Easy Cheese Sauce
This easy, extra creamy cheese sauce has just four simple ingredients and tastes great with broccoli, cauliflower, baked potatoes, and more!
Baked Potato Day. I would look forward to it every single Wednesday in middle school, when you’d get a big ol’ baked potato for lunch and a helping of the cafeteria’s cheese sauce. No one liked baked potato day like I did. In fact, I’m probably the only one who even liked it at all. 🤣
Alright, there are in fact a few things you need to know to make sure that you have super creamy consistency, otherwise you could easily end up with a grainy texture. Read on!
How to Melt Cheese for the Creamiest Consistency
-Melted cheese will have the best, most creamy consistency if it’s at room temperature prior to being melted.
-Avoid using cheese that’s pre-shredded. The cheese melts best if it’s purchased as a block and shredded or sliced at home.
–Avoid aged cheeses. Stay away from hard cheeses like Parmesan. Those won’t melt nearly as well.
-Add the cheese to a warm base gradually. If the liquid is too hot, the fat from the cheese will separate too quickly and the consistency will be grainy or clumpy.
What to Serve with Cheese Sauce
Aside from pairing cheese sauce with roasted broccoli, cauliflower, and baked potatoes, you can also drizzle it over homemade french fries or burgers! It also makes a great dip for pretzels, bread sticks, chicken tenders, tortilla chips, and more!
Storing Leftover Cheese Sauce
This sauce is best if refrigerated and used within 3-5 days.
Reheating
- Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add splashes of milk to loosen it up and restore it back to it’s original form.
Can You Freeze Cheese Sauce?
I love to freeze anything and everything, however creamy, dairy-based sauces such as this one don’t usually freeze well, the consistency just isn’t the same when reheated.
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Easy Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 Tablespoons Flour
- 1 cup milk
- 8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded, **See Notes
Instructions
- Shred the cheddar cheese and set it aside, it should be at room temperature when you add it to the sauce.
- Melt the butter over medium heat in a small saucepan.
- Whisk in flour. Continue to whisk for 1-2 minutes, until you can no longer smell flour.
- Slowly add the milk in splashes, whisking continuously as you do so. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low. Gradually sprinkle in the cheddar cheese, whisking constantly as you do so. Continue to whisk until the mixture is well-combined.
- Let the sauce continue to heat over low heat, it may appear thin at first but it will continue to thicken upon standing.
- Once it's reached your desired level of thickness, remove it from the heat and serve!
I am going to make 16oz of broccoli florets, is this recipe enough cheese for that
Hi Kenneth, this makes 2 cups of cheese sauce. It all depends on how much sauce you’d like to serve with 16 oz. of broccoli 🙂
Yummy in the tummy! My new go to. Broccoli and cheese, Mac and cheese!
Wonderful, I’m so glad that you loved it Ruth!! 🙂
So easy, versatile and yummy! Thank you!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it Bernadette! Thank you so much!!
Can this be made a day before and reheated? Or the morning of?
Thank you,
Carla
Hi Carla! I often enjoy reheating leftovers but it’s best if served immediately, as cheese sauces don’t reheat exactly back to their original consistency. The chicken is also juiciest the first time around.
I’ll be making this recipe to use at a baked potato bar. What is your recommendation for keeping it warm while serving? Stove top on low?
If you can use a little dip crock, that would be best. Or over a makeshift double boiler on the stovetop 🙂
Was delicious! We used marble and gouda as it was all we had, so it was pretty mild and we had to add salt. Next time we will be using cheddar.
It was still good regardless.
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it Terri! I love experimenting with different cheeses. Thanks for the review!💕
Thank-you!
My pleasure Judy!❤️
Very easy & very good. Thank you!
You’re very welcome! I’m so happy you liked it!🩷
I made this and it was so good and easy…..thank you……
I’m so happy that you loved it Dot!! Thank you so much!
Thanks — I needed something quickly and easy & this was perfect with NY Sharp Cheddar! Have a great Easter! Added several shakes of smoked paprika… great over broccoli spears.
I’m so happy that it was just what you were looking for!! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️❤️❤️