Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ½ cup whole milk (plus 2–3 tablespoons as needed)
- 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
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour to form a paste and cook for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add ½ cup milk gradually, whisking continuously until mixture thickens to gravy-like consistency.
- Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard.
- Remove from heat. Add shredded cheddar cheese one handful at a time, stirring until fully melted and smooth.
- If needed, return to low heat to melt remaining cheese, but avoid overcooking to prevent graininess. Add additional milk 1 tablespoon at a time to reach desired thickness.
- Stir in hot sauce and serve warm.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheddar for the smoothest sauce; pre-shredded cheese may contain anti-caking agents that affect texture.
- Adjust hot sauce to taste for more or less heat.
- Serve immediately for best consistency, as the sauce thickens upon cooling.
- Can be kept warm over low heat and stirred occasionally to maintain pourable consistency.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Condiment, Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
