Phil’s Food
Sauces British

Cheese Sauce

A comforting cheese sauce for pasta bakes, cauliflower cheese and gratins. Basic uses a packet sauce mix, Better is a proper roux-based bechamel with mature cheddar, and Ultimate layers three cheeses with a touch of mustard and nutmeg.

Serves4
Time8 min
Cost / serving£0.38
Vegetarian Nut-free

Make it your way

Pick a tier — the ingredients, method and cost update instantly.

Budget Better Ultimate

Budget version

Quick cheese sauce from a packet mix, boosted with extra grated cheddar.

Per serving£0.38
Total cost£1.50
Time8 min
Servings

Ingredients for 4

  • 1 cheese sauce packet mix , such as Colman's
  • 300 ml whole milk
  • 75 g cheddar cheese , grated
  • black pepper , to taste

Method

  1. Whisk the packet mix into the cold milk in a small saucepan until smooth.
  2. Bring slowly to the boil over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.
  3. Take off the heat and stir in the grated cheddar until melted.
  4. Season with black pepper and use straight away.

Equipment

The three ways, side by side

Budget
£0.38 / serving · 8 min

Quick cheese sauce from a packet mix, boosted with extra grated cheddar.

Better
£0.60 / serving · 17 min

A proper roux-based bechamel finished with plenty of mature cheddar.

Ultimate
£1.13 / serving · 25 min

A three-cheese sauce with Gruyere, mature cheddar and Parmesan, scented with nutmeg.

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Bechamel Sauce

Budget £0.23 Ultimate £0.80