Keto Cheese Sauce

This homemade keto cheese sauce is the perfect sauce for just about anything – chips, crackers, roasted vegetables, steak, chicken, eggs, you name it. It is rich and creamy and easy to customize based on the ingredients you have on hand. Best of all, it comes together in less than 10 minutes.

a white sauce bowl with homemade cheese sauce and a white spoon.

Ingredients in Keto Cheese Sauce

Ingredient Notes

Cheese: For this keto cheese sauce recipe, I use sharp cheddar cheese. However, this sauce works with just about any shredded cheese. See below for some of my favorites.
Heavy cream: The heavy cream is what gives this homemade cheese sauce a silky, smooth consistency. You can also use half and half, but the sauce may not turn out as thick.
Dijon: If you do not have dijon on hand, you can also use ½ teaspoon dried mustard powder.
Hot Sauce: You can use any hot sauce you prefer. My favorite keto-friendly hot sauces are Cholula and Tapatio. This does not make the sauce spicy, but it adds a nice depth of flavor. You can also use a pinch of cayenne instead.
Garlic: If you do not have fresh garlic on hand, you can substitute 2 teaspoons of dried minced garlic, or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.

How to make the Best Homemade Cheese Sauce

Step by Step Directions

STEP 1: Place the heavy cream, cheddar cheese, garlic, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the cheese has melted and the ingredients are well incorporated.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Storage: Store leftover homemade cheese sauce in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Reheating: Reheat leftover cheese sauce in a sauce pan on the stove top. It may be necessary to add some extra cream to bring the sauce back to life.
Consistency: If the cheese sauce feels too thick, add more heavy cream a little at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. If it is too thin, add more cheese.
Change up the cheese: This keto cheese sauce is delicious with just about any type of cheese you might have on hand. Some of my favorites are smoked mozzarella, gruyere, sharp white cheddar, cream cheese, mozzarella, or parmesan cheeses. Even better, use a mixture of multiple cheeses.
Turn it into keto queso dip: To make a delicious gluten-free nacho cheese sauce, swap out half or all of the cheddar cheese for pepper jack cheese, and 1 drained 10 ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chiles, and 1 tablespoon of this Taco Seasoning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cheese is best to use for cheese sauce?

My favorite cheeses to use for homemade cheese sauce are cheddar, gruyere, havarti, Swiss, and parmesan.

How to thin out or thicken keto cheese sauce

If your cheese sauce is too thick, add a little extra cream or stock. If it is too thin, add more cheese.

What to serve with cheddar cheese sauce

I like to serve this with a veggie tray, with chips, over top of roasted vegetables, on eggs, on steak, and on chicken. The possibilities are endless.

What to serve with this keto cheese sauce

Pour it over these Roasted Cauliflower Steaks with Bacon
Use it as a base for this Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Serve it with Keto Nachos
Use it as a dip for these Steamed Artichokes
Serve on top of Loaded Waffle Omelets
Drizzle some over top of these Beef Birria Quesatacos
Enjoy it on top of these Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

Other Recipes You Might Enjoy

Keto Cheese Sauce
Waffle Omelets with Cheese Sauce
Low Carb Peanut Chicken Skillet
Creamy Chicken Scampi – Olive Garden Copycat

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