- 15 Ratings
- 14 Reviews
This mild, kid-friendly sauce is creamy and velvety, with a subtle tang from sharp cheddar. Try it with steamed or sautéed veggies, baked potatoes, nachos, open-faced roast beef sandwiches, and hot cooked macaroni or penne. Using sharp cheddar cheese is important here, as you want the zippy flavor mild just doesn't have. And here's a bonus: This slimmed-down sauce boasts a fraction of the fat you'd find in regular or processed cheese sauces.
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Read the full recipe after the video.
Recipe Summary
Yield:
Serves 8 (serving size: 1 1/2 tablespoons)
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Ingredients
Directions
Chef's Notes
Tips: Remove from heat, then stir in the cheese to ensure that the sauce doesn't curdle. The flour helps stabilize the dairy mixture, but if it's boiled after the cheese is added, the sauce will separate or curdle.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving:
37 calories; fat 1.9g; saturated fat 1.2g; mono fat 0.5g; poly fat 0.1g; protein 2.3g; carbohydrates 2.6g; fiber 0.1g; cholesterol 6mg; iron 0.1mg; sodium 115mg; calcium 71mg.
By Amy H.
from Detroit, MI
Anything with cheese!
Ingredients For creamy cheese sauce
1 c
shredded cheddar cheese
How To Make creamy cheese sauce
1
Melt butter in bottom of heavy saucepan, add 2 tbsp. flour. whisk together until smooth.
2
Add cream, cheese. stir over medium heat until smooth and thickened.
3
Pour over vegetables, pasta or use as a dip for bread cubes.
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This is the best cheese sauce recipe ever. It only takes 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the most delicious, creamy cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels, broccoli, etc. During three of my six
pregnancies, my most-craved food combination was cheese fries and kale salad (haha)! So, I created this recipe for the best cheese sauce ever! You'll never buy the canned sauce again once you try this homemade recipe!
This cheese sauce is creamy, cheesy and easy to make in 5 minutes with only 6 ingredients.
It’s the most delicious cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels (or pretzel bread), broccoli, etc. and perfect to whip up whenever the craving strikes without having to go to a restaurant.
Cheese sauce: ingredients & substitutions
Let's discuss the ingredients in this recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter can be used in this recipe in place of salted butter.
- All-purpose flour. to make it gluten-free, use an all-purpose gluten-free flour.
- Whole milk. I don't suggest using a lower fat milk because the fat content makes it extra creamy. You could use heavy cream, half and half or 2% milk (if you had to).
- Cheddar Cheese. I suggest a sharp variety for the best flavor, but you can use your favorite.
- American cheese. This ingredient makes this recipe taste like the sauces you get at your favorite fast food restaurants. You can omit it and add ¼ cup more cheddar cheese if you prefer, but you'll loose the "take out" flavor.
How to make cheese sauce
This cheese sauce recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes with only 6 ingredients! We'll walk through the process step-by-step and don't forget to watch the video.
To begin we make a roux by melting the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Then, once the butter is melted, add the flour and salt and whisk to combine.
Cook until mixture is bubbly and just lightly browned (about 30-60 seconds) Then, whisk in the milk until smooth and continue cooking until mixture is slightly thickened.
Add the cheese (both cheddar and American) and whisk until they are melted and mixture is thick and smooth.
Serve
Serve this homemade cheese sauce with fries (homemade or frozen), broccoli, pretzel bread, soft pretzels, use it to make nachos, etc.
Store/freeze
Store this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. It will thicken as it cools. Gently warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop to reheat and serve again.
Recipe FAQs
What cheese melts best for sauce?
I prefer using a mixture of sharp cheddar and American cheese for the best flavor and texture.
How do you make cheese sauce stay melted?
Keep it warm, it thickens as it cools.
How do you make cheese sauce more flavorful?
I love the flavor of this recipe. However to "spice it up" you could add hot sauce, smoked paprika, garlic, onions, crumbled bacon, etc.
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This is the best cheese sauce recipe ever. It only takes 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the most delicious, creamy cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels, broccoli, etc.
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course condiment, sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 111 kcal
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- ▢ 1 TBS salted butter
- ▢ 1 TBS all-purpose flour
- ▢ ¼ tsp salt
- ▢ 1 cup whole milk
- ▢ 4 oz shredded Cheddar cheese (1 cup)
- ▢ 2 slices American cheese
In a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat.
Add flour and salt and whisk to combine.
Cook until mixture is bubbly and just lightly browned (about 30-60 seconds)
Whisk in milk until smooth, then continue cooking until mixture is slightly thickened.
Add cheddar and American cheese and whisk until melted and mixture is thick and smooth.
Serve immediately.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Salted butter. Unsalted butter can be used in this recipe in place of salted butter.
- All-purpose flour. to make it gluten-free, use an all-purpose gluten-free flour.
- Whole milk. I don't suggest using a lower fat milk because the fat content makes it extra creamy. You could use heavy cream, half and half or 2% milk (if you had to).
- Cheddar Cheese. I suggest a sharp variety for the best flavor, but you can use your favorite.
- American cheese. This ingredient makes this recipe taste like the sauces you get at your favorite fast food restaurants. You can omit it and add ¼ cup more cheddar cheese if you prefer, but you'll loose the "take out" flavor.
Serve
Serve this homemade cheese sauce with fries (homemade or frozen), broccoli, pretzel bread, soft pretzels, use it to make nachos, etc.
Store/freeze
Store this cheese sauce recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 2 months. It will thicken as it cools. Gently warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop to reheat and serve again.
Serving: 2TBSCalories: 111kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 6gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 274mgPotassium: 63mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 285IUCalcium: 192mgIron: 1mg
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