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Simple Cheese Sauce Recipe

If you have ever obsessed over the cheese fries they have at Shake Shack, this easy homemade Cheese Sauce recipe is for you!  A combination of fresh onions, jalapeños, and cheddar cheese bring the flavor, while heavy cream and American cheese make it rich and smooth. I am obsessed with it and have been putting it on everything! The best cheese sauce for fries, roasted potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, nachos, burgers, hot dogs, enchiladas, burritos, the list is endless!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Steep Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 332 kcal
Course: Condiments
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 6 slices Jalapeño seeds included
  • 3/4 cup sliced onion
  • 2 tablespoons whole peppercorn
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons white wine
  • 2 cups heavy cream*
  • 2 cups American cheese 8 ounces, cubed
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese 8 ounces, shredded

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Slice the jalapeños and onions. 6 slices of jalapeño is about half a small jalapeño. You can slice and add the whole thing if you want your sauce to have a little kick to it. You need 3/4 cup onions, which is about 1 very small onion or half a medium onion.
  2. Set a medium frying pan over medium high heat. When hot, add 1 tablespoon oil. It should shimmer right away. Add the sliced jalapeño, sliced onion, and 2 tablespoons peppercorn.
  3. Sprinkle with 1 and 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt and saute for 3-5 minutes.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar and 2 tablespoons white wine (I used cooking wine). 
  5. Continue sautéing until the liquid has mostly evaporated and absorbed into the onions and jalapeños. 
  6. Add 2 cups cream and stir it together. After about 30 seconds, when the cream is warm but not starting to bubble, remove from heat.
  7. Set aside and let steep for 30 minutes. 
  8. Chop 2 cups of American cheese while you wait. (2 cups is 8 ounces.) Shred 2 cups of cheddar cheese. Set aside.
  9. After 30 minutes, use a sieve to strain out the jalapeños, onions, and peppercorns. Add the smooth cream back into the pan you were using. You don't need to clean the pan, but make sure you've scraped out all the solids.
  10. Set the pan of smooth cream back over medium heat and stir occasionally. When the mixture starts to get frothy on the edges and form small bubbles, add the American cheese and Cheddar cheese in increments, stirring with a whisk as you go. Turn the heat down to low. 
  11. Continue whisking until the mixture is completely smooth.
  12. Serve immediately while hot! If your cheese starts to thicken, heat again on low and stir in milk a tablespoon at a time to thin it to the consistency you like.
  13. Cheese sauce should be stored covered in the fridge. It will solidify when chilled. To reheat, place back in a saucepan and set over low heat for several minutes, whisking frequently. Add milk a tablespoon or two at a time until it is thinned out to the consistency you want. You can do this in the microwave too, just make sure you only heat in short increments, stirring in between.

Notes

  • *Heavy cream is found next to the milk in the store. It is the heavy part of milk that rises to the top. It is not coffee creamer. It may be labeled heavy cream or whipping cream; either kind is fine for this recipe (the names differentiate fat content levels in the cream)
  • Source: Recipe is from Shake Shack!

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 332kcal (17%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 30g (46%) Saturated Fat 17g (85%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 8g Trans Fat 0.3g Cholesterol 87mg (29%) Potassium 234mg (7%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 1487IU (30%) Vitamin C 54mg (60%) Calcium 419mg (42%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 332

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 332kcal 17%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 10g 20%
Fat 30g 46%
Saturated Fat 17g 85%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 8g 40%
Trans Fat 0.3g 15%
Cholesterol 87mg 29%
Potassium 234mg 5%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 1487IU 30%
Vitamin C 54mg 60%
Calcium 419mg 42%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.