How to Make White Sauce

Easy-to-make white sauce can be just the thing for making a variety of simple and delicious meals.

Knowing how to make white sauce can add richness to dinner dishes. A simple white sauce can be used to top noodles, to make a creamy gravy that you drop pieces of left-over chicken in, for eggplant casserole or for topping veggies. If you need a gravy for a casserole, white sauce does nicely. You can jazz things up and add a little wine + sliced mushrooms for a gourmet pasta sauce.

If you need a cheese sauce, you can simply add grated cheese to your white sauce, and presto! you now have a smooth cheese sauce, which can be used to top broccoli or you can add it to when making macaroni and cheese or for cheesy scalloped potatoes (see the recipe links below to make these two dinner dishes).

I'm so glad I learned how to make white sauce. I've used this basic recipe for years with perfect results every time.This basic white sauce recipe can be used as is or other ingredients may be added. Use your imagination for any number of variations. (See below, for ideas about adding mushrooms, chicken or beef broth).

Making a white sauce takes just minutes and it is very easy to do, once you know how. The main piece of equipment you need for a smooth white sauce is a simple whisk.

Your white sauce thickens as it cooks so give it a little time to thicken before adding more flour/butter as mentioned above.

Note: If you need lots of white sauce, add more flour and milk; if you need less, use less flour and milk--and no worries, if your sauce is too thin, in a separate pan do the butter and flour mixture again and add it to your white sauce, if your sauce is too thick, simply add in more milk to thin it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Basic White Sauce

1. Melt 2-3 tbsp. butter on low heat in a frying pan. Watch it to make sure it doesn't burn.

2. When butter starts to bubble, add 2-3 tbsp. flour.

3. Whisk flour and butter until smooth.

4. Add 1-2 cups milk and continue stirring and whisking so that ingredients blend and do not stick to bottom of pan. Keep element heat setting on 3-4 and stir until mixture starts to bubble gently.

5. Keep whisking and cook until white sauce thickens. You can adjust liquid amount if sauce becomes too thick. Make your white saucer thinner or thicker, depending on preference.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

White sauce can be seasoned with with salt and pepper.

Additional seasonings include:

• Onion powder
• Paprika
• Seasoned Salt

You can now use this white sauce in any recipe that calls for a white sauce.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is important to use a whisk when making white sauce to ensure lump-free sauce.

While in most cases a wooden spoon does good duty for stirring, a whisk is the best tool for smooth white sauce.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

White Sauce With Cheese

Make a basic white sauce and stir in 1 cup grated cheddar cheese to make a simple cheese sauce.

Whisk in the cheese and continue stirring, until smooth.

You can use cheese sauce in any number of dishes. (See below)

• This cheese sauce can be used to top broccoli.

• Macaroni and Cheese--Best Mac & Cheese Casserole

  Make the best mac and cheese ever with using this fail-proof recipe for delicious homemade macaroni and cheese casserole.

• Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

  Cheese gives potatoes added flavor in this tasty recipe for Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes. A great casserole to serve to crowds.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Ladle white sauce over diced cooked potatoes, top with chopped chives and dill
• Toss with linguine and top with Parmesan
• White sauce makes a creamy topper for Brussels sprouts
• This white sauce is perfect for using with sliced eggplant when making an eggplant and Parmesan casserole topped with breadcrumbs.

1. Make creamy white sauce and keep warm
2. Fry sliced chicken pieces until well cooked or use left over chicken pieces
3. Add onions & mushrooms and fry until browned
4. Stir in chopped spinach
5. Combine creamy white sauce with cooked pasta noodles and add the other ingredients. Sprinkle with Parmesan

Make a rich white sauce by using 1 cup of milk + 1 can of chicken broth.

• Serve over chicken

Make a white sauce using milk and beef broth

• Serve over beef slices

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A mushroom sauce can be made by sauteeing sliced mushrooms in butter and then adding white sauce ingredients.

This white sauce is delicious served over pasta.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tips for Perfect White Sauce

• Always use real butter for the best-tasting white sauce
• When adding milk, always use a whisk so that sauce becomes smooth and lump-free
• Gently simmer your sauce and continue stirring to avoid sticking and burning.
• Adjust liquid amounts for a thinner or thicker sauce

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For an even richer white sauce, use cream instead of milk. See my Hub:

• Tasty Cream Sauces for Noodles--Four Sauce Recipes

  How to make cream sauce for noodles: use cream as a base for rich cream sauce, mushroom sauce, cheese sauce and chicken cream sauce. A cream sauce has an unbeatable velvety flavor and makes a delicious topper for homemade noodles (see recipe link below).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many recipes call for a white sauce base, thus, knowing how to make white sauce will serve you well for years to come.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have a recipe, idea or tip to share? Join HubPages, publish, and start earning!