Best Cheese Sauce Recipe (for Fries) (2024)

By Laura

Posted Aug 27, 2021, Updated Feb 24, 2024

5 from 11 votes

4 Comments

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This is the best cheese sauce recipe ever. It only takes 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the most delicious, creamy cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels, broccoli, etc.

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During three of my six pregnancies, my most-craved food combination was cheese fries and kale salad (haha)! So, I created this recipe for the best cheese sauce ever! You’ll never buy the canned sauce again once you try this homemade recipe.

This cheese sauce is creamy, cheesy and easy to make in 5 minutes with only 6 ingredients.

It’s the most delicious cheese sauce for homemade fries, soft pretzels (or pretzel bread), broccoli, etc. and perfect to whip up whenever the craving strikes without having to go to a restaurant.

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Cheese Sauce: Ingredients & Substitutions

Let’s discuss the ingredients in this recipe, as well as possible substitutions.

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  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter can be used in this recipe in place of salted butter.
  • All-purpose flour. to make it gluten-free, use an all-purpose gluten-free flour.
  • Whole milk. I don’t suggest using a lower fat milk because the fat content makes it extra creamy. You could use heavy cream, half and half or 2% milk (if you had to).
  • Cheddar Cheese. I suggest a sharp variety for the best flavor, but you can use your favorite.
  • American cheese. This ingredient makes this recipe taste like the sauces you get at your favorite fast food restaurants. You can omit it and add ¼ cup more cheddar cheese if you prefer, but you’ll loose the “take out” flavor.
Best Cheese Sauce Recipe (for Fries) (5)

How to Make Cheese Sauce

This cheese sauce recipe is easy to make in 5 minutes with only 6 ingredients! We’ll walk through the process step-by-step and don’t forget to watch the video.

To begin we make a roux by melting the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.

Then, once the butter is melted, add the flour and salt and whisk to combine.

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Cook until mixture is bubbly and just lightly browned (about 30-60 seconds) Then, whisk in the milk until smooth and continue cooking until mixture is slightly thickened.

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Add the cheese (both cheddar and American) and whisk until they are melted and mixture is thick and smooth.

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Serve

Serve this homemade cheese sauce with homemade fries (or frozen), broccoli, pretzel bread, soft pretzels, use it to make nachos, etc.

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Store or Freeze

Store this recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. It will thicken as it cools. Gently warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop to reheat and serve again.

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Homemade Cheese Sauce Recipe FAQs

What cheese melts best for sauce?

I prefer using a mixture of sharp cheddar and American cheese for the best flavor and texture.

How do you make cheese sauce stay melted?

Keep it warm, it thickens as it cools.

How do you make cheese sauce more flavorful?

I love the flavor of this recipe. However to “spice it up” you could add hot sauce, smoked paprika, garlic, onions, crumbled bacon, etc.

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Best Cheese Sauce Recipe (for Fries) (13)

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Cheese Sauce Recipe

Laura

This is the best cheese sauce recipe ever. It only takes 5 minutes and 6 ingredients to make the most delicious, creamy cheese sauce for fries, soft pretzels, broccoli, etc.

5 from 11 votes

Course condiment, sauce, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 8 servings

Calories 111

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time5 minutes minutes

Total Time10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan melt butter over medium heat.

  • Add flour and salt and whisk to combine.

  • Cook until mixture is bubbly and just lightly browned (about 30-60 seconds)

  • Whisk in milk until smooth, then continue cooking until mixture is slightly thickened.

  • Add cheddar and American cheese and whisk until melted and mixture is thick and smooth.

  • Serve immediately.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Salted butter. Unsalted butter can be used in this recipe in place of salted butter.
  • All-purpose flour. to make it gluten-free, use an all-purpose gluten-free flour.
  • Whole milk. I don’t suggest using a lower fat milk because the fat content makes it extra creamy. You could use heavy cream, half and half or 2% milk (if you had to).
  • Cheddar Cheese. I suggest a sharp variety for the best flavor, but you can use your favorite.
  • American cheese. This ingredient makes this recipe taste like the sauces you get at your favorite fast food restaurants. You can omit it and add ¼ cup more cheddar cheese if you prefer, but you’ll loose the “take out” flavor.

Serve

Serve this homemade cheese sauce with fries (homemade or frozen), broccoli, pretzel bread, soft pretzels, use it to make nachos, etc.

Store/Freeze

Store this cheese sauce recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for 2 months. It will thicken as it cools. Gently warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop to reheat and serve again.

Nutrition

Serving: 2Tablespoons | Calories: 111kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Calcium: 192mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

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Best Nachos Recipe

Best Cheese Sauce Recipe (for Fries) (2024)

FAQs

How to make cheese sauce for fries reddit? ›

Cheese sauce:
  1. 30g butter.
  2. 12g flour (or substitute with cornstarch)
  3. 150ml milk.
  4. 90g cheddar cheese.
  5. 50g grated mozzarella cheese.
  6. 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or chili powder (optional)
Feb 18, 2022

How to make perfectly melted cheese? ›

Melting cheese in the microwave is less consistent and less reliable, but if you're in a pinch, start by bringing grated cheese to room temperature first. Cover with a vented lid and melt at LOW heat in 15-second increments, stirring in between.

How do you keep cheese sauce creamy? ›

Remove the saucepan from heat and slowly incorporate the cheese, whisking constantly. According to AlSawwaf, adding the cheese over heat can cause the fats and milk solids to separate, resulting in a lumpy sauce with a curdled texture — so always take the pan off the burner first.

How to make cheese sauce that doesn t harden? ›

For Smooth, Stable Cheese Sauces, Cornstarch and Evaporated Milk Are Your Friends. How to make a stable emulsion of melted cheese using two basic pantry staples.

What is fries sauce made of? ›

For those unfamiliar with fry sauce, this condiment is traditionally a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise flavored with everything from black pepper to garlic to horseradish. The resulting sauce is always rich and creamy with tons of tang and a back bite of spicy, peppery goodness.

How to make cheese sauce come together? ›

Blend or whisk the sauce

If you're still having trouble getting it to come together, you might need to get out a blender. Blending works best if you blend warm liquids (but not hot!). Or, try transferring everything into a bowl and whisk furiously until you have achieved an emulsified state once again.

What makes cheese melt better? ›

Cheeses with a higher moisture content and a lower pH level tend to melt more easily, while harder, drier cheeses like Parmesan require more heat to melt. Additionally, cheeses with more fat tend to melt better because fat acts as an emulsifier, allowing the cheese to evenly spread and melt.

How do you thicken cheese sauce? ›

Flour or cornstarch can both thicken a liquid. In a small separate bowl, mix a tablespoon of either flour or cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cheese sauce until the mixture is smooth. Add the mixture back to the milky cheese sauce, and stir until combined and desired thickness is achieved.

What is the secret to smooth cheese sauce? ›

The reduced water content of the milk helps keep it smoother and more emulsified. I usually pour all but 2 tablespoons of the milk into a pan, heat it up, whisk in the cheese until it's completely melted. I then add some starch to the saved milk and make a slurry to thicken the sauce (if needed).

What is the best melting cheese for a sauce? ›

Here's our top 10 list of cheeses that are the absolute best for melting, plus the recipes we love to use them in.
  • Colby. An all-American cheese, Colby is firm but mild-flavored and creamy. ...
  • Havarti. ...
  • Swiss. ...
  • Fontina. ...
  • Monterey Jack. ...
  • Muenster. ...
  • Provolone. ...
  • Smoked Gouda.

How does a cheese sauce become thick and smooth? ›

Dice the butter into small cubes and melt it in a saucepan over low heat. Once the butter is melted, begin whisking in the flour. When all the flour is incorporated, continue stirring and cooking for a few minutes to activate the starch granules. This is what will thicken the sauce.

How to make cheese sauce without clumping? ›

Hot liquids, like pasta water, heavy cream, melted butter, or beaten eggs, help distribute melted cheese evenly by surrounding it with heat. Since every bit of surface area is in contact with hot liquid, the cheese melts at the same rate. No clumps to be found, just a glossy, luscious sauce.

How do you fix cheese that won't melt in sauce? ›

One of the most common ways to help cheese melt smoothly is to add starch: this is a process that works in sauces like mornay, or nacho cheese sauce. Starches and other thickeners will physically impede fat molecules from joining up into larger droplets, as well as making the water phase of the cheese more viscous.

Why is my cheese sauce not melting? ›

Grated cheese will melt in the sauce quickly and evenly. Cubes of cheese, on the other hand, will take longer to melt, so your sauce can overcook before the cheese has melted. It's that overcooking that can cause the sauce to curdle.

What cheese melts into sauce? ›

8 Best Cheeses for Melting in Pastas, Paninis, Omelets, Casseroles, and More
  1. Fontina. Fontina can be buttery and a bit fruity; Fontina Val d'Aosta, from Italy's Aosta Valley, is firmer, more pungent, and nuttier (and always made of raw milk). ...
  2. Gouda. ...
  3. Asiago. ...
  4. Taleggio. ...
  5. Reblochon. ...
  6. Provolone. ...
  7. Mozzarella. ...
  8. Gruyère.
Oct 18, 2023

What cheese melts when fried? ›

The key to achieving the perfect Crispy Cooked Cheese is to use cheeses that have good melting properties like cheddar, mozzarella, or Monterey Jack. These types of cheese will melt easily and create that ooey-gooey texture we all love.

How do you melt shredded cheese? ›

Here's the how to melt cheese the slow and steady way: use low heat—introduce a double-boiler, even—to avoid overcooking. If you want to speed up the melting a little more, try grating the cheese instead of cranking the temperature—the thin and uniform shape will melt faster and more evenly.

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