Learning how to make your own homemade cheese sauce is a great skill to have. Once you have the basic recipe down -- and it's a simple one with just 4 ingredients -- a whole new cheesy world awaits. You can vary the flavour of the sauce by using different types of cheese, and make it thicker or thinner by adding more milk.
Cheese sauce is delicious over veggies, such as steamed broccoli, roasted cauliflower, and baked potatoes. Other natural pairings are mushrooms, peas, spinach, and tomatoes. Or use it to make homemade macaroni and cheese – just make the sauce, boil some macaroni, and combine.
Ingredients
How To Make Cheese Sauce: 2 Key Points!
Stronger cheese = stronger-flavoured sauce
When making cheese sauce keep in mind that the flavour is highly dependant on the cheese you are starting with. The flavour of whatever cheese you use is going to mellow when cooked.
For example, if you want a cheddar-forward flavour, you have to use a strong cheddar cheese. You can easily vary the flavour by using different kinds of medium hard to hard cheese. Think about what you are going to eat with your cheese sauce and go from there.
The temperature is important
Pay attention to is the temperature of the sauce when you add the cheese. Turn the heat down to low and whisk in the grated cheese. Keep the temperature just high enough that the cheese melts.
We Didn’t Invent this Cheese Sauce
We can’t claim to have invented this recipe! Cheese sauce recipes have likely been around almost since there’s been cheese, which is apparently 7000 years and counting!
Tips: cooking for mixed groups
At today’s table, you might easily find a meat-eater along with a vegetarian or a vegan. One simple way to make a meal for mixed groups is to start with a plant-based recipe, use it as a main for vegans, top it with something cheesy for vegetarians, and combine it with meat or offer it up as a side for omnivores. For example, try our plant-based Zucchini and Green Pea Fritters -- vegetarians can enjoy them with a generous drizzle of cheese sauce, while omnivores can enjoy them as a side.
Recipe Card
Simple Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups cheese, grated {any hard or semi-hard cheese, such as Cheddar, Montery Jack, Edam, Gouda}
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over low-medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour, making a paste. Let the flour/butter cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the milk. Turn up the heat to medium and cook stirring until the sauce is thickened.
- Turn the heat down to low and add in the cheese, stirring to combine.
Notes
Cooking Tips
- The main problem that can occur is a bit of curdling. You can usually fix this with steady whisking.
- If it's too runny, add more cheese. If it's too thick, add more milk.
- The flavour of the sauce is highly dependant on the flavour of your cheese. Use cheese you love and you will have cheese sauce you love! Keep in mind that cooking will reduce the strength of the cheese. So for example, if you want a strong cheddar flavour, use the strongest/oldest cheddar you can find.