I love when I can make one recipe that can be used in a variety of ways. I typically make this sausage cheese sauce to slather all over a baked potato, however the versatility of this sauce is endless. You can pour over tortilla chips or use it as a dip with chips, you can add pasta shells for an uh-maz-ing mac n cheese, you can add vegetable broth and make a sausage cheese soup, or even pour it over some biscuits for a savory rich breakfast. This simple cheese sauce recipe is rich, creamy, and delicious!
If you aren’t sold already, let me say this
Cheese….
Sausage….
Beer….
Let’s get started.
You will need: ½ pound sausage, 2 T. butter, 2 T. flour, 1 cup milk, 1 cup beer, 1 ½ cups cheese, 2 green onions, 2 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp of the following: paprika, ground sage, ground mustard, black pepper.
Start by browning the sausage over medium-high heat in a small skillet, drain any excess grease and set aside.
If you want your sauce to be spicy you can use hot pork sausage, making mine for kids I opted for the regular pork ground sausage. If you aren’t a pork eater, first I need to question your sanity, then I will tell you it is okay to use turkey sausage or whatever suits your fancy.
In a small sauce pan, add 2 T butter and 2 T flour.
Whisk over medium heat for 5 minutes using caution not to burn. This is called a roux. Pretty much anything that is creamy and thick starts with a roux… i.e: gravy, sauces, soups, etc. The roux will bubble and thicken over the 5 minute cook time.
Next, while whisking, slowly pour in 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of beer. I used a light beer but any that you have on hand will do. The darker the beer, the richer the flavor. If you don’t have any beer on-hand you can also just double up the milk. I do love the extra kick of flavor that comes from the beer, so if you can get your hands on some it will be worth your while.
Let it simmer for about 5 minutes over medium heat.
Reduce heat to low and start stirring in 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese. This time around I used a medium cheddar but I have made it with Irish aged cheddar before and it was GOURMET.
It should only take a few minutes for the cheese to melt and for the sauce to become smooth and creamy.
Now for the seasonings. I used 2 teaspoons of salt and ½ teaspoon of the following: paprika, ground mustard, ground sage, and black pepper. To add some kick you could also add a shake or two of cayenne pepper.
Stir in the spices and then chop up a couple of green onions and toss those in as well.
Oh yeah! Go ahead and taste it. Add more of any of the spices to your taste.
Go ahead and taste again…
and again…
it needs to be perfect right?
Stir in the sausage and give it one last taste test. And for Heaven’s sake make sure you use a new spoon each time because no one wants your germs 😉
See how simple that was? 1 easy recipe and now you have mastered several amazing dishes: sausage mac n cheese, sausage nachos or chip dip, sausage cheese soup, cheesy biscuits and gravy or smothered baked potatoes.
Play hot potato for a few minutes with the kids before removing the foil from your fresh baked tater.
Cut, slather, and enjoy!
Happy tasting gourmet friends!
Simple Sausage Cheese Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ pound sausage
- 2 T. butter
- 2 T. flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup beer
- 1 ½ cups cheese
- 2 green onions
- 2 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp of the following: paprika ground sage, ground mustard, black pepper
Instructions
- Start by browning the sausage over medium-high heat in a small skillet, drain any excess grease and set aside.
- In a small sauce pan, add 2 T butter and 2 T flour.
- Whisk over medium heat for 5 minutes using caution not to burn. The roux/mixture will bubble and thicken over the 5 minute cook time.
- While whisking, slowly pour in 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of beer. I used a light beer but any that you have on hand will do. The darker the beer, the richer the flavor. If you don't have any beer on-hand you can also just double up the milk.
- Let it simmer for about 5 minutes over medium heat.
- Reduce heat to low and start stirring in 1 ½ cups of shredded cheese. It should only take a few minutes for the cheese to melt and for the sauce to become smooth and creamy.
- Now stir in the seasonings: 2 teaspoons of salt, and ½ teaspoon of the following: paprika, ground mustard, ground sage, and black pepper. To add some kick you could also add a shake or two of cayenne pepper.
- Chop up a couple of green onions and toss those in as well.
- Stir in the sausage
- Pour over baked potato.
- Store in fridge for up to 3 days.
Leave a Reply