When Romano’s Macaroni Grill removed their beloved Farfalle al Sugo Bianco from the menu, pasta lovers everywhere mourned the loss. This indulgent dish combined tender farfalle pasta with crispy pancetta, grilled chicken, and a luxurious asiago cream sauce that made every bite unforgettable. Now you can recreate this restaurant favorite at home with our authentic copycat recipe that delivers the same rich, creamy flavors in just 30 minutes.

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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to authentic Sugo Bianco lies in the preparation of the asiago cream sauce. By making a proper roux with cornstarch and gradually incorporating the cheese, you create a silky, smooth sauce that won’t break or curdle. The combination of pancetta’s saltiness, sweet red onions, and nutty asiago cheese creates the perfect flavor balance that made this dish a restaurant favorite.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
There are so many other great Romano’s Macaroni Grill recipes that eventually, the restaurant removed Farfalle al Sugo Bianco from its menu. But if you are among the disappointed customers and still wish you could taste the pasta once more, here’s your chance!
When you cook this tasty recipe at home, you can relive your memories or discover a new delicious and quick pasta dish!
Ingredients
For the Asiago Cream Sauce:
- Cornstarch – Creates a stable thickening base that prevents sauce separation
- Cold water – Dissolves cornstarch to form a smooth slurry
- Heavy whipping cream – Provides rich, luxurious texture and carries flavors
- Chicken bouillon paste – Adds savory depth and umami flavor
- Asiago cheese, freshly grated – Delivers the signature nutty, sharp flavor profile
For the Pasta Dish:
- Heavy whipping cream – Additional cream for deglazing and sauce consistency
- Farfalle pasta – Bow-tie shape holds sauce beautifully in every fold
- Red onion – Provides sweet, mild onion flavor that complements the cream
- Pancetta – Italian cured pork adds authentic saltiness and texture
- Fresh garlic – Essential aromatic base that enhances all other flavors
- Fresh parsley – Brightens the rich dish with color and freshness
- Grilled chicken breast, boneless and skinless – Protein that makes this a complete meal
- Green onions – Adds fresh, mild onion flavor and visual appeal
- Butter – Creates the cooking base and adds richness
How to Make Sugo Bianco Like Romano’s Macaroni Grill
To prepare the Asiago Cream Sauce:
- Dissolve the cornstarch in the water to make a slurry in a small bowl, then set the bowl to the side.Â
- Pour the cream into a medium saucepan and place it over medium heat.
- While whisking, warm the cream just until bubbles start to break on the surface.
- Add the chicken bouillon paste and the Asiago cheese. Continue to whisk until there are tiny bubbles. Adjust the heat to prevent the cream from boiling.
- Whisk in the cornstarch slurry to the cream. Whisk and heat until the cream thickens.
- Use a silicone spatula to transfer the Asiago Cream Sauce to a container. Allow it to return to room temperature, cover, and chill in the fridge.
To prepare Farfalle al Sugo Bianco:
- Bring a large stockpot of salted water to boil and prepare the pasta according to the directions on the package.
- While the pasta is cooking, you have time to prep the other ingredients. Dice the onions and pancetta into small pieces. Roughly chop the garlic and parsley. Finely slice the tops of the green onion and cut the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Save everything separately on a large plate.
- Check the pasta and drain when ready. Do not rinse.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. When the butter stops foaming, saute the red onions until translucent.
- Put the chopped pancetta and garlic into the skillet and cook until the pancetta is crisp.
- Pour in a little heavy cream and use a non-metal spatula to scrape the fond from the bottom of the skittle.
- Add the chopped cooked chicken, sliced green onions, and cooked pasta. Toss well.
- Ladle in some of the Asiago Cream Sauce and toss to coat the pasta. Add the rest of the sauce while continuing to stir the pasta.
- Heat through and plate. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
What to Serve With Romano’s Macaroni Grill Farfalle al Sugo Bianco
This pasta dish is pretty heavy, so go with lighter sides:
- A side salad of greens with a balsamic vinegarette dressing.
- Bitter greens such as sauteed broccoli rabe or brailled endive.
- Crostini with blistered tomatoes.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Freezing: Not recommended, as dairy-based cream sauces typically don’t freeze well and may break upon thawing.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in airtight containers for up to 2 days. Note that cream sauces may separate slightly when chilled.
- Reheating Method: Reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently. Add a splash of cream or chicken broth if needed to restore consistency. Never microwave, as this can cause separation.
Favorite Pasta Recipes
- Cajun Chicken Pasta
- Capellini Pomodoro
- Capellini Primavera
- Cavatini Pasta
- Greek Pasta
- One Pot Sausage Pasta
- Pasta con Broccoli
- Pecan Pesto Pasta
- Stuffed Manicotti
- Thai Shrimp Pasta
Popular Restaurant Pasta Dishes
- Cheesecake Factory Chicken Piccata with Pasta
- Olive Garden Spaghetti
- Johnny Carnino’s Angel Hair with Artichokes
Check out my easy pasta recipes and the best copycat restaurant recipes on CopyKat!
Thanks to Wardlowe for sharing this grilled chicken and pasta recipe.
Macaroni Grill Sugo Bianco Easy Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
Asiago Sauce
- 4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/8 teaspoon chicken bouillon paste or dried chicken base
- 1 1/4 cups grated Asiago cheese
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 ounces cold water
Pasta
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup pancetta any smoked bacon will work in a pinch
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 3/4 pound grilled chicken sliced
- 3/4 cup sliced green onion tops only
- 2 pounds farfalle bow tie pasta prepared according to package directions
- 8 ounces heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley to garnish
Instructions
Asiago Cream Sauce
- Heat the cream in a saucepan until it begins to bubble; do not let it boil.
- Add the bouillon and Asiago cheese. Stir constantly with a wire whisk until the cream begins to bubble again.
- Dissolve the cornstarch in the cold water and add the slurry to the sauce. Slowly simmer until thickened.
- Transfer the sauce to a container, cover, and refrigerate until needed.
Pasta
- Briefly sauté the red onion in butter before adding the pancetta and garlic.
- Add the chicken, green onion tops, and prepared pasta.
- Deglaze the pan with the cream.
- When the chicken is warm, add the Asiago cream sauce. Heat thoroughly and serve garnished with parsley.
Very impressed, fairly close recipe. I was pretty sad myself when Brinker (parent company at the time) removed this items years ago. Was a favorite of many including myself.
My other half was the chef and opened Romano Macaroni Grills on the West Coast 25 years ago so we have quite a few of the original recipes. When you think you have enough butter, you need to quadruple. Especially in the chicken and shrimp scallopini dish, oh my Lord, the butter for that sauce holy cow. Lol, so much butter!
But shallots were also in this dish. It was the perfect dish, except for I always have the line at steamed broccoli for me.
I remember when this restaurant came out, the food was so good.
Hi there! I worked at the Torrance mac shack for years! Also I opened seal beach and Tustin. I’ve been having a craving for this dish!
My family enjoyed this recipe.