Creamy pretzel cheese dip that’s made with just 5 simple ingredients in less than 10 minutes. Once you try it, you’ll make this homemade version over store bought every time!
One of my absolute favorite snacks are homemade pretzels with cheese sauce. And instead of buying premade sauce from the store, I recently tried making my own. And boy am I glad I did! It was so easy to whip up and tastes incredible. Creamy, cheesy and smooth!
This cheese dip is so easy and simple to make. It only takes 5 ingredients and comes together in less than 10 minutes! The sauce is so creamy and cheesy. It isn’t too clumpy and has the perfect smooth consistency. It’s also really easy to save and reheat for later.
It tastes so much better than the canned stuff and is better for you, too. There are so many yummy ways to use this delicious dip. Serve it with pretzel bites or bread, on top of a baked potato or even over vegetables. It tastes great on pretty much anything!
5 simple ingredients
- Unsalted butter
- All-purpose flour
- Whole milk
- Cheddar cheese
- Hot sauce
How to make cheese sauce for pretzels
MELT. Add butter to skillet and melt over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour on top of the butter and cook for 1 minute, constantly stirring. It should form a thick paste. Then whisk in the milk until slightly thickened.
STIR. Remove from heat and slowly begin to mix in the shredded cheese until smooth. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste. If you need to thicken it down a bit, add a few Tablespoons of warm milk.
STORE. Pour into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
Variations
- Spicy nacho cheese: Add an extra Tablespoon of hot sauce and dash of cayenne pepper. You can add jalapeno as well.
- Mustard cheese dip: Add a Tablespoon or two of mustard.
Make ahead + keep warm
Make ahead: Prepare as directed, then store in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to enjoy, simply heat back up on the stove or in the microwave.
Keep warm: This cheese sauce is great served right from the stove, but if it’s going to be more than 10 minutes before I serve it, I like to transfer to a mini crockpot to keep warm.
What else to serve with this cheddar cheese sauce?
We love to use this cheese sauce for pretty much anything. It makes a great cheese fondue as well.
- Pretzel bites
- French bread
- Breadsticks
- Baked potatoes
- Potato wedges
- Steamed broccoli
- Tortilla chips
- Raw vegetables
Pretzel Cheese Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk , more as needed
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese , only use freshly grated
- 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce (I prefer Frank's) , more to taste
- S&P , to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the butter, stirring constantly and cook for 1 minute (it should be a thick paste). Next whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened.
- Remove from the pan from heat and slowly stir in the cheese until. Stir until smooth. Add 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. If it's too thick add a Tablespoon or two more of warm milk.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container. Reheat on the stove top or microwave.
Notes
Nutrition
Could I use mexican style cheese instead?
It will change the flavor a bit, but I think that should probably still work. Just make sure it’s freshly grated :)
Would it be okay to use Monterey jack cheese
Hi Lisa! It will definitely change the flavor, but that should be fine!
How long can it be stored ?
3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.
I made it with smoked Gouda and bacon cheese instead of cheddar. It turned out really well.
That sounds delicious! Glad you liked it!
I cannot believe how easy this was to whip up! Literally like ten minutes!!! It is so delicious and you can customize it to how you like it!! I seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder and it was a hit!! Will make this my go to cheese sauce for pretzels!
Would it be ok to use sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe?
Definitely!
This was my first time making this recipe – and cheese sauce! The taste of the finished sauce was great, but the look and texture of it was grainy. I used freshly grated medium cheddar cheese, and the appearance of the sauce didn’t look grainy until I mixed the cheese in. I saw that someone else had this same experience in the reviews, but they used pre-grated cheese (which is typically coated in corn starch so it doesn’t stick together), so I am not sure why my sauce with freshly grated cheese was also grainy in appearance/texture. Any ideas/suggestions on how to avoid this grainy texture next time is much appreciated!
Hi! I think this happens when the cheese is overheated. I would recommend melting with less heat or adding the cheese slower.
In response to the person who said the cheese sauce was grainy and didn’t melt smoothly – here’s a trick I learned from making fondue. Sprinkle a scant tablespoon of flour over the grated cheese and stir to lightly coat the cheese.
Good recipe
Can you substitute the butter for cooking oil or leave out the butter entirely?
I haven’t tried, but I think using a cooking oil in it’s place should be fine.