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Recipes

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.

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A pot of Bechamel sauce next to milk, butter, and cheese.
1 min Prep•15 min Cook16 min Total
5 SERVINGS

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 Prep•15 min Cook16 min Total
5 SERVINGS
A pot of Bechamel sauce next to milk, butter, and cheese.
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Ingredients
A bowl of white flour.
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
Two nutmegs with ground nutmeg on the side.
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg 
A small bowl of salt.
Kosher salt, to taste 
black pepper
Ground pepper, to taste 
Directions
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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.
© Organic Valley 2025. All rights reserved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can béchamel be made ahead of time?

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.

What is the correct consistency of bechamel?

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.

What dishes use béchamel?

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.

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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.

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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.