
Yes, you can use broth, stock or even water. I typically use 2% milk, but whole milk is the classic ingredient with its fat content that makes all things creamier. But as always there are some tips to share! It really IS that easy to make a basic white sauce. Season with fresh ground pepper and a little salt, if desired. Stop cooking if the sauce reaches the desired thickness. Continue stirring with the whisk to make the sauce smooth. Heat to boiling, about 5-7 minutes, then reduce to low and cook an additional 7-10 minutes. Then carefully and slowly add the milk to the mixture, whisking to smooth as you go. Continue whisking for about 5 minutes to cook the raw taste from the flour. Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk smooth. If the heat seems a little high for your stove, then back it down a little. Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. For a creamy basic white sauce, you can go a little heavier on the butter. And the combination is typically equal parts butter (or oil) and flour.

You do not want to brown your butter/flour mixture. The combination of butter and flour in my southern heritage means you are making a roux. These ingredients are butter, flour, and milk. This little miracle only requires three “basic” ingredients and minimal seasonings. You can even make it in a saucepan but I prefer a skillet for its nice wide heating area and the ability to see what’s going on. Start with a nice size skillet, 10-12 inches works great. We appreciate your support, thank you! The Not So Secret Basic White Sauce *This post contains affiliate links and we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you click through and make a purchase. Or not, depending on how far along you are in your life’s cooking journey! Making a basic white sauce is so simple and easy, it could possibly change your life. I am just going to bring it to you straight. I’m not going to give you a French cooking lesson about the origins of sauces and all that jazz. Nothing beats a Basic White Sauce and a Casserole to make that secret come true for you. And people will think you spent hours creating such wonderful meals from scratch. It creates that smooth, thick, and cheesy sauce signature white mac and cheese sauce.Having a basic sauce in your cooking skillset is the secret to preparing great dishes with minimal effort.


White American Cheese is the secret ingredient to incredibly creamy and delicious homemade white mac and cheese. Phew! What is the best cheese for white mac and cheese? I quickly learned I could easily modify the amounts for single serving size as well. What I wasn’t counting on was that she would like it so much that she traded her affection of Panera’s mac and cheese for mine. The one thing she was always guaranteed to eat was Panera’s mac and cheese. I first created this recipe for my youngest daughter. Handy recipe to have, right? Copycat Panera white mac and cheese recipe
