Smooth Cheddar Cheese Sauce
In short: A smooth, glossy cheese sauce made with a butter and flour base, whole milk and sharp cheddar, ready in 15 minutes for pasta, vegetables and nachos. It takes about 17 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 12 min
- Total
- 17 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 175 kcal
A good cheese sauce is a milk sauce thickened with a roux, with cheese stirred in off the heat, and it takes only 15 minutes. Use a sharp cheddar for flavor and grate it yourself, because bagged shredded cheese contains starch that can make the sauce grainy. Pour it over broccoli, cauliflower or baked potatoes, stir it through macaroni, or use it as a dip for soft pretzels and tortilla chips.
Instructions
- Grate the cheese and measure the milk. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until it smells slightly nutty but has not browned.
- Pour in the milk in a thin stream, whisking constantly, and keep whisking until smooth.
- Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring, until the sauce bubbles gently and coats the back of a spoon.
- Take the pan off the heat. Add the cheese in three handfuls, stirring until each is melted before adding the next. Whisk in the mustard, garlic powder, cayenne and nutmeg.
- Taste and add salt if needed. Serve right away, thinning with a splash of milk if it thickens.
Tips
- Add the cheese off the heat. Cheese that gets too hot turns stringy or oily, and the sauce can split.
- Mix cheddar with a little Gruyère or Monterey Jack for a creamier melt, or use half milk and half cream for a richer sauce.
Questions and answers
Why is my cheese sauce grainy?
The cheese was probably too hot or pre-shredded. Grate cheese from a block, add it off the heat and stir gently. A splash of warm milk can help smooth out a grainy sauce.
Can I make cheese sauce ahead and reheat it?
Yes. Keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days with plastic wrap pressed onto the surface, then reheat over low heat with a splash of milk, whisking often.
Can I use gluten-free flour for cheese sauce?
Yes. Use a gluten-free flour blend in the same amount, or skip the roux and stir 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons of cold milk into the simmering milk.
How long does it take to make Smooth Cheddar Cheese Sauce?
About 17 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 12 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Smooth Cheddar Cheese Sauce?
About 175 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 175 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 290 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
