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.

Best Cheese Sauce Recipe (for Fries) (2)

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.
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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 Cheese Sauce Recipe (for Fries) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cheese for fries? ›

Velveeta: Okay, I know I've said this 471 times already, but you have to use Velveeta for the creamy, melty sauce that is crucial to the best cheese fries. Velveeta is similar to American cheese – it's a mixture of milk, whey and emulsifiers that make it melt smoothly and perfectly.

What cheese melts the best for cheese sauce? ›

What is the best melting cheese? Cheeses with more moisture and lower melting points - cheddar is one of the most popular choices, but Swiss and Gruyère are also terrific options. Which melts better, mild or sharp cheddar? Mild cheddar melts more smoothly than sharper (more aged) cheddar.

Which sauce is used in Mcdonald's cheesy fries? ›

Our newly introduced Cheesy Fries offers an irresistable combination of our World Famous Fries with smoky-spicy and creamy taste of Chipotle sauce.

How do you enhance cheese sauce? ›

If you make your cheese sauce with roux, milk and then grated cheese, then this might help. The more cheese and milk added, the looser the sauce and also the drop in flavour. Sometimes a late addition of more cheese can balance things out. A bit of freshly ground pepper and nutmeg helps out, you get an extra warmth.

What is the secret to good fries? ›

The Double-Fry Method

When it comes to the actual cooking, you want to fry the french fries twice. The first round is at a lower temperature to cook the inside of the potato and the second time you'll use a higher temperature to make the fries golden brown and crispy.

What cheese brand does mcdonalds use? ›

McDonald's cheese is made by our trusted supplier, Fonterra, with milk from dairy farms around the country. The cheese is made in the Taranaki town of Eltham. Eltham may be small, but Fonterra produces three billion burgers worth of cheese for local and export use each year.

Why won't my cheese melt in my cheese 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.

How do you keep cheese sauce smooth? ›

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.

Which sauce is used in Burger King cheesy fries? ›

Burger King in the United States typically offers a yellow-colored cheese sauce for their cheesy fries. This sauce is often a cheddar cheese-based sauce, and its vibrant yellow color is likely achieved through the addition of food coloring or natural colorants.

Does Chick Fil A have cheese sauce for their fries? ›

Cheese sauce, guacamole and jalapeños are available at a limited number of Chick-fil-A® restaurants in select markets. Each Operator may make the decision to offer these items on the menu, so please contact your local Chick-fil-A restaurant or check the Chick-fil-A® App for availability.

What is the yellow sauce on French fries called? ›

Varieties of French Fries Sauces
  1. Mayonnaise. Mayonnaise is a thick, creamy sauce made of oil, egg yolks, and either vinegar or lemon juice and seasonings. ...
  2. Classic aioli. Aioli is the classic sauce for french fries. ...
  3. Lemon Aioli. ...
  4. Roasted Garlic Chipotle Mayonnaise. ...
  5. Korean Dipping Sauce. ...
  6. Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce.

What additive makes cheese melt better? ›

Heat the water to a simmer, add the sodium citrate to dissolve, then whisk in the cheese of your choice a bit at a time until you get a smooth and creamy mixture. You can use an immersion blender if you want it extra smooth. That's it.

What makes cheese taste better? ›

Typically, room temperature or slightly cooler than room temperature is the best temperature to maximize both flavor and texture of cheese (apart from cooked cheeses).

Why does Velveeta melt so well? ›

Sodium citrate is the ingredient in Velveeta cheese that makes it melt so well. You can make your own super-melty cheese sauces with the addition of sodium citrate. It's very easy to use; this process is so easy you'll never go back to making cheese sauces any other way!

What cheeses are best for frying? ›

What cheeses can be fried? Cheeses that have a high melting point can be fried. While the cheese melts slightly, it will generally retain its shape in the fryer or skillet. Popular fried cheese options are cheese curds, queso blanco, halloumi, paneer, mozzarella, bread cheese, certain cheddars, and provolone.

What two types of cheese are best for cooking? ›

For most dishes a softer, Cheddar, creamy Lancashire, or Gruyère-style are almost perfect for cooking, having the strength of flavour and a structure (moisture/acidity/calcium) that means they melt extremely well. A bit of age to the cheese will help, as it gives a sharper flavour which will come through in the dish.

What goes well with French fries? ›

The yummiest toppings for fries
  • Tomato sauce. Traditional, but delicious. ...
  • Gravy. Drown your fries in a rich, intense gravy, like our French shallot and rosemary gravy.
  • Four-cheese sauce. ...
  • Baked beans. ...
  • Barbecue sauce. ...
  • Traditional mac 'n' cheese. ...
  • Fried polenta wedges. ...
  • Spicy sweet potato wedges.

What cheese tastes most like McDonald's cheese? ›

From what I've tasted out there in the market, the closest thing you're going to get to McDonald's American cheese is Walmart's Great Value Deluxe slices." Indeed, the Great Value Walmart store brand has "almost identical" ingredients to McDonald's American cheese, Haracz explains, with minor differences in ...

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