Learn how to make a creamy, white bechamel sauce recipe with just 3 basic ingredients – butter, flour, and milk.
![Learn how to make a creamy, white bechamel sauce recipe with just 3 basic ingredients - butter, flour, and milk. bechamel sauce in cast iron.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-08.jpg)
What is bechamel sauce?
A traditional bechamel sauce is a white sauce made from a white roux (butter and flour) and milk. Think of it this way, pretty much every cheese sauce (including our famous mac and cheese sauce) is made from the base of a bechamel sauce!
Roux + Milk = Bechamel Sauce
What is a bechamel sauce used in?
A bechamel sauce can be used as the start of many sauces. Here are some popular uses:
- Pasta sauce: alfredo sauce
- Cheese sauce: mac and cheese sauce and cheddar cheese sauce,
- Lasagna: bechamel lasagna
![a slice of lasagna being lifted off a fork.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-24sq-550x550.jpg)
Try it!
Bechamel Lasagna
This delicious bechamel lasagna recipe is comfort food at its finest! Made from a simple meat sauce, bechamel sauce and layered to lasagna perfection. Enjoy!
![Learn how to make a creamy, white bechamel sauce recipe with just 3 basic ingredients - butter, flour, and milk. ingredients on countertop.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-01.jpg)
Featured Ingredients
The glory of this thick and creamy sauce is that you only need basic ingredients.
- Butter: we’re using butter as the fat in this bechamel sauce. But, you can also use a different fat such as olive oil.
- Flour: we’re sticking with all-purpose flour for this classic bechamel sauce recipe, but we’ve used other glutenous flours such as white whole wheat.
- Whole milk: milk is used to create this thick and creamy sauce. We’re using whole milk, but other fats will work too.
![Learn how to make a creamy, white bechamel sauce recipe with just 3 basic ingredients - butter, flour, and milk. making a roux in a cast iron pan.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-02.jpg)
How to Make Bechamel Sauce
Melt Butter
Melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan.
Add Flour
Once the flour has melted, add the flour and whisk until the roux forms. It should be a thick paste and take 1-2 minutes.
Slowly Add MilK
Slowly pour the whole milk into the roux, constantly whisking. Within a few minutes, the bechamel sauce should become thick and creamy.
Remove from Heat
From here, you can either turn this yummy sauce into a bechamel cheese sauce by removing it from the heat and adding cheese or use this as a plain white sauce in something like lasagna.
![Learn how to make a creamy, white bechamel sauce recipe with just 3 basic ingredients - butter, flour, and milk. pouring milk into a roux.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-04.jpg)
FAQ
Can I use olive oil instead of butter in a bechemel sauce?
es, you can use olive oil instead of butter but keep in mind using olive oil will indeed change the flavor of the sauce.
Can I add other ingredients to a béchamel sauce?
Yes, you can. You can add dried or fresh herbs to give your sauce extra flavor.
Can I make béchamel sauce gluten free?
Yes, you can make béchamel sauce gluten free by using a 1:1 gluten free flour. However, it will significantly change the flavor.
What else can I use béchamel sauce for?
You can use béchamel sauce as a general pasta sauce, not just in lasagna. You can also use béchamel sauce as a warm dip for vegetables and crackers, kind of like a fondue.
![Learn how to make a creamy, white bechamel sauce recipe with just 3 basic ingredients - butter, flour, and milk. whisking bechamel sauce in in cast iron pan.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-05.jpg)
Storage
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can I reheat béchamel sauce?
Yes, you can reheat bechemel sauce. Place the cold béchamel sauce into a small saucepan and heat over low heat and add 1 tablespoon of milk at a time to thin out the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.
![](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-11.jpg)
![spoon dripping white sauce into pan.](https://cheeseknees.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Bechamel-Lasagna-11sq-550x550.jpg)
Bechamel Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3.5 cups whole milk
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter to the saucepan.
- When the butter is melted, add the flour to the saucepan and whisk the two ingredients together to create a roux. Allow the roux to cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Slowly drizzle the whole milk into the saucepan while whisking. The milk should thicken within a few minutes and turn into a beautiful bechamel sauce.
- Add the salt to the sauce and stir. When the sauce is thick and creamy, remove the sauce from the heat.
Tips & Notes
- Fat: while butter is our preferred fat, you can swap it for a different fat such as olive oil.
- Flour: if you’d like to use a different flour, we suggest another glutenous flour such as white whole wheat.