Julie Clark
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Homemade Cheese Sauce Recipe
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Our homemade cheese sauce recipe is much more flavorful than the sauce from a can and it’s a snap to make. You’ll fall in love with this cheese sauce from scratch!
Cheese sauce is a staple in all homes and restaurants. It can be used as a topping for dishes or can be mixed into a variety of recipes. It goes well with nachos, fries or as a dipping sauce for bread. But it is also excellent served over healthy veggies such as steamed broccoli.
Our homemade cheese sauce recipe has just 6 ingredients (two of which are salt and pepper). It’s quick and easy, full of rich flavor where the cheese takes center stage.
Keep reading for tips on how to get the cheese perfectly smooth and creamy!
Ingredients
What is our cheese sauce recipe made of? It’s made of household staple items that you most likely have in your fridge and pantry. There’s just 6 ingredients.
- Butter. Use real butter, not margarine. I keep salted butter on hand, but you can use unsalted and it will work the same.
- Flour. All-purpose flour. I have not tried any gluten free flours or nut flours.
- Milk. The higher fat the milk, the creamier the cheese sauce will be (and honestly, the better!). I used whole milk as a middle ground, but 2%, half and half or heavy cream will work as well.
- Cheese. Freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese is my standard. Monterey Jack, Swiss cheese and even fancier cheeses like gruyere work, too. Shred the cheese from a block of cheese for the best results.
- Salt & Pepper.
Make Cheese Sauce from Scratch
Variations on cheesy sauce is popular in many different cultures. The base, however, is a simple mixture of cheese, butter, flour and milk.
This is a cheese sauce recipe without processed cheese. See our recipe variations below if you want an extra creamy and smooth sauce (like nacho cheese sauce). You can do this by adding a small amount of American cheese.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and whisk quickly until smooth. Continue to cook this flour mixture over low heat for 3-4 minutes, whisking constantly. Cooking the flour is important so that the sauce doesn’t taste like flour.
- Add ¼ cup of the milk and whisk until all of the lumps are gone. Add another ½ cup of milk and whisk until smooth.
- Then add the remaining milk. Cook and stir over medium low heat until the mixture starts steaming and thickening. This will take 3-5 minutes.
- Once the mixture has thickened slightly, remove the pan from the stovetop and add the cheese in ¼ cup increments and mix until melted and smooth.
Learn from us
The milk mixture should be hot enough to remove from the stovetop and still melt the cheese in. If not, put it back on the warm burner, but have the heat off. This will help prevent the cheese from separating.
Serving Suggestions
This is delicious served as a party appetizer with sourdough bread, tortilla chips or Italian bread. Think cheese fondue on a charcuterie board with pepperoni, veggies and bread & crackers.
Also serve it with:
- homemade french fries
- roasted potatoes or other vegetables such as cauliflower
- baked potatoes
- baked nachos
- as a dipping sauce for ham sliders
- drizzle over cheeseburger tater tot casserole
- as a dipping sauce for homemade soft pretzels
- bratwurst sandwiches
- chili dogs or hot dogs
Why does my cheese sauce tastes floury?
This can happen if the roux (the flour & butter mixture in the first step) is not cooked long enough. You should allow the roux to cook for several minutes, whisking constantly. Smell it. Does it smell like flour? Let it cook for another couple of minutes. It may get a little browned and that’s ok.
My cheese sauce isn’t smooth. Can I fix it?
Homemade cheese sauce made without processed cheese usually has a slight texture to it. However, it shouldn’t separate and be clumpy. If the cheese sauce has separated, it is likely that the stove heat was too high. It may be curdled.
Immediately take the sauce off the heat, and add a splash of cold milk to lower the temperature. Whisk quickly.
If that doesn’t work, you can try adding a tablespoon of flour and whisk that in quickly.
If neither of those things work, the sauce may be beyond repair. To save it, you could strain it through a sieve to get out any clumps.
If you have any tips on fixing broken cheese sauce, let us know in the comments below.
Homemade Cheese Sauce Recipe
Homemade cheese sauce is much more flavorful than from a can and it's a snap to make. Find out how to make cheese sauce from scratch.
Servings 10
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 3/4 cups whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and whisk quickly until smooth. Continue to cook this flour mixture over low heat for 3-4 minutes, whisking constantly. This is important so that the sauce doesn't taste like flour. 2 tablespoons salted butter, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Add ¼ cup of the milk and whisk until all of the lumps are gone. Add another ½ cup of milk and whisk until smooth. 1 ¾ cups whole milk
- Then add the remaining milk, salt and pepper. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until the mixture starts steaming and thickening. This will take 3-5 minutes. ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Once the mixture has thickened slightly, remove the pan from the stovetop and add the cheese in ¼ cup increments and mix until melted and smooth. Please note: the milk mixture should be hot enough to remove from the stovetop and still melt the cheese in. If not, put it back on the warm burner, but have the heat off. This will help prevent the cheese from separating. Serve immediately. 2 cups freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Notes
Recipe Variations
- Add a teaspoon or two of mustard such as dijon or spicy brown mustard.
- Add a teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Love spice? Try adding jalapeño, smoked paprika, chili powder or a chipotle pepper for spice and heat.
- For a pop of flavor, add a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce.
- Add up to ½ teaspoon of salt, especially if butter is unsalted and veggies are unsalted that you are putting it on.
- For beer cheese, use one cup of milk and ¾ cup beer. Continue with the recipe as it states.
- Want creamier cheese? Add 2-3 slices of American cheese. It really makes a difference in the creamy texture of the sauce. It adds a familiar flavor as well.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat.
Nutrition
Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 366IU | Calcium: 213mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Sounds delicious!