white cheddar cheese sauce;
Looking for an easy homemade cheese sauce? Well this white cheddar cheese sauce is perfect for that extra fancy weekend football snack. Plus it’s easy to make so it won’t keep you too long away from the game! Although if you need an excuse to get out of watching the game try these perfectly poppable pretzel bites! They’re delicious, especially when paired with this cheese dip. But be warned–homemade pretzels are a much more laborious recipe.
The cheese sauce itself is easy, and perfect for dipping. It doesn’t have to served with homemade pretzels. Try store-bought hard pretzels, chips, pita, even veggies! You could put out an assortment of broccoli, carrots, pita chips, and crackers.
Or use it to make homemade nachos! Another game night staple. Nachos are a great option to use up any leftovers. Drizzle over beefy, salsa-loaded nachos and add a sprinkle of extra cheese around on top. Depending on how much cheese sauce you have left, adjust the sprinkle of cheese. But you can be guaranteed in my house that there’s never enough cheese.
Ever had your cheese or cream sauce seize up? You know, when you add the cheese in and it clumps up instead of making a decadent smooth sauce? Yeah, me too. But don’t worry, I’ll share my tips to prevent a sticky gummy sauce. Good cheese is a must! Good quality sharp cheddar will make or break this recipe. I usually used the Cabot Reserve Aged Cheddar.
First, grate your own cheese. It’s an extra step, sure, but those pre-shredded cheeses are usually coated with cornstarch or other agents that keep them from clumping. Those agents can sometimes affect your texture or prevent even melting. A lot of times when I run into this chunky cheese sauce problem it’s because I used a low-moisture cheese, and especially the pre-grated stuff. While bagged cheese is super convenient, it usually is coated with a cornstarch mixture to prevent clumping. And that mixture can affect texture.
Secondly, I always take the pan off the heat and add the cheese last to this white cheddar cheese sauce. I find that by taking the pan off the heat, it minimizes uneven cooking. It also allows the residual heat of the roux or sauce to melt the cheese. It’ll still be hot, so so only slightly more gentle, but gentle nonetheless.
This cheesy sauce is made for cheddar. When it comes to cheddar, I my go-to is the aged reserved cheddar. I can buy it in big blocks from Costco and it’s delicious. It’s crazy sharp and a little goes a long way. But there’s nothing to say you have to stick to cheddar.
If you want to make a mixed blend of cheeses, feel free, but again, go for cheeses that melt easily. Some suggestions are: gruyere, mozzarella, fontina, or Gouda. Be careful with mozzarella by itself, though. Sometimes it can get stringy and there’s a large range of moisture content. For best results I would mix in another cheese (gruyere or cheddar) to go with the mozzarella.
Serving suggestions include: perfectly poppable pretzel bites (pictured here), or for a quick and easy option try store-bought hard pretzels or pita chips! Drizzle this sauce over nachos to make a full meal, or serve with a veggie platter for a healthful cheesy option!
Recipe adapted from The Black Peppercorn’s White Cheddar Cheese Sauce.
secrets to success;
Want all the best tips and tricks to make this recipe a success? Check out the blog post above to find out more!
more recipes;
Check out these other recipes:
- Try serving this white cheddar cheese sauce with perfectly poppable pretzel bites!
- Love cheesy dips? Check out my alpine cheese fondue recipe, copycat of the classic fondue at the Melting Pot, made right at home.
- Philly cheesesteak stuffed peppers are delicious. Try topping with some of this white cheddar cheese sauce for extra deliciousness.
- Looking for another dip? Try this tyrokafteri feta dip for a Mediterranean twist on a game day dip.
- Try this broccoli cheddar soup to use up the rest of your block of cheddar cheese.
white cheddar cheese sauce;
Ingredients
- 1½ Tbsp butter
- 1½ Tbsp flour
- 1½ cup milk
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp cayenne or chipotle powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1½ cup sharp white cheddar grated (from a block)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour until dissolved and smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the milk. Low heat to medium low and simmer for several minutes until it begins to thicken.
- Stir in the chili powder, garlic powder, and salt.
- Stir in the grated cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Serve warm. Can be stored in an airtight refrigerator for up to a week and reheated as needed.
3 Comments
cookie dough pretzel bites; | Best With Chocolate
March 28, 2024 at 8:40 pm
[…] beats a perfectly poppable pretzel bite warm and fresh from the oven! Serve with cheese dip for the ultimate […]
pulled pork mac and cheese; | Best With Chocolate
July 8, 2024 at 12:15 pm
[…] One of my favorite appetizers is homemade pretzel bites. They’re perfectly poppable and pair perfectly with a white cheddar cheese sauce. […]
no sugar watermelon cake; | Best With Chocolate
September 6, 2024 at 8:31 pm
[…] Appetizers are always a hit for a party, so check out some of my favorites. Cheesy buffalo chicken dip is always a fan favorite, or go for these poppable pretzel bites with white cheddar cheese dip. […]