Description
This Best Homemade Cheese Sauce Recipe is a rich, creamy, and versatile sauce made from scratch using simple ingredients like butter, flour, milk, and sharp cheddar cheese. Perfect for drizzling over pasta, vegetables, or as a dip, this smooth sauce elevates any dish with its cheesy goodness and easy stovetop preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
Seasonings
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (freshly grated for best melt)
Instructions
- Melt the Butter: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter completely to create a smooth base for your sauce.
- Add Flour: Whisk in the flour and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture forms a smooth paste and begins to bubble, but make sure it doesn’t brown.
- Add Milk Gradually: Slowly pour in the whole milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps from forming, ensuring a silky sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce: Continue cooking, whisking often, for 3–5 minutes until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Season the Sauce: Stir in the salt, garlic powder, ground mustard (if using), and black pepper evenly to enhance the flavor.
- Add Cheese: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Serve: Use the cheese sauce immediately over your favorite dishes like pasta, steamed veggies, or as a creamy dip.
Notes
- For a smoother texture, always use freshly grated cheese rather than pre-shredded, which may have additives that hinder melting.
- Feel free to substitute cheddar with other melting cheeses like Gruyère, Monterey Jack, or a cheese blend for different flavors.
- Leftover cheese sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently over low heat with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
