This Cheese Sauce is one of those basic and simple yet incredibly delicious recipes that’s just good to know. Why? Because it is so darn versatile! Whether you’re wanting an extra cheesy pasta, a big plate of cheesy nachos, a way to dress up your Roasted Veggies or Air Fryer Broccoli, or maybe even just a big bowl of plain cheese sauce to slurp down like soup (just me?), this 15 minute, 6-ingredient recipe has you covered! Keep this sauce as-is or customize it with different spices and add-ins! Make it an extra cheesy night with this Cheese Ball recipe or cheesy Taco Dip!
Ingredients Needed:
Butter: I always use unsalted butter so I can add salt to taste. All-Purpose Flour: whisked into the butter to make a roux which helps thicken the sauce. Milk: any kind of milk will work. The richer the milk, the richer the sauce. Shredded Cheese: I keep it classic with shredded cheddar, but other types of melty cheese will work too. Whatever you do, shred your own! Salt and Pepper: or other seasonings to taste.
How to Make Cheese Sauce
This homemade Cheese Sauce comes together in a total of 15 minutes!
Tips and Notes
Shred your own cheese! Freshly shredded cheese is the key to a smooth and creamy texture. Pre-shredded cheeses contain an anti-caking agent that can result in a gritty texture. Heat on low. It can be tempting to crank the heat up in the hopes that the cheese melts faster. I get it. But cooking on medium/low allows the cheese to melt without clumping. It’s worth the extra time. Trust me! Lighten it up. If you want to make a lightened up version, swap the cream out for half chicken broth and half milk or cream. It won’t be quite as rich, but will still be delicious. Play with flavor. This recipe is basic for a reason. So you can play around with it! Add 1/2-1 teaspoon of taco seasoning or chili powder to make nacho cheese sauce, spice it up with cayenne pepper, chili peppers, or diced green chiles, kick the heat up with a drizzle of hot sauce…you really can’t go wrong!
Serving Suggestions
This incredible sauce is also incredibly versatile! Here are a few ways you can serve it:
On veggies. This makes the perfect cheese sauce for broccoli, cauliflower, Roasted Potatoes, Brussels sprouts, etc. Over nachos. Drizzle it over plain tortilla chips or use it as a nacho cheese sauce for Loaded Nachos. As a pasta sauce. This also works great for mac and cheese. Just add cooked pasta! As a dip. Serve it next to Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Tater Tots, Homemade Soft Pretzels, chips or crackers, you name it!
More Easy Sauce Recipes
Bechamel Sauce
Pesto Spinach Alfredo Sauce
Homemade BBQ Sauce
Crispy Chicken with Basil Cream Sauce
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