10-Minute Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce
Make a quick, creamy, restaurant-style nacho cheese sauce at home in under ten minutes. This recipe yields a smooth topping perfect for nachos, fries, or dipping.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: About 1.5 cups
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly to form a roux.
- Slowly pour in the milk while whisking continuously to prevent lumps.
- Cook the mixture, stirring often, until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 to 5 minutes. Do not let it boil rapidly.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, salt, and garlic powder.
- Stir until the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and velvety.
- Serve immediately over your favorite foods.
Notes
- Shred your own cheese from a block for the best melting consistency; pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.
- If the sauce becomes too thick upon cooling, whisk in a small splash of milk or water until you reach your desired consistency.
- For a spicier sauce, add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper with the salt and garlic powder.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 10
- Cholesterol: 40