A crack team of highly skilled food content producers, the GH Kitchen Team are Good Housekeeping’s resident recipe developers and all-round food obsessives. GH Kitchen Director Sarah Akhurst is our resident hosting pro and loves nothing more than putting on a foodie feast for friends. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time. With a wealth of professional kitchen experience between them, they’re dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work every single time.
Speedy and easy 5-min white sauce recipe
Bowl + whisk + microwave. This cheat's white sauce recipe couldn't be simpler.

If you’re just getting started in the kitchen, this easy white sauce recipe is a total game-changer. It takes just 5 minutes, uses ingredients you probably already have, and is the base for loads of comforting dishes like Mac 'n' cheese or lasagne.
No fancy skills needed here, and no hovering over the hob beating out lumps! We promise, once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it. Ready? Grab your whisk and let’s make magic with butter, flour, and milk.
Ingredients
- 50 g
butter
- 50 g
plain flour
- 568 ml
carton milk
Grated nutmeg, salt and freshly ground back pepper to season
Directions
- Step 1Put the butter, flour and milk in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Step 2Use a balloon whisk to whisk together
- Step 3Microwave on high on 800W for 5min, whisking every 1min, until smooth and thickened.
- Step 4Season with grated nutmeg, salt and freshly ground back pepper
Make it cheesy!
Once the sauce is cooked, whisk in a handful of grated cheese until melted
Want ideas for how to use your lovely white sauce?
Try using it for a fish pie, to top a lasagne, stir it through cooked cauliflower for a cauliflower cheese bake or use it as the base for a chicken pie.
