Best Mac and Cheese Sauce (thick & creamy) - The Cheese Knees (2024)

No matter if you’re making stovetop mac and cheese or baked mac and cheese, this is the best mac and cheese sauce on the internet!

Made with simple ingredients such as a mac and cheese roux, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper, this cheese sauce for mac and cheese is creamy and scrumptious.

This mac and cheese sauce recipe is hands-down our most popular recipe on The Cheese Knees and rightfully so. It’s thick, creamy, and truly best best mac and cheese sauce you’ll find on the internet.

Every cheese website deserves to have a signature mac and cheese sauce that’s easy to make, creamy, and perfect on any noodle! Ours is made with 7 simple ingredients and is ready in less than 15 minutes. You’ll need the basics and also a dash of hot sauce (our secret ingredient).

What You Need for Mac and Cheese Sauce

Like we mentioned above, you only need 7 simple ingredients to make the creamiest, cheesiest mac and cheese sauce on the internet. Check it:

1. butter
2. all-purpose flour
3. 2 % milk
4. shredded cheddar cheese
5. salt
6. granulated garlic (or garlic powder)
7. buffalo hot sauce (we used Franks)

Technically the hot sauce is optional, but I promise it makes this cheese sauce SO GOOD. A little vinegar really does bring out the flavor of the cheese sauce.

What cheeses can I use in my cheese sauce for mac and cheese?

Try mixing things up and use your favorite cheese. Whatever you do, we recommend shredding your own cheese so that there are no added preservatives.

• Colby Jack
• Mexican Cheddar Blend
• Gouda
• White Cheddar

What is a mac and cheese roux and why do I need it?

A roux is essentially a way to thicken a sauce or liquid. You need a fat (such as butter or olive oil) and a flour in order to make this thickening agent and then you need to heat it to activate it.

The reason why you don’t want to skip the roux for this mac and cheese sauce recipe is that the roux is what helps make it thick and luscious.

How to Make a Roux

First time making a roux? No problem! Check out this super simple tutorial:

1. Start by heating a large pot or dutch oven over medium/high heat. Then add butter, and allow it to melt fully.
2. When the butter is melted add the all-purpose flour and whisk (consistently!) until the butter and flour form a crumble or paste.
3. Slowly add milk to the pot by pouring slowly, and whisking constantly. Continue to whisk the roux over medium/high heat for about 4-6 minutes or until the roux thickens.
4. When the roux is thick, remove from heat, and then it’s time to melt the shredded cheese!

Congrats, you’ve made your roux! This will give your mac the thick and creamy texture you’re looking for.

Easy Roux Swaps

Butter –> olive oil – like we mentioned above, you need a fat in order to make a roux. We’ve use olive oil many times in place of butter and it works like a charm!

All-purpose flour –> white whole wheat flour – looking to make your homemade mac and cheese sauce a bit healthier? Try using white whole wheat flour instead.

Variations

• For a richer flavor,use whole milk or half-and-half instead of 2% milk.
• For a sharper flavor,use a mix of cheddar cheese and another sharp cheese,such as Gruyère or Parmesan.
• For a milder flavor,use a milder cheese,such as Monterey Jack or American cheese.
• To make a different flavor of cheese sauce,add different seasonings,such as Italian seasoning,taco seasoning,or herbs and spices.

Mac and Cheese Sauce Versatility

Love this sauce and want to mix things up? Here are some ideas on how to repurpose this sauce for something other than mac!

Use on any noodle – all out of macaroni noodles? You can literally use 1 lb. of any noodle under the sun!

Nachos – we love using this sauce on top of nachos. Think – loaded nachos with all the fixings + this cheese sauce.

Burgers/Sandwiches – how good would this easy mac and cheese sauce be on top of a burger or sandwich?! I’m drooling.

Chili Mac and Cheese – mix this cheese sauce with 1 lb. of noodles and a batch of homemade beef chili for some chili mac! Check out our sister site’s Chili Mac and Cheese recipe!

Dip – when I dip you dip we dip. Grab your favorite tortilla chip and dip away!