• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home

Fancy Apron  logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About Fancy Apron
  • Contact Fancy Apron
  • Traeger Recipes
  • Simple Sides
  • Sweets and Treats Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Sauces and Toppings Recipes

    September 18, 2022

    Flourless Cheese Sauce

    27 shares
    • Facebook
    • Email
    • LinkedIn
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    flourless cheese sauce pouring over a bowl of broccoli with a bowl of potatoes and a brown apron in the background

    This flourless cheese sauce is creamy, delicious, and comes together in minutes. It is the perfect sauce for topping broccoli, roasted potatoes, or cooked pasta. I love this cheese sauce recipe for it's ease and versatility. If you want a quick sauce that will get your kids eating their veggies, this is the one you need.

    This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I may earn income from qualifying purchases. We also partner with Impact.com to offer affiliate links. Thanks for the support.

    flourless cheese sauce ingredients including heavy cream in a white pitcher bowl of shredded cheese a small sauce pan a brown apron and a wood spoon that has fancy apron etched on it

    Homemade Cheese Sauce Ingredients

    This super easy cheese sauce recipe includes a few simple ingredients: cream, shredded cheese, and a pinch of salt. The first time you make this, I recommend using a store bought shredded cheese blend. I always have the 4 Cheese Blend from Costco and that's what I use for the sauce most of the time.

    Good melting cheese options include:

    • medium cheddar or sharp cheddar
    • american cheese
    • monterey jack
    • gouda

    These cheeses have the right balance of fat and protein, so they yield a creamy consistency and melt easily. Nonfat or low-fat cheese will not work well in this recipe. The type of cheese I choose is based on how I am going to serve it. For a smooth sauce the fat content matters.

    However, once you get down the routine of heating the cream and melting in cheese, you can make this so many different ways. Save the printable recipe card below, but have fun and make it with your favorite melting cheese.

    The cooking process

    The ease of this sauce comes down to two simple steps during the cooking process.

    First, we need to heat the cream on medium heat until it barely starts to bubble. When that happens, we lower the heat to medium-low and stir in the cheese. You will continue to stir the cheese into the cream until you have a completely smooth sauce. That's it.

    Pay close attention to when the bubbles begin to form around the edges and don't let the bottom if the pan burn. Once you mix in the cheese and it all comes together, you will have a very creamy texture that will continue to thicken as the sauce cools.

    Using Cream Instead of Making Bechemel

    Now, the most typical way to make a cheese sauce is to start with a béchamel. Bechemel is made by cooking butter with flour to create a roux. Then, hot whole milk is added and whisked with the roux until you have a thick and stable white sauce. I find this process too cumbersome and not full-proof. I had enough of that nonsense and started making my cheese sauce recipe with cream and shredded cheese because it tasted better and I could make it faster.

    What you need to know!!! The temperature of the cream is the most important piece of this puzzle. Since we are not using flour to stabilize the sauce (making a béchamel), we just need to make sure that the cream does not break. When a sauce "breaks," that means the fat has separated from the liquid. This is caused by heating the sauce too high. Keep the heat under your sauce pot medium to medium-low and your sauce will be just fine.

    Optional Ingredient Modifications

    After you get the basic technique down, you can modify this so many ways to fit your needs. Check out my modifications and uses:

    • ¾ cup cream with ¼ cup of freshly shredded parmesan cheese and ½ teaspoon of granulated garlic powder to drizzle over pasta cooked with spicy tomato sauce
    • for an easy white sauce combine ¾ cup of heavy cream with a ¼ cup of parmesan or pecorino romano, a pinch of nutmeg, and black pepper
    • for a turned up mac and cheese add in ½ teaspoon of mustard powder or dijon mustard
    • combine cream with ½ cup of cream cheese for more zip in your sauce
    • melt in an Italian cheese blend with provolone and pour over cheesesteaks

    How I use this flourless cheese sauce

    a bowl of bright green broccoli with flourless cheese sauce poured over served next to a bowl of roasted potatoes and grilled chicken on a wood cutting board

    This creamy sauce can be used many ways and is often the special something that transforms a side dish. If you have a picky eater at your dinner table, this easy recipe might be the solution you are looking for to get them to eat.

    I pour this sauce over:

    • broccoli
    • roasted potatoes: russets, yukon gold, fingerling, or white sweet potatoes
    • french fries
    • simple mac and cheese: small shells or macaroni are best
    • cauliflower
    • poured over cheesesteak sandwiches
    • dip for soft pretzels

    Cheese Sauce Recipe

    flourless cheese sauce pouring over a bowl of broccoli with a bowl of potatoes and a brown apron in the background
    Print Recipe
    4.88 from 8 votes

    Flourless Cheese Sauce

    A super and creamy cheese sauce that tastes great every time and is a synch to make.
    Cook Time8 minutes mins
    Total Time8 minutes mins
    Course: Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cheese, sauce
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 176kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 small sauce pot
    • 1 measuring cup
    • 1 whisk or spatula

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese or cheese blend
    • pinch of salt and pepper to taste
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Add the heavy cream to a small pot and heat on medium low.
    • As soon as the cream starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low and add the shredded cheese. Using a whisk or spatula, stir the cheese into the cream until it has melted completely.
    • Turn the heat off and taste the cheese sauce checking for seasoning. Add a pinch of salt and pepper if desired.

    Video

    https://youtu.be/nY_w19I3kUw?si=9DBKgZrS2Dtdx_Tx

    Nutrition

    Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 98mg | Potassium: 52mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 685IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 0.1mg

    Make Something Everyone Wants for Dinner

    a white dinner plate with servings of roasted potatoes cheese sauce on broccoli and grilled chicken

    This great recipe is an easy way to get the whole family to the dinner table without complaints. It can be used on anything from an easy mac to getting your kids to actually eat their vegetables.

    Although the primary reason I make this flourless cheese sauce is for its ease and to save time, it is also gluten free. I choose gluten free options as much as I possibly can just because I feel better.

    Easy Weeknight Main Dishes

    two grilled pork chops with charred grill lines on a brown cutting board
    Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops
    Basin Chicken Marinade

    More Sauces and Toppings Recipes

    • chicken tender dipped in honey mustard sauce in small white bowl
      Easy Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce Recipe For Dipping
    • bacon onion jam in mason jar white spoon 3 crackers with cream cheese and jam wood cutting board
      How to Make the Best Bacon Jam Recipe
    • smoked heads of garlic on black cutting board
      How to Make Easy Traeger Smoked Garlic Recipe 
    • hibachi shrimp in chopsticks with white dish of ginger dipping sauce and glass pitcher of sauce
      The Best Copycat Hibachi Ginger Dipping Sauce Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Peggy says

      May 23, 2025 at 3:26 pm

      This looks like the sauce I'm looking for. However the nutritional information is rendered useless without a serving size. Can you please let me know what the serving size is for this information?

      Reply
      • Alexis says

        May 23, 2025 at 9:19 pm

        Hi, Peggy! The serving size listed in the recipe card is 4.

        Reply
    4.88 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Alexis Leonhardt in the kitchen wearing a Spanish style white yellow and white apron

    Hi, I'm Alexis! I'm here to help busy families make great food. I share recipes and tips to make cooking easier. Let me help you make food that will make your family smile.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • whole smoked chicken breast on a wood cutting board with sliced smoked chicken breast beside it
      Best Traeger Chicken Recipes Guide Grilled and Smoked
    • bbq chicken thighs on traeger grill grates
      Traeger Grilled or Smoked Chicken Thighs Recipe
    • rice pilaf in brown bowl green kitchen towel
      Easy Rice Pilaf Recipe with Orzo
    • two yogurt and berry parfaits with granola on wood cutting board
      How to make tasty yogurt and fruit parfaits at home
    • Traeger grill with lid open on patio
      How to Clean the Grease Trap on a Traeger Grill
    • white bowl of steak and basic meat marinade
      The Best Basic Meat Marinade Recipe for Beef and Chicken
    • apple stars raspberries strawberries and blueberries in bowl
      Patriotic Red White and Blue Fruit Salad Recipe
    • grilled traeger steak kabobs on white plate
      Grilled Steak Kabobs Recipe on a Traeger Grill

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • www.pinterest.com/fancyapron
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.