Cream sauce is a staple sauce for every cuisine. It is incredibly versatile and beautifully pairs with pasta, vegetables, chicken, seafood, and even baked dishes. This classic sauce has an extremely creamy, rich, and luxurious appearance.
People who are interested in cooking should learn the cream sauce recipe. This article will provide you with an easy, quick, and authentic recipe on how to make a cream sauce.
Moreover, you will get magical tips for getting the perfect homemade creamy sauce on your first try. Whether you are a beginner or a home chef, making this sauce using our recipe will be rewarding and satisfying.
Why You Must Try This Recipe at Home?
White sauce using cream is quick to prepare and requires simple ingredients. So, anyone can try this recipe at home. Additionally, you can create endless variations by adding cheese, garlic, herbs, and spices.
People love restaurant-style food. Generally, it is not possible to go to a restaurant whenever we want. However, a cream sauce is a wonderful sauce that can give you a restaurant-style taste at home. Besides, it is a beginner-friendly sauce recipe.
Therefore, we recommend not missing this chance. Try this cream sauce at home at least once. Then, we can guarantee that you won’t go back to store-bought sauce again.
Ingredients and Substitutions You Need for This Recipe
Basic cream sauce requires a few common ingredients. Try to use all the mentioned ingredients to get the authentic taste and texture.
| Ingredient | Amount | Substitutions/Notes |
| Butter | 2 tablespoons | Use olive oil or margarine. |
| All-Purpose Flour | 2 tablespoons | Cornflour for the gluten-free version |
| Milk | 1 ½ cups | You can replace milk with cream for a rich flavorOrPlant-based milk for a dairy-free option |
| Heavy Cream | ½ cup | Half-and-half for less richness |
| Garlic Powder | 1 teaspoon | Minced Garlic |
| Salt | ½ teaspoon | Use according to your taste |
| Ground Black Pepper | ½ teaspoon | White pepper for a milder flavor |
| Parmesan Cheese (Optional) | ¼ cup | Nutritional Yeast for a vegan option |
- Butter provides richness and forms the base of the roux.
- Flour thickens the sauce and gives it a smooth body.
- Milk adds creaminess and helps control the sauce’s consistency.
- Heavy cream enhances richness and creates a velvety texture.
- Garlic adds aromatic depth and flavor.
- Salt balances and enhances overall taste.
- Black pepper brings mild heat and flavor balance.
- Parmesan cheese adds umami and nutty notes.
How to Make Cream Sauce at Home: Simple 7 Steps
Preparing the basic cream sauce is quick and easy. You may need a maximum of 15 minutes to prepare it. Follow our recipe to get a customizable taste and perfect consistency.
Step 1: Prepare the Roux
First, collect and measure the ingredients. Then, start making the roux. Roux is the mixture of butter and flour. It is the base of this heavy cream sauce.
- Place a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add 2 tablespoons of butter to the saucepan and melt the butter.
- Now, add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the melted butter.
- Whisk continuously for 1 to 2 minutes until you get a smooth roux.
Step 2: Add Milk and Heavy Cream
After getting the roux, it’s time to add milk and cream to make the creamy sauce for pasta.
- Slowly pour milk into the saucepan, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.
- Bring to a gentle boil.
- Then, add heavy cream and stir nicely.
Step 3: Thicken the Sauce
Reduce the heat to low and keep heating and stirring until you get your desired consistency. You may need approximately 5 to 7 minutes to get the perfect thickness.
Step 4: Season the Sauce
The sauce is almost ready. You need to add some seasoning ingredients to season the sauce in this step.
- Add minced garlic or garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper to the sauce.
- Stir for a minute to get a flavorful, creamy garlic sauce.
Step 5: Taste and Adjust
This step is to get a customizable taste.
- Take a spoonful of sauce.
- Taste the sauce.
- Then, you can adjust ingredients according to your taste.
- If you like spicy food, you can add some chili flakes.
- To get sweetness, adding sugar or honey is suggested.
- Feel free to experiment with ingredients.
Step 6: Add Parmesan Cheese
At the end, we recommend adding some Parmesan cheese to get a silky and velvety creamy sauce.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Add ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese over the hot sauce.
- Cover the saucepan and rest for a few minutes to melt the cheese until you get a silky texture.
Step 7: Serve the Sauce
Homemade silky and velvety creamy sauce is ready. You can serve this sauce with a variety of dishes. Let us provide you with the top 5 serving ideas here.
- Toss this warm, creamy sauce with fettuccine or spaghetti to enjoy a classic creamy pasta.
- You can serve this yummy creamy sauce as a dip for garlic bread.
- Creamy sauce inside the lasagna layer provides extra creaminess.
- Drizzle some creamy sauce over grilled or roasted chicken to bring a rich and savory touch.
- You can serve the sauce with steamed or roasted vegetables, baked salmon, or shrimp to enjoy a restaurant-style meal.
Magical Tips for Perfect Cream Sauce
- Don’t use high heat. High heat can curdle the sauce. Use medium heat before the thickening step, and use low heat from the thickening step.
- Experts suggest using warm milk for smoother blending.
- Constant stirring is mandatory for this recipe to prevent lumps and ensure a creamy texture.
- For extra flavor, you can infuse milk with bay leaf or nutmeg before adding it to the sauce. Don’t forget to remove the bay leaf while pouring the milk into the roux.
- The sauce becomes thicker after cooling. Therefore, stop heating before getting your desired consistency. Then, after cooling, you will get the perfect thickness.
Cream Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 2 Tbsp All-purpose Flour
- 1 ½ Cups Milk
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese Optional
Instructions
- First, collect and measure all the ingredients according to the list.
- Then, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add flour and stir for 1 to 2 minutes.
- After that, gradually add milk and bring a boil.
- Then, add heavy cream and stir constantly.
- After adding heavy cream reduce the heat to low and thicken the sauce to your desired consistency. Continuous heating is mandatory in thickening step.
- Now, add garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper to season the sauce.
- Taste and adjust according to your taste.
- Stir parmesan cheese to get silky and rich texture.
- Serve the sauce with your favorite dish and enjoy.
Nutrition
Conclusion
Homemade cream sauce is simple yet flavorful and a useful sauce. Once you master this recipe, you will have the perfect base for creamy pasta, creamy soups, and gravies. This delicious sauce is all in one.
Make it once using our recipe and special tips, and we assure you that it will be your all-time favorite sauce. Besides, adding some spices or seasoning, you can create many variations to get unique flavors.
FAQs
Can I Make Cream Sauce Ahead of Time?
Yes, of course, you can make cream sauce ahead of time. After preparing the cream sauce, cool it completely. Then, transfer the sauce to an airtight container and store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can easily reheat it on low heat to restore its texture.
How Can I Fix the Lumpy Cream Sauce?
Smooth and silky texture is the main characteristic of the cream sauce. Lumpy cream sauce is not acceptable. Let me tell you 3 special techniques to fix the lumpy cream sauce.
- If lumps form, whisk nicely while heating over low heat.
- You can also use a blender to smooth them out.
- Moreover, you can strain the sauce through a fine sieve to get a smooth consistency.
Is Cream Sauce Gluten-free?
Originally, all-purpose flour is a main ingredient of cream sauce. And flour contains gluten. Therefore, authentically, cream sauce is not gluten-free.
However, you can make gluten-free cream sauce. Experts suggest replacing the flour with cornflour or gluten-free flour to make a gluten-free cream sauce.
