Cheesy Béchamel Sauce

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
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Updated on 07/28/24
Tested by
Kayla Hoang
Photo of Kayla Hoang
Tested by Kayla Hoang
Kayla Hoang is a freelance recipe developer, writer, and baker whose Bangladeshi and Vietnamese roots influence all she does. Her life revolves around food and she can almost always be found waiting by the oven for a fresh batch of cookies.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings

Béchamel is a standard white sauce and one of the five mother sauces of classical cuisine. This sauce is a cheesy version of the classic béchamel, and it's perfect for many dishes that need a mild-flavored sauce with cheese. You can use it for macaroni and cheese, cheesy rice, vegetables, and many different pasta recipes; some people like it for lasagna.

Mac and cheese with cheese bechamel sauce in a bowl

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The basic technique is to make a roux, which is a way to thicken sauces by cooking flour with fat in equal amounts by weight. In this case, the fat is butter, as is typical of French-inspired sauces. The roux is then blended with milk, cheese, and seasonings to make the sauce.

This cheesy sauce can be considered a variation of Mornay sauce, which originally was made with white cheeses including Gruyère and Emmenthal. You can vary the type of cheese if you want to use something other than sharp cheddar. It's not traditional by any means, but you can add more or less hot sauce to boost the spice level or tone it down—or leave it out altogether.

Tips for Making Béchamel Sauce Recipe

  • Use your preferred milk, although whole milk will result in a creamier sauce. There is some debate over whether the milk should be cold, room temperature, or warmed. Choose your side, but be sure not to start with hot or scalded milk. You can heat the milk briefly in the microwave or on the stovetop.
  • Pay attention to your sauce as it cooks - You need to stir it throughout cooking to ensure there aren't lumps, everything is blended well, and nothing is scorching on the bottom of the pan.
  • Too thick or thin? - If your bechamel sauce is too thick, add in some more milk until you reach the consistency you want. Just remember to keep whisking while you're doing this. If it's too thin, you can thicken it up by adding a little more flour and melted butter; premixed in another pan before adding to your sauce.

Make Ahead

If you are making the sauce ahead of time, it should be refrigerated and used within two days. The mixture will thicken while in the refrigerator. To prevent skin forming, place a sheet of wax paper or plastic on top, in contact with the surface of the sauce. But not to worry, with vigorous whisking when you reheat it, the skin will disperse into the sauce. Add a little milk to the saucepan when you are reheating the béchamel sauce to thin it to the desired consistency.

What You'll Need to Make This Cheesy Béchamel Recipe
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A Great Saucepan
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A Handy Dandy Whisk
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A Nice Box Grater

"This cheesy béchamel is super simple to make and easily customizable. The nutmeg provides a lovely warmth to the sauce, but if you’re like me and are a bit sensitive, start small and work your way up to the full amount." —Kayla Hoang

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Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups whole milk, warmed

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, or to taste

  • 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 dash hot sauce

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for cheese béchamel sauce recipe gathered

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  2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt 5 tablespoons unsalted butter and stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour to make a roux.

    Melted butter and flour in a saucepan

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  3. Allow the roux to cook for 1 to 2 minutes while stirring. 

    Roux being stirred with a wooden spoon in a saucepan

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  4. Add 2 cups whole milk a little at a time, whisking it continuously, allowing the mixture to blend and thicken. This will take about 10 minutes, although 20 minutes is recommended by cooking school instructors. Lower the heat to medium-low if needed.

    Sauce being stirred with a wire whisk in a saucepan

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  5. Add 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese,1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, and 1 dash hot sauce, if using. Continue stirring until the cheese has melted. Remove the sauce from the heat and use it immediately. Enjoy.

    Thick creamy bechamel sauce dripping from a wire whisk back into the saucepan

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
292 Calories
19g Fat
20g Carbs
10g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 292
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 11g 57%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 303mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 10g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 241mg 19%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 151mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)