An easy cheese sauce recipe is a must-have in your cooking tool box! Perfect as a topping for nachos, baked potatoes, vegetables, or to make macaroni and cheese, you're going to love this versatile recipe!
pinchcayenne powder, coarse ground black pepper, ground white pepper(optional)
⅛ teaspoonkosher salt, or to taste(if you use salted butter, omit salt)
Instructions
Stovetop Instructions
In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat until melted. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.
Slowly add milk while whisking and continue to cook until bubbling and thickened.
Remove from heat and add shredded cheese and pepper, if using. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Serve immediately.
Microwave Instructions
Add butter to a large microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup (4 cup). Cover with a paper towel or waxed paper. Microwave butter at full power for 25 to 40 seconds, or until melted, stirring occasionally.
Whisk in flour until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk. Mixture will appear lumpy. Microwave, covered, at full power for 2 ½ minutes, whisking every 30 seconds, or until thick. If needed, continue microwaving in 30 second intervals until desired thickness is achieved. Sauce will look lumpy at first but will smooth out.
Add cheese and stir to melt, or until sauce is smooth. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Makes 1 ½ cups cheese sauce.
Serve this cheese sauce with cooked pasta (make mac & cheese), cooked vegetables, baked potatoes or whatever you love with cheese sauce!
For a thinner sauce, use 2 tablespoons of flour. For a thicker sauce (that could be used as a dip), use 3 tablespoons of flour.
For best results, shred the cheese yourself. Pre-grated cheese contains anti-clumping ingredients and doesn't melt as smoothly.