Homemade Cheese Sauce – best recipe – 4 ingredients and just 10 minutes! Perfect for nachos, cheese fries or add to pasta for the creamy, decadent mac and cheese.
Whether you’re dunking fries, drizzling over nachos or making the best mac and cheese, a perfect cheese sauce starts with an easy roux (more below).
In just 10 minutes and 4 simple staples from the grocery store, you’ll be diving into this creamy, luxurious cheese sauce. So grab your ingredients and let’s make some melty goodness!
WHAT 4 INGREDIENTS DO I NEED TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHEESE SAUCE
- Butter: Melt it in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- All-purpose flour: After butter melts, whisk it in to create a smooth flour mixture. Cook 1 minute to avoid a raw flour taste.
- Milk: Warm milk a few seconds in the micro for the creamiest cheese sauce.
- Cheese: Choose a good melty cheese —sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack even a mix. Avoid pre-shredded or pre-grated cheese. It contains additives that keep it from melting smoothly. Shredding your own cheese is also less expensive.
What kind of cheese is best for Cheese Sauce?
Use any good melty cheese is perfect in this recipe. Sharp cheddar (or extra sharp) is my favorite. Below are a few more:
- Sharp Cheddar is best for vegetables, a dip pretzel bites, or cheese fries.
- Gouda is great for ‘adult’ macaroni and cheese.
- Use Pepper Jack for spicy nachos topped with this 5 minute Blender Salsa.
- Grate Swiss Cheese or Monterey Jack for recipes that use ham.
How to make the perfect Cheese Sauce:
Grate the cheese then set aside. Warm milk in the microwave and set aside
Add cheese a little at a time, stirring until melted.
What is a roux and why do we need it?
A roux is simply equal parts melted butter and flour cooked together to form a thickening agent for sauces, soups and stews.
Starting with roux means a cheese sauce that’s dippable, pourable and drizzleable and uber creamy.
Tips for the best Cheese Sauce:
- Grate your own cheese: pre-packaged cheese contains additives that don’t allow it to melt as well.
- Gather and prep all ingredients before you start. This recipe comes together quickly.
- Warm milk in the microwave for an even creamier cheese sauce.
- Use whole milk to 2%. Skim milk not recommended. Low fat cheeses not recommended.
Why I love this recipe:
- DELICIOUS with just 4 simple ingredients!
- VERSATILE: top veggies, fries, baked potatoes or add to pasta for tasty Mac and Cheese.
- HOMEMADE CHEESE SAUCE IS BETTER than premade from the grocery store.
- ONLY REAL CHEESE – no processed cheeses or Velveeta.
- FOR GLUTEN FREE RECIPE – check out my flourless cheese sauce recipe.
Flavor boosters for homemade Cheese Sauce:
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- Cayenne pepper, hot sauce, diced pickled jalapenos plus a splash of jalapeno juice from the jar for a nacho cheese sauce kick.
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- Garlic powder or white pepper – Enhances the depth of flavor.
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- Green chiles – 1 small can adds a bit of heat and texture.
What to do with homemade Cheese Sauce:
- Drizzle over French fries for homemade cheese fries or next time – sweet potatoes
- Pour over pasta for the best mac and cheese
- Use as a dip for pretzels or soft breadsticks.
- Drizzle over favorite vegetables like this air fryer broccoli.
- Spoon over tortilla chips for nachos like sports events and the movies!
How to store leftover Cheese Sauce:
Let it cool to room temperature then store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop adding a small splash of milk as needed.
To reheat. warm over low heat with a splash of milk to restore the creamy texture.
Full details for this easy homemade cheese sauce recipe in the printable recipe card below. What’s your favorite way to enjoy cheese sauce? Let me know in the comments!
Enjoy!
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Best Homemade Cheese Sauce
Equipment
- box grater to grate cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk can sub half and half or 2% not skim
- 4 ounce block sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Grate the cheese then set aside. Warm milk in the microwave and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter then sprinkle the flour over the top.
- Whisk until smooth then continue simmering 1 minute. Pour in warm milk and season with salt then continue whisking constantly until the milk and flour mixture are combined.
- Add the cheese a little at a time stirring to combine.
- Taste and adjust salt as needed then eat right away.
This is a fabulous appetizer. Great flavor, a little zing, add a margarita. Bring in the mariachi.
Thanks Ramon! Couldn’t agree more. Easy, cheesy – what else do you need eh?
Perfect. I used lots of Gouda and added cheese spread. Places on stovetop until gouda melted. Very good on schnitzel.
Thank you! — and Yum! I love your variation – can’t go wrong with extra cheese right?! Great idea adding to schnitzel. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Enjoy the day – Bernie
This is an excellent recipe. My husband loved it, and I loved it too. I highly recommend it.
HI Renee – thank you so much for your kind words – I appreciate! I’m really glad you and your husband both enjoyed the cheese sauce. Thanks for taking the time to comment — Bernie
Made the cheese cause tonight to go over some cauliflower and loved it!! Really rich and added a ton of flavor. Made me actually enjoy eating veggies 🙂 I’ll try this over nachos in the future. AND as an added bonus – I was very worried about the cheese sticking to the pot and having a hard time washing and it came out so easily which always makes the end of a meal even better – love an easy clean up!
Thank you so much Lauren! A good cheese sauce makes almost everything better! Definitely a great addition to nachos – or pretty much anything else 🙂
Loved this! I wanted to do something fun for my boyfriend, so I made some cheese sauce to go with my second attempt at air fryer fries. Both went great!
Mine was a little thick and I had forgotten your advice to add some milk, but neither of us minded because it’s cheese! My boyfriend completely cleaned the bowl! The only change I made was adding a couple splashes of Frank’s Red Hot at the end for a little kick.
Hi Sarah – I’m so glad you and your boyfriend enjoyed the recipe so much! What a fun date night idea. Yum – love the addition of Frank’s for a little kick – sounds delicious! Thanks for taking the time to comment ~ Bernie
Thank you so much Lauren! A good cheese sauce makes almost everything better! Definitely a great addition to nachos – or pretty much anything else . And update for article.
Thanks for stopping by! You’re absolute right – never underestimate a good cheese sauce! – Enjoy the day.
Thank you for this great recipe! It’s our new burger topper and dipping sweet potato fries in it is delicious.
Thank YOU!! Now I have new ways to enjoy the cheese sauce – never tried it on burgers OR sweet potato fries – sounds delicious – will be trying ASAP! – Bernie
Hi there – the recipe is indeed there. You have 2 options: hit the Jump to Recipe button at the top of the post that will immediately take you to the printable recipe card – OR – scroll down to the bottom for the same printable recipe card that contains all of the ingredients, amounts and detailed instructions. Please feel free to adjust your recipe rating to reflect this. Have a nice day. — Bernie
Great base! You can use your favorite melting cheese. I saw one comment that someone used preshredded cheese and I cringed-don’t do it chefs! It won’t melt as well with that coating, I love to see people making this sauce instead of that box fake cheese-so many ingredients that aren’t healthy. I also like to add a bit of Tabasco-not enough that anyone would know it was in there but just enough for bit of flavor! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Susie – thanks so much – so glad you enjoyed the recipe but I really love your tips and (thank you!) reminder NOT to use preshredded cheese!! I’ll have to try the dash of Tabasco next time I make it. I appreciate taking the time to comment – enjoy the day — Bernie
Used this recipe for a small batch of Mac and cheese! I used 3 oz of Gouda and about 1.5 oz of medium cheddar and it was delish! My kids enjoyed it, thank you!!
Hi Aaliyah – thank you! I’m happy you (and your kids!!) enjoyed the recipe. That’s a great cheese flavor combo. Thanks for taking the time to comment — Bernie