Once you learn how to make Shake Shack cheese sauce my way, you won’t look at another recipe again. Their rich and creamy cheese sauce, which takes their fries and burgers to new heights, is one of their menu’s most notable elements.
Since its founding, Shake Shack, the well-known fast-casual eatery famous for its shakes, fries, and burgers, has attracted a devoted customer base.
Ingredients
American Cheese: 2 cups
Cheddar Cheese: 2 cups
Canola Oil: 1 tablespoon
White Wine Vinegar: 1 tablespoon
Jalapeños: 6 thin slices
Onion: ¾ cup, sliced
Salt: ½ teaspoon
Whole Peppercorns: 2 teaspoons
These will infuse a gentle spiciness into your sauce.
Heavy Cream: 2 cups
The cream provides richness and helps create that smooth texture we love in cheese sauces.
White Wine: 2 tablespoons
A splash of white wine adds complexity to the flavor and helps deglaze the pan during cooking.
How to Make Shake Shack Cheese Sauce
Sautéing the Vegetables
Prepare your ingredients beforehand. To guarantee consistent cooking, thinly slice your jalapeños and onions. Heat the canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until it begins to shimmer. Season the pan with salt, whole peppercorns, jalapeños, and chopped onions. These ingredients should be sautéed for around five minutes, or until the onions are aromatic and transparent. This step is essential since it creates the cheese sauce’s taste foundation.
Deglazing the Pan
It’s time to deglaze the pan after your onions are fragrant and tender. Add the white wine and white wine vinegar. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, thoroughly stir to remove any browned bits that have adhered to the pan’s bottom. Let this mixture reduce until it thickens slightly, about 3 to 5 minutes. This procedure gives your sauce depth in addition to improving flavor.
Adding Heavy Cream
Deglaze and then add the heavy cream, stirring constantly. At this stage, turn off the heat and steep the mixture for around half an hour. By letting it steep, all of those amazing tastes come together to create a more strong cheese sauce.
Straining the cream
Once steeped, return the cream to your pot by straining it through a fine mesh screen. This stage is crucial because it eliminates any solid particles from your mixture, guaranteeing that your finished sauce has the smooth, velvety feel that we all desire. Any sediments that remain in the sieve should be thrown away because they have successfully flavored your cream.
Heating and adding cheese
Put the strained cream back on the stove over low heat. Make sure it’s just hot enough to melt your cheeses without boiling them. Add the American and cheddar cheeses gradually, whisking constantly, until all the cheeses are melted and thoroughly mixed. While the cheddar offers depth and sharpness, the American cheese will contribute its distinctive creamy texture.
Final Adjustments are Made
Don’t be concerned if your cheese sauce thickens excessively after cooling. To get the consistency you want, you can reheat it slowly over low heat while adding a bit more milk or cream. The consistency should be pourable but thick enough to stick to burgers or fries without being too runny.
See also: Why is Shake Shack so expensive
Serving Suggestions
Now that you know how to make Shake Shack cheese sauce, let’s explore some delicious ways to serve it:
Fries with Cheese
Drizzling this cheese sauce over crispy French fries is one of its most common applications. After your fries are crispy and golden brown from baking or frying, cover them with a liberal amount of warm cheese sauce. Before serving, top with crumbled bacon or chopped scallions for an added touch.
Burgers
Add some cheesy goodness on top of your handmade burgers to make them even better. Place your well cooked burger patties on toasted buns, cover with melted cheese sauce, and then top with pickles, lettuce, and tomato.
Nachos
Use this cheese sauce as a dip to elevate regular nachos into a remarkable meal. Line a baking sheet with tortilla chips, cover with warm cheese sauce, then garnish with diced tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, or any other toppings you choose. Bake for a short while until everything is heated through.
Veggies
Try topping steamed cauliflower or broccoli with this delectable cheese sauce for people seeking healthier options without compromising taste. It’s a great method to add attractiveness to vegetables.
The Best Storage Tips
In the odd event that you have leftovers, keep them in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat, stirring often, in short bursts until well heated. To restore creaminess, reheat with a dash of milk or cream if necessary.
Tips for Perfecting Your Shake Shack Cheese Sauce
It takes practice to make a great cheese sauce! The following advice will assist guarantee success each and every time:
Make Use of Fresh Ingredients
Whenever feasible, use fresh ingredients instead than older or pre-packaged ones; this will greatly improve the flavor quality.
Try Different Cheeses
Do not be afraid to try other kinds of cheese! Gruyère or Monterey Jack might bring fresh tastes to your sauce, but American and cheddar are traditional options for this dish.
Modify the Level of Spice
Consider using roasted red peppers in place of jalapeños if you like less heat but still want some flavor without being overly spicy! They give depth and sweetness without the need for additional heat.
Whisk continuously.
Whisk continuously while adding cheeses to heated cream combinations! This guarantees uniform dispersion throughout your finished product and avoids clumping.
Don’t hurry.
Before proceeding to the next step, give each step enough time to develop the flavors, especially when sautéing vegetables.
Conclusion
Learning how to make Shake Shack cheese sauce at home is not only achievable but also incredibly rewarding! With just a few key ingredients and straightforward steps outlined above—you’ll be able to enjoy this creamy delight anytime cravings strike! Whether drizzled over fries or slathered on burgers—this rich cheesy goodness will elevate any dish into something truly special!
