Homemade Béchamel Sauce

Organic Valley is passionate about food and protecting the food system. Our in-house chefs, product development team members and employee-foodies love finding twists to enhance traditional fare. We also enjoy trying new ways to use organic products to create delectable meals and snacks that you can feel good about sharing with your family.

A pot of Bechamel sauce next to milk, butter, and cheese.

Creamy, flavorful and endlessly versatile, béchamel shines as a base for casseroles, Croque Monsieur or layered in our From Scratch Lasagna recipe. Whisking in Parmesan adds rich, savory depth without overpowering—just the right touch for cozy, craveable comfort.

1 min Prep15 min Cook16 min Total

1 min Prep•15 min Cook•16 min Total

5 Servings

1 min Prep15 min Cook16 min Total

1 min Prep•15 min Cook•16 min Total

5 Servings

Cooking Mode

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

Ingredients

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Kosher salt, to taste
Ground pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is golden brown and smells toasted, about 2 minutes.
Whisk in milk about ½ cup at a time, waiting until milk is completely absorbed before adding more. Cook béchamel until thickened and very smooth, about 10-15 minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in Parmesan cheese until melted. Season with nutmeg and kosher salt.

Directions

Cooking Mode

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is golden brown and smells toasted, about 2 minutes.
Whisk in milk about ½ cup at a time, waiting until milk is completely absorbed before adding more. Cook béchamel until thickened and very smooth, about 10-15 minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in Parmesan cheese until melted. Season with nutmeg and kosher salt.

Do You Know?

Organic Valley farms comprise more than 440,000 acres of land in the United States, and this organic acreage is home to more than 1,600 Organic Valley family farms and a whole lot of biodiversity.

Organic Valley’s mission is to provide a stable, sustainable pay price to farmers so they can continue farming with their families. It all started in 1988, when seven farmers got together to find a way to market their goods and make a sustainable living by producing organically derived food.

Our organic farmland is teeming with life. From earthworms and pollinators to bear and elk, our small organic family farms host a whopping 30% more biodiversity than conventional farms. Help us preserve the flora and fauna that make our world go round.

Frequently Asked Questions

Béchamel can be made up to 2 days ahead. To store, press plastic (or beeswax wrap or parchment paper) directly onto the surface of the sauce and refrigerate. Rewarm until just heated through before assembling lasagna.

For lasagna or casseroles, aim for a medium-thick béchamel. Too thin? Simmer longer. Too thick? Stir in warm milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Béchamel is a foundational sauce for lasagna, Croque Monsieur, gratins, creamy soups and casseroles. It’s also great as a base for cheese sauces or veggie bakes.