • Sugar: 5g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 15g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 50g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 20g
  • Cholesterol: 70mg
David Bennett

David Bennett

Founder & Head Recipe Developer

Expertise

Culinary Nutrition​, Recipe Development​, Nutritional Counseling​, Food Science​

Education

Johnson & Wales University

  • Degree: Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition
  • Focus: Blending culinary arts with nutritional science to create health-focused cuisine.

Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®)

  • Credential: Advanced certification in personalized nutrition therapy. ​

David Bennett is the lead recipe creator and nutrition expert at HealthyChoices.org, your friendly space for tasty meals that nourish body and mind. 

With a Culinary Nutrition degree from Johnson & Wales University and a Certified Nutrition Specialist® credential, David pairs practical nutrition with delicious cooking, creating recipes you’ll crave daily. 

At Healthy Choices, David shares easy, nutritious dishes and smart cooking tips to make healthy eating something everyone can enjoy, with no complicated diets needed.

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