An easy, perfectly creamy béchamel sauce with Parmesan cheese for a wonderfully delicate flavor. Probably the most versatile of all sauces, you’ll be making this again and again!
Béchamel is a sauce every cook needs to know how to make. A simple “white sauce”, béchamel is considered one of the “mother sauces” of French and Italian cuisine as it forms the base for a number of other classic sauces like Mornay, Nantua, Mustard, Soubise, Cheddar Cheese Sauce, and others.
Enjoying a long history, béchamel has been made in Italy for centuries, particularly in Tuscan and Emilian cuisine, and was later imported to France, appearing in a French cookbook around 1651. Originally known as “balsamella” in Italian, the name it is most commonly called by today is “béchamel”, named after the marquis de Béchameil, chief steward to King Louis XIV and patron of the arts. The sauce was named after him because he was credited with perfecting it from an older cream-based sauce. Per Wikipedia, when the sauce was dedicated to Béchameil to flatter him, the Duke of Escars exclaimed:
“That fellow Béchameil has all the luck! I was serving breast of chicken à la crème more than 20 years before he was born, but I have never had the chance of giving my name to even the most modest sauce!”
For you French purists: “Est-il heureux, ce petit Béchameil ! J’avais fait servir des émincés de blancs de volaille à la crème plus de vingt ans avant qu’il fût au monde et, voyez, pourtant je n’ai jamais eu le bonheur de pouvoir donner mon nom à la plus petite sauce!”
As classic today as it was then, béchamel is a timeless sauce that is enjoyed in the most rustic of kitchens to the most luxurious, high-end restaurants.
This version incorporates some Parmesan cheese for added depth and flavor. You can omit it if you prefer, no other adjustments needed. You can also add a different cheese of choice. FYI, if you add Gruyère (or white cheddar) along with the Parmesan the Béchamel technically becomes a Mornay sauce. Just a little Sauce Making 101.
Classically trained cooks are taught to make béchamel in three thicknesses. A thin béchamel is often used as the base for creamy soups while a thick béchamel is what’s used in soufflé. A medium-thick béchamel, which is what this recipe is, is the most versatile and is used as its own sauce or as the base for a variety of other sauces. The thickness of the béchamel is determined by how much flour is used (and the quantity of butter would be adjusted accordingly).
Now, how is béchamel used? You can use it in so many different ways. It makes a great base for creamy pasta sauce (eg, saute some mushrooms and onions and fold them into the sauce, add some additional cheese or some spinach), use it in creamy casseroles or creamy soups, in a white sauce version of shepard’s pie, mac n’ cheese, or try a béchamel-style carbonara with a little garlic and bacon. It’s also commonly used in lasagna and makes a wonderful sauce for any number of cooked vegetables. Leave a comment below: How do you like to use this basic white sauce?
However you use it, you’ll be amazed how these few simple ingredients are transformed into a luxuriously creamy and delicious sauce.
Let’s get started!
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat and whisk in the flour until no clumps remain. Let the mixture bubble, whisking constantly, for two minutes until light golden. This is known as a “roux” and for lighter-colored sauces you want keep the roux to a light golden. For darker, brown sauces you would let the mixture simmer longer until brown. The process of making a roux is key to achieving flavor in sauces and gravies.
While continually whisking, gradually add the milk. Slowly bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened, whisking frequently to prevent lumps or scorching. Add the salt, nutmeg and Parmesan cheese and whisk to combine. For best results, use freshly ground nutmeg. I found a good deal online for whole nutmeg and those are what I used. Use the fine grating side of a cheese grater – the taste and aroma of fresh nutmeg is wonderful!
Simmer for another minute then remove from heat.
It’s that simple and your béchamel sauce is ready! Enjoy!
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1¼ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground whole nutmeg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and use a wire whisk to blend it with the butter. Let the mixture bubble for 2 minutes until light golden, continually whisking. Gradually add the milk while continually whisking to prevent lumps and whisk until smooth. Slowly bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened, whisking frequently to prevent lumps and scorching. Add the Parmesan cheese, salt and nutmeg and whisk until smooth. Simmer for another minute then remove from heat. (If the sauce is too thick, add a little milk.) Add salt to taste.
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Cathy Thorne says
I love serving bechamel sauce with cauliflower. Even those in my family who typically don’t like cauliflower will gladly eat it all up when it’s drizzled with this yummy sauce :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Agreed, Cathy!
Cali says
Love your quick easy to remember recipe. Thanks much.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thank you, Cali!
jesusan says
This sounds wonderful. And another dish that uses this sauce that many would be familiar with is Moussaka.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Exactly, Susan! Here’s my version: Moussaka. It uses a thick bechamel to achieve a beautifully baked and lightly browned custard.
Matt says
another jar i don’t need to buy anymore. thanks Kimberley! My recycling man is going to wonder if I’ve gone on holiday!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Haha, that’s great, Matt! I agree, it’s silly to buy storebought anything when you can make it yourself quickly, cheaper, and it tastes much better!
Hannah says
Just made this – it’s amazing :)
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks, Hannah, I’m so glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate the feedback!
brianinca says
This is going to be the sauce for my Cardone Gratin, thanks!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That sounds terrific, Brianinca!
alison says
This is a wonderful sauce to go over baked stuffed flounder.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
So true, Alison, yum!
Francine says
If I need more can I just double the recipe and make it all at the same time?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Yes, you sure can, Francine!
Yadira says
I just made this sauce and it’s delicious. The process is easy to remember.. Thank you!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Wonderful, Yadira, thank you!
Deb Willis says
Is 2% milk ok to use? Or fat free 1/2+1/2?
Also can U freeze this or can it myself in 1/2pt/pt ball jars 4 later use? It sounds absolutely delicious ad I swear I must have been a miuse/rat in a previous lifetime the way I love cheese. Got a good cheesy scalloped potato recipe I can try!
At 64 cannot believe I have never made scalloped pot- could I use a sauce like this 1 in making the pot-
Ato recipe? Can this sauce be used on a white pizza?
Thank you so very much for sharing your talents! I really
DO appreciate that!!
Some folks are just plain squirrelly when it comes to sharing their recipes & I never did understand that!
Girly Girl
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Deb, yes to everything :) You can use 2% or fat free in any combination. You can freeze it, let it cool down completely first and then when you reheat it do so very slowly. This would work wonderfully on a white pizza. Here’s my recipe for scalloped/au gratin potatoes that is wonderfully cheesy and creamy (I’m a huge cheese fan too!) https://www.daringgourmet.com/perfectly-creamy-au-gratin-potatoes/ Happy cooking! :)
Laura says
Going to try to make this tomorrow! Going to make a french onion baked pasta dish version on Sunday!
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
That sounds delicious, Laura!
Carol says
My sister uses it in her lasagna and its amazing! I made some today and she sent me this link. Just say it tastes so good!its easy to make which is always a plus.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Using it in lasagna sounds like a fab idea! I’m so glad you enjoyed this sauce, Carol, thank you!
Tarryn says
Just made this. It’s amazing! So delicious… reminds me of the one my mum would make when I was a child. Definitely keeping this recipe.
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Tarryn, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Lino Mascio says
The Italian version is Besciamella and is the exact recipe as the French version only as far as the basic sauce goes, after that you can go crazy and explore all the possibilities that this sauce offers you and happily almost every variations that I tasted I never get tired of trying something new. I like what you’re doing and I will look in on you now and then. Buon Natale
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Thanks so much, Lino, and we look forward to seeing you around!
Barbara Toleman says
I am going to use this on crab/shrimp stuffed jumbo shells
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Great idea, Barbara, happy cooking and eating! :)
Jennifer says
Literally making this right now! Will update on the results :)
Lori Wendt says
I was so happy to see yhos recipe as I had lost my recipe which appears to be the same one. I use this in my lasgna instead of using ricotta cheese. I don’t care for it at all. This, also gives it a creamy, cheesy flavor eith the mozzarella cheese. [email protected]
Lisa says
could you use heavy cream?
Kimberly @ The Daring Gourmet says
Hi Lisa, sure, you’ll probably need less flour since the cream is thicker to begin with.