Basic Cheese Sauce for Mac 'n Cheese
There's not much that we wouldn't put this cheesy concoction on, but it's especially perfect mixed with al dente pasta, then baked with breadcrumbs on top.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup 2% or whole milk
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2½ cups extra-sharp yellow cheddar, shredded
Preparation
In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, whisk in flour and cook until it begins to smell nutty and fragrant, about 45-60 seconds. Whisk in milk and stock, and continue whisking vigorously until flour and butter have dissolved. Bring to sauce to a bubble and thicken, about 3-4 minutes. Once sauce is thick, remove from heat and mix in mustard and cheddar cheese. Stir until cheese is completely melted.