This easy, creamy julia child béchamel sauce is a simple, versatile dish that’s perfect for adding richness to any meal. It’s quick to make and only requires a few common ingredients like butter, flour, and milk. Use it for pasta, lasagna, or as a base for other sauces!
Ingredients Needed
- 5 tablespoons butter (⅓ stick)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 quart (4 cups) milk
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, or to taste
How To Make Bechamel Sauce
- Gather Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients to prepare the béchamel sauce.
- Make Roux: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for about 7 minutes until the flour turns a light golden, sandy color.
- Add Milk: Increase the heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in the milk. Keep whisking until the sauce thickens. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 10 to 20 minutes until the flour softens and the sauce is smooth without any gritty texture.
- Season: Taste the sauce and season with salt and freshly grated nutmeg.
- Serve: Serve the béchamel sauce hot, and enjoy!

Recipe Tips
- Whisk continuously: while cooking the flour and butter to avoid any lumps or burning.
- Cook the flour long enough: until it reaches a light golden color for the best flavor.
- Add milk gradually: to make sure the sauce thickens smoothly without clumping.
- Simmer the sauce gently: for 10-20 minutes to ensure it’s smooth and no longer tastes like raw flour.
- Adjust seasoning: with nutmeg and salt to your taste. You can add a pinch of pepper too for extra flavor.
How To Store Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Transfer leftover béchamel sauce to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: You can freeze leftover béchamel sauce for up to 3 months. After freezing, thaw it in the fridge overnight, then reheat gently on the stove, whisking to restore its smooth texture.
Nutrition Fact
Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 200
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sodium: 350mg
- Potassium: 160mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 12g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 8g
- Protein: 6g
More Julia Child Recipes:

Bechamel Sauce Julia Child
Description
This easy, creamy julia child béchamel sauce is a simple, versatile dish that’s perfect for adding richness to any meal. It’s quick to make and only requires a few common ingredients like butter, flour, and milk. Use it for pasta, lasagna, or as a base for other sauces!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients to prepare the béchamel sauce.
- Make Roux: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for about 7 minutes until the flour turns a light golden, sandy color.
- Add Milk: Increase the heat to medium-high and slowly whisk in the milk. Keep whisking until the sauce thickens. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 10 to 20 minutes until the flour softens and the sauce is smooth without any gritty texture.
- Season: Taste the sauce and season with salt and freshly grated nutmeg.
- Serve: Serve the béchamel sauce hot, and enjoy!
Notes
- Whisk continuously: while cooking the flour and butter to avoid any lumps or burning.
- Cook the flour long enough: until it reaches a light golden color for the best flavor.
- Add milk gradually: to make sure the sauce thickens smoothly without clumping.
- Simmer the sauce gently: for 10-20 minutes to ensure it’s smooth and no longer tastes like raw flour.
- Adjust seasoning: with nutmeg and salt to your taste. You can add a pinch of pepper too for extra flavor.