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Best Cheese Sauce Recipe

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups 1x
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

DESCRIPTION

Learn how to make a delicious and simple cheese sauce that is perfect for homemade macaroni and cheese or to drizzle over vegetables. For making macaroni and cheese, or any kind of pasta, start with 8oz. (that’s 1/2 of a pound) of dry pasta, cook it, drain it, and then mix it with the sauce. For 16 oz. of pasta, make a double batch of the sauce.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. Dijion mustard (optional)
  • a pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk together to form a paste. Cook for 2 minutes while whisking continuously.
  2. Add 1/4 cup of the milk and whisk until smooth. Repeat until you’ve added 1 cup of milk. Add remaining milk and stir to combine. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil while whisking constantly.
  3. Let boil one minute and take off the heat.
  4. Add cheese, salt, and Dijon and cayenne pepper, if using. Stir until cheese is melted.