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    Home / Recipes / Sauces & Condiments / Easy Keto Cheese Sauce

    Easy Keto Cheese Sauce

    March 26, 2021 by Keto Cooking Christian 28 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, see Disclosure.
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    Dress up your favorite Keto vegetables in just 5 minutes with this quick and easy cheese sauce!  Smooth and creamy, this will soon become one of your favorite Keto sauces!

    cheese sauce over broccoli on white plate
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    Jump to:
    • What's in Easy Cheese Sauce
    • How to Make Keto Cheese Sauce
    • Tips on How to Make this Keto Cheese Sauce Recipe
    • Can I have Cheese Sauce on Keto
    • More Keto Sauce Recipes

    Need a Low Carb Sauce to add some healthy fat to your Keto diet?  Cheese sauce is one of many ways to add more healthy fats to your diet.

    Mascarpone cheese makes this cheese sauce smooth and creamy.  The cheddar cheese gives it a classic flavor and a little tang from the lemon zest brightens it all up!  

    cheese sauce being spooned out of glass jar

    Adding lemon zest to dishes, gives them such a fresh flavor!  Serve it over any Keto veggies, like broccoli or asparagus, and serve alongside your favorite protein like grilled steak or chicken for a complete meal.  Or, if you're a Vegetarian, you use this cheese sauce in many different low carb vegetarian dishes!  

    cheese sauce being spooned over broccoli in white dish

    This is also a great cauliflower "mac" and cheese sauce recipe! Give this sauce a try and you will find that it makes a great addition to just about any Low Carb side dishes!

    What's in Easy Cheese Sauce

    • Heavy cream
    • Shredded cheddar cheese
    • Mascarpone cheese
    • Butter
    • Lemon zest
    • Salt & pepper

    *Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

    How to Make Keto Cheese Sauce

    Let's start by adding the butter to a sauce pan and turn on to medium heat.  Once the butter has melted, you can add in the heavy cream and heat for just a minute.

    heavy cream being poured into pan

    Then add in the mascarpone cheese, salt and pepper (to taste).  Once the mascarpone has melted, add in the cheddar cheese and stir.

    shredded cheese in heavy cream in a pan

    Cook over medium low heat for a few minutes, or until the sauce is the thickness that you prefer. You'll find that this sauce comes together pretty quickly, so it's really great for last minute meals!   It should take just over 3 minutes.

    lemon zest added to pan with cheese sauce

    Once it's thickened, add in the lemon zest and serve.  If you're planning to serve it over broccoli or asparagus, you can add in extra lemon zest to really brighten it up.  I would only do this if you're serving it over something that goes really well with lemon.

    cheese sauce being spooned out of pan

    If you're in a hurry to make your broccoli, check out this Instant Pot Broccoli!  You can make it while you're whipping up the sauce!

    closeup of cheese sauce over broccoli on white plate

    Tips on How to Make this Keto Cheese Sauce Recipe

    When I tell you this cheese sauce is easy, you'll just have to try it to see just how easy it is. However, though it's super easy, here are a few tips to ensure it turns out perfect every time:

    What Cheese is Best to Use to Make a Low Carb Cheese Sauce? 

    A combination of cheddar cheese and a thick creamy cheese like mascarpone or cream cheese works perfectly.  If you can't find mascarpone cheese or don't have an on hand, you can substitute with cream cheese.  You can also use Monterey Jack or Colby, pretty much any cheese that melts really well would work.  

    broccoli with cheese sauce next to sliced grilled chicken on white plate

    How do you Thicken Cheese Sauce?

    The good news is that there's no flour needed to thicken this wonderfully creamy cheese sauce!  And because there's no flour in it, it makes this a great gluten free cheese sauce!  

    Mascarpone not only makes this cheese sauce super creamy, but it also acts as a thickener.  In fact, there are many recipes that use mascarpone to help thicken them, like Alfredo Sauce, Mushroom Gravy, Pot Roast Gravy, or the sauces in Butter Chicken and Chicken Marsala.  

    Mascarpone cheese is my favorite secret weapon!  If you've never tried it, I'd say it compares closely to cream cheese, is lower in carbs, but still high in fat. Because it's so mild in flavor, it makes a great thickener for sauces, making them creamy, without overpowering the flavor. 

    cheese sauce over broccoli on white plate

    Can you Freeze Cheese Sauce?

    Absolutely!  It actually freezes really well and when you're ready to use it again, just reheat it in a saucepan and it will come together nicely.

    Can I Different Flavors to this Cheese Sauce?

    Yes, you sure can!  Adding in parmesan, Romano or asiago cheese will give this sauce even more flavor. If you like really bold flavors, you can make different variations of this sauce!

    For example, if you like the flavors of Jalapeño Poppers, you'll love a variation of this sauce in Jalapeño Popper Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese.  If you're a Buffalo Wings fan, you might also like the Buffalo Cheese Sauce used in Buffalo Cauliflower "Mac" and Cheese!  These are both definitely worth trying, they have a wonderful bold flavor!

    cheese sauce being spooned out of glass jar

    Can I have Cheese Sauce on Keto

    There's great news for cheese lovers! Cheese is high-fat, moderate-protein, and low in carb. It can take ordinary dishes and turn them into cheesy comfort food! Cheese sauce can be a little tricky because some, like the kind you get in some restaurants, use flour or other thickeners in their recipe. That's not the case with this Keto Cheese Sauce Recipe! Every ingredient is Keto friendly, and with only 2 net carbs per serving, you can enjoy cheesy goodness without the guilt!

    More Keto Sauce Recipes

    • Hollandaise Sauce
    • Creamy Mushroom Gravy
    • Easy Alfredo Sauce
    • Quick Homemade Marinara Sauce
    • Bang Bang Sauce
    • Buffalo Cheese Sauce & Dip
    • Bearnaise Sauce
    easy cheese sauce pin
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    cheese sauce over broccoli on white plate

    Easy Keto Cheese Sauce

    Dress up your favorite veggies in just 5 minutes with this quick and easy Low Carb cheese sauce!
    5 from 8 votes
    Author: Julianne
    Servings 6
    Print Pin
    Save RecipeSaved!
    PREP 2 minutes mins
    COOK 3 minutes mins
    TOTAL 5 minutes mins

    RECIPE VIDEO

    Ingredients
     

    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 ¼ cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • ¼ cup mascarpone cheese
    • 1 tablespoon grass-fed butter
    • Zest of 1 lemon
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 1-2 teaspoons of salt, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Add the butter to a sauce pan on medium heat.  Whisk in the heavy cream and heat for a minute.  Then add in the mascarpone cheese, salt and pepper.
    • Once the mascarpone is melted, add in the cheddar cheese and stir.  Cook over medium low heat for a few minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your liking.  Mine took a little over 3 minutes.  
    • Once thickened, add in the lemon zest and serve.

    Recipe Notes

    Optional: If serving with broccoli or asparagus, I highly recommend adding the zest of 2 lemons.

    *Make sure to scroll up and read the post for substitutions, additions and helpful tips for making this recipe.

    Course Condiment, sauce
    Cuisine American
    Calories 280kcal
    Nutrition Facts
    Easy Keto Cheese Sauce
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    280
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    27
    g
    42
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    17
    g
    106
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    2
    g
    1
    %
    Sugar
     
    1
    g
    1
    %
    Protein
     
    6
    g
    12
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    *Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and is accurate to the best of my knowledge. You can verify it using the nutrition calculator of your choice. All data is based on net carbs, without sugar alcohol: Swerve, Erythritol, Monk Fruit or Allulose.

    © Copyright for Keto Cooking Christian LLC. Please use the share buttons to share on social media, but please do not copy/paste the recipe.

    Rate this Recipe

    *Originally published on June 14, 2018, updated on March 26, 2021 with new photos, new video and helpful tips.

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    Filed Under: 30 Minutes or Less, Popular, Posts, Recipes, Sauces & Condiments, Savory Sauces Tagged With: best keto recipes, best low carb recipes, easy keto recipes, easy low carb recipes, gluten free recipes, homemade cheese sauce, homemade keto cheese sauce, keto, keto diet, keto recipes, keto sauce recipes, ketogenic diet, low carb recipes, low carb sauces

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Carrie

      March 22, 2025 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      Seems easy enough.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        March 24, 2025 at 12:56 pm

        It really is and it's so good on fresh veggies. I hope you'll try it.

        Reply
    2. J walker

      May 07, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      What is a serving?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        May 07, 2023 at 5:55 pm

        I didn't measure each serving, but if I had to guess, it would be around 1/4-1/3 cup.

        Reply
    3. kayla

      November 16, 2021 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      I could eat this straight out of the pot, it's so good. I've tried it with several different cheeses and found that it works best if it's not a super melty cheese, like an italian blend with mozzarella., which makes it a bit stringy. Freshly grated parmesan is delicious, as is sharp cheddar.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        November 18, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        I am happy you enjoyed it. Sharp cheddar is one of my favorites too.

        Reply
    4. Joyce K

      April 12, 2021 at 8:41 pm

      5 stars
      This was so simple, quick and flavorful. It takes just minutes to put this together and is so smooth and creamy. I used it to make some cauliflower 'mac' & cheese and it is DEE-LICIOUS!!! I had never used mascarpone cheese before but it will be my new favorite ingredient now.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        April 13, 2021 at 2:45 pm

        Oh, I love hearing this! I am so glad you enjoyed it.

        Reply
    5. Barbie

      July 05, 2020 at 5:18 pm

      You give the Nutrition Facts for Cheese Sauce 280 calories, 243 fat calories per serving, but how much is one serving?

      Reply
    6. Tonya

      June 17, 2020 at 9:51 am

      How much is considered a serving?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        June 21, 2020 at 9:25 am

        1/6th of the recipe is a serving.

        Reply
    7. peggy

      April 04, 2020 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      i did not want to waste the lemon, so i used the juice too. OMG could not believe the rich, delicious taste and texture. reminded me of the sauce on eggs benedict. thanx.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        April 04, 2020 at 11:18 am

        Love the idea of using the juice too, I am ALL about lots of lemon flavor! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂

        Reply
    8. Teri

      March 16, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      How much is considered a serving? Extraordinarily delish!!!

      Reply
    9. Deb

      December 09, 2019 at 5:52 pm

      I just made this and it looks like slime. I used cream cheese and mexican cheese blend (cheddar, queso quesadilla, asadero, and Monterey jack). What did I do wrong? Yummy but super stretchy.

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        December 09, 2019 at 5:55 pm

        Wow, I have no idea why that would be! I make this sauce all the time, it's one of my favorites. Maybe it cooked too high and fast or not enough heavy cream?

        Reply
    10. carol clance

      October 20, 2019 at 8:10 pm

      5 stars
      This is really yummy and easy! I didnt have mascarpone, so I just used cream cheese. I measured all ingredients into a small sauce pan and heated it slowly on low while I was making the rest of our meal and once it started getting warm I whisked it here and there. It was great over our steamed broccoli, and a welcome flavor and fat boost for my keto hubby. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        October 20, 2019 at 9:37 pm

        Awesome, so glad you and your husband enjoyed it! And the cream cheese is a perfect sub for the mascarpone 🙂

        Reply
    11. Cathy

      May 15, 2019 at 4:05 pm

      Can I substitute creme fraiche?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        May 15, 2019 at 4:27 pm

        Hi Cathy,
        Assuming you mean subbing for the mascarpone cheese, I don't see a problem with that. I haven't tried it before, but it should work just fine.

        Reply
    12. Susan Sostack

      October 22, 2018 at 1:58 pm

      Coukd crwam cheese be used instead if mascarpone?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        October 22, 2018 at 4:14 pm

        Yes, you sure can! Just be sure to adjust your macros, since the carbs will be a little higher. It will have a stronger flavor, since mascarpone is very mild, but it should still taste great 🙂

        Reply
    13. Joni

      October 18, 2018 at 5:55 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious and creamy! I love the addition of the mascarpone, makes the sauce decadent - and the lemon zest keeps it fresh. Thanks for a great recipe!

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        October 18, 2018 at 5:58 pm

        You are most welcome and thanks for the feedback! I use mascarpone in so many recipes, it's mild in flavors, loaded with healthy fat and very low carbs. Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    14. Twogirlsmomma

      September 21, 2018 at 11:11 pm

      How would this pair with Mexican food? Like taco salad...

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        September 22, 2018 at 9:35 am

        I think it would pair nicely, but I would probably omit the lemon zest.

        Reply
    15. Sara

      August 26, 2018 at 9:40 pm

      How well does this reheat?

      Reply
      • Keto Cooking Christian

        August 26, 2018 at 9:47 pm

        Very easily! You can either reheat in the microwave or stovetop, just mix in a tiny bit of hot water first.

        Reply

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    Julianne Walser KCC

    I'm Julianne, welcome! I offer tasty and indulgent Keto and Low Carb recipes that will never leave you feeling deprived!

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