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Cheese Sauce for Fries Recipe

★★★★★

4.4 from 77 reviews
  • Author: Harry
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: About 1 cup of cheese sauce 1x

Description

This creamy cheese sauce is perfect for drizzling over fries or dipping your favorite snacks. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it combines butter, flour, and milk to create a smooth base, enhanced with cheddar cheese, garlic, onion, and a touch of hot sauce for a flavorful kick. Ready in just minutes on the stovetop, this sauce will elevate any dish with its rich, cheesy goodness.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce Base

  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • ½ cup whole milk (plus 2–3 tablespoons as needed)

Seasonings and Cheese

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground mustard
  • 4 ounces medium cheddar cheese, freshly shredded
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Frank’s)

Instructions

  1. Make the roux: Add the butter to a small saucepan over medium heat and melt it. Whisk in the flour to form a smooth paste, cooking for 1-2 minutes while stirring frequently to avoid burning.
  2. Add milk and thicken: Pour in ½ cup of milk gradually, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens to a gravy-like consistency. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard evenly.
  3. Incorporate cheese: Remove the pan from heat and add the shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring thoroughly with each addition until completely melted and smooth.
  4. Adjust texture and heat: If the cheese isn’t fully melted, return the pan to low heat briefly, being careful not to overcook as this can cause graininess. Add milk one tablespoon at a time to reach the perfect sauce thickness, remembering it will thicken further as it cools.
  5. Finish with hot sauce: Stir in the hot sauce for a subtle spicy tang, then serve the cheese sauce warm over fries or as a dip.

Notes

  • Use freshly shredded cheese rather than pre-shredded for a creamier sauce.
  • Adjust the amount of hot sauce to taste, or omit for milder flavor.
  • If the sauce thickens too much when cooled, gently reheat and whisk in a splash of milk to loosen it.
  • Serve immediately for best texture; the sauce tends to thicken as it cools.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Sauce
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: cheese sauce, cheddar sauce, cheese dip, fries sauce, stovetop cheese sauce, easy cheese sauce

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Find it online: https://dishesbyharry.com/cheese-sauce-for-fries-recipe/