Name: Cheese Sauce for Broccoli
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated; 1 cup 2% milk, or whole milk; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon pepper; 1/4 teaspoon paprika, optional

This homemade Cheese Sauce for Broccoli tastes so much better than the store bought kind. The best easy cheese sauce recipe!

Why we love this cheese sauce for broccoli

Basic ingredients: Made with easy to recognize ingredients and no added junk, this cheese sauce is simple and delicious
Easy to make: no roux required, all you have to do is add ingredients to a pan, heat, and serve!
Great for picky eaters: have picky eater kids? Try serving steamed veggies with this sauce and they will love it!

If you’ve ever poured cheese out of a jar to get your kids to eat more veggies, this recipe is for you! This easy homemade cheese sauce recipe is so simple to make, and tastes delicious.

Cheese sauce is my top tip for trying to get my kids to eat more veggies. I mean, I can’t blame them. Add a delicious cheese sauce and I would eat more veggies too!

We love serving it over fresh steamed broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms, or whatever veggie we are having for dinner that night.

This recipe uses cornstarch to thicken the cheese sauce, making it super easy and no roux required. Not only is it quick to make, but it is absolutely delicious and made with real ingredients!

“Made this tonight. It was delicious! Used it over broccoli instead of ranch. Will continue to use it with veggies. Tasty!” -reader review

Cheddar cheese sauce ingredients

Sharp cheddar cheese: don’t skip grating it yourself. Freshly grated is important for the best flavor and smoothness of the sauce.
Milk: 2% or whole milk will both work.
Cornstarch: this is the easy thickener that we are using in place of a traditional flour and butter roux.
Spices: garlic powder, paprika, and pepper.

ingredients needed to make cheddar cheese sauce

How to make cheddar cheese sauce

Step 1: Grate the cheddar cheese fresh from a block.

Step 2: Add the grated cheddar cheese, milk, cornstarch, garlic powder, pepper, and paprika to a medium sized saucepan.

Step 3: Cook the mixture over medium heat until the cheese sauce is thickened, around 5-10 minutes, stirring often. Serve immediately with steamed broccoli or veggie of choice.

If you have an air fryer you could air fry frozen broccoli and serve it with this cheese sauce for a simple side dish.

adding cheese sauce ingredients to a sauce pan

cheese sauce for broccoli in a sauce pan

air fry frozen broccoli

Best milk to use for cheese sauce

For this recipe, I used 2% milk in place of heavy cream or other higher fat milk. You can’t taste the difference and it still gets thick thanks to cornstarch. You can also use whole milk in this recipe.

Ever since making my 5 minute nacho cheese sauce, I have been using this method to make all of my cheese sauces.

I may never go back to a roux again, this way is just so much easier and tastes delicious!

All you have to do is stir to avoid the sauce burning, and use a whisk to get out any clumps of cornstarch or cheese. You will end up with a velvety smooth cheese sauce!

The paprika is totally optional, and does not make it spicy, but I like that little extra something something it gives.

5 minute nacho cheese sauce

How to serve

Over veggies: this sauce pairs well with just about any steamed veggie like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, brussels sprouts, or asparagus.
Over pasta: need a quick cheese sauce? this would also be delicious served with pasta.

We like serving our cheese sauce with fresh steamed broccoli, garlic parmesan roasted potatoes, and veggie burgers for a well rounded dinner.

garlic parmesan roasted potatoes

How to store cheese sauce

Storing: Leftover cheese sauce for broccoli can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat leftover cheese sauce in a sauce pan over low heat or in the microwave until heated through. Add a splash of milk to thin the sauce out if needed.

More Easy Recipes

Brussel Sprout Chips
Air Fryer Mushrooms
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Broccoli with Parmesan
Roasted Potatoes & Onions
Roasted Garlic Baby Red Potatoes
Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots
Awesome!I would give this 10 stars. Easy quick and delicious. Anyone who tries this recipe will NEVER go back to the flour butter roux recipe.

Awesome!

Notes

Storing Leftover cheese sauce for broccoli can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheating Reheat leftover cheese sauce in a sauce pan over low heat or in the microwave until heated through. Add a splash of milk to thin the sauce out if needed.