Description
A rich and creamy cheese sauce perfect for pasta, vegetables, or any dish needing a smooth, cheesy finish. Made with freshly grated cheese for the best texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2½ cups warm milk
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 cup Gruyère cheese, freshly grated
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to make a roux.
- Gradually add warm milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Cook until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and gradually add freshly grated cheeses, stirring until melted.
- Season with cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Adjust consistency with additional warm milk if needed.
Notes
- Always use freshly grated cheese to avoid graininess from anti-caking agents.
- Keep heat low when adding cheese to prevent separation.
- Can be made ahead and stored for up to 24 hours; reheat gently with added warm milk.
- For a spicier version, increase cayenne or add diced jalapeños.
- For dairy-free alternative, use olive oil, plant-based milk, and cashew-nutritional yeast mixture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: cheese sauce, homemade cheese sauce, smooth cheese sauce, versatile sauce, creamy sauce
