If you want to learn how to make a delicious cheese sauce with simple ingredients, you have landed in the right place! This recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, and does not require making a roux with flour This is by far the best flourless cheese sauce recipe for nearly any occasion.
The prep work is truly minimal and does not require you to shred cheese or spend any time on the stovetop. In a matter of minutes, this thick creamy sauce is ready to serve. It can be used as a party pleaser, a side dish ingredient, or even part of a main meal.
Think nacho cheese sauce, a veggie cheese dip, cheesy broccoli, cheesy roasted cauliflower, or the best gluten-free cheese sauce for an incredible mac and cheese meal. As you can see, this easy cheese sauce can be used in a variety of dishes to elevate your meal or special occasion!
This foolproof recipe is dedicated to all of you cheese lovers out there, so pick up your favorite type of cheese from your local grocery store, and let's get started on making some really good cheese sauce!
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Ingredients
This recipe requires minimal ingredients along with some seasonings to add a bigger boost of flavor. It is enough to feed the whole family, if needed, or can be made in advance for several meals in the future.
Base Ingredients
- Whole milk - whole milk is best for making cheese sauce with a creamy consistency.
- Extra sharp cheddar cheese - it's best to use extra sharp cheddar over mild cheddar if you want a pop of flavor.
- Avocado oil - adding a little oil is the secret ingredient to making a smooth sauce. Otherwise, you will wind up with a gritty texture.
Seasonings
- Smoked paprika - this enhances the cheddar flavor.
- Garlic powder and onion powder- adding a little garlic and onion powder makes this sauce more interesting.
- Salt - although cheddar cheese already has enough salty flavor, adding a pinch more helps fill the gap when blending it with whole milk.
How to Make the Best Flourless Cheese Sauce
It only takes a few simple steps to make this recipe, but before you begin, remove the block of cheese from the refrigerator and let it warm to room temperature for up to 2 hours.
Cut the cheese block into 1-inch cubes.
Place the whole milk, cubed cheese, and seasonings into a blender.
Blend for about 1 minute, or until you have a smooth, thick, and creamy cheese sauce.
Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container. This recipe makes about 2 cups of cheese sauce.
Variations
Try switching up the type of cheese you use in this recipe. Any hard cheese will work, but I recommend choosing one with a strong flavor, especially if you are using it in pasta or mac and cheese recipes. Otherwise, the flavor of the cheese sauce tends to get overshadowed by other ingredients.
A great place to find flavorful hard cheeses is at a farmer's market. For example, at my local market, I can find smoked bacon-cheddar cheese, Jalapeno cheese, Colby jack cheese, and horseradish cheese. All of these are fantastic choices!
If you prefer a mild flavor cheese sauce, then American cheese or regular cheddar cheese are great choices.
Equipment
While I created this recipe using a Vitamix blender, you don't need a high-powered blender to make this cheese sauce. If your blender can handle making smoothies using ice or frozen bananas, then it can handle blending the ingredients for this recipe with no problem.
Storage
Blended cheese sauce stored in an airtight container will last 3-5 days in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Transfer the cheese sauce from the freezer to the refrigerator 1-2 days before using.
Heat the cheese sauce for a couple of minutes in the microwave before serving it as a warm dip.
Top Tips
- If you prefer a thinner cheese sauce, use an additional ¼ cup of milk.
- To make a warm cheese sauce, you can start with hot milk or blend the sauce for an extra minute in a high-speed blender.
- If you are adding the sauce to freshly cooked macaroni, the cheese sauce will melt right in and warm up when combined.
- Avoid using low-fat cheese or skim milk as it will not turn out as rich and creamy.
- I do not recommend using store-bought pre-shredded cheese. The anti-caking agents used to prevent the shredded cheese from sticking together make it challenging to create a creamy texture.
Are There Any Health Benefits to Eating Cheese?
- Cheese is a good source of calcium, protein, and fat.
- When eaten in moderation, full-fat cheese may help prevent heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, by reducing inflammation.
- The calcium in cheese can help lower your blood pressure.
- Cheddar cheese has a good amount of vitamin K2 which helps the body absorb calcium to build strong bones. It also contains other vitamins and minerals that contribute to bone health.
- Cheese contains whey protein, which aids in building muscle.
- Some cheeses, such as Swiss and provolone, can also support a healthy gut. They contain probiotics, which are the "good bacteria" you need to maintain a healthy digestive system.
Which type of cheese is healthiest?
- Cheese from pasture-raised/grass-fed cows have the highest amount of nutrients that are beneficial to human health.
- Avoid consuming heavily processed cheese, such as Velveeta and Kraft Singles. These products contain an assortment of additives that can be harmful to your health.
Can you eat cheese if you're lactose intolerant?
- Aged cheese tends to be much lower in lactose and can be tolerated by some people with a dairy sensitivity. You can also try to cure your lactose intolerance by supplementing your diet with probiotics.
Recipe
Easy Flourless Cheese Sauce
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ¼ cups whole milk
- 8 oz block of extra sharp cheddar cheese brought to room temperature
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS
- Remove the block of cheese from the fridge and let it warm to room temperature for up to 2 hours.
- Cut the cheese block into 1 inch cubes.
- Place the whole milk, cubed cheese, and seasonings into a blender. Blend for about 1 minute, until smooth.
- Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container.
NOTES
- This recipe makes approximately 2 cups of cheese sauce.
- For food safety, it's best to leave the cheese in its original packaging while it warms to room temperature.
- Cheese sauce should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours.
- If you prefer a thinner cheese sauce, use an additional ¼ cup of milk.
- If you add the sauce to freshly cooked macaroni, it will melt and warm up when combined.
- Avoid using low-fat cheese or skim milk as it will not turn out as rich and creamy.
- I do not recommend using pre-shredded cheese. The anti-caking agents used to prevent the shredded cheese from sticking together make it challenging to create a creamy texture.
- To make a warm cheese sauce, you can start with hot milk or blend the sauce for an extra minute in a high-speed blender.
NUTRITION
Food safety
Cheese sauce should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours.
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