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
Calories: 143kcal
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 3/4 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. 1/4 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 3/4 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