First, in a medium saucepan set over medium heat, melt the butter until it becomes bubbly.

Once bubbles form, whisk in the flour for about 1 minute or until it has a pasty consistency.

Make sure you don’t let it change color, so keep an eye on it as you whisk

When the butter forms a paste, slowly whisk in the milk until no lumps of flour remain. Stirring constantly, bring the milk to a simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens, which will be about 3 to 5 minutes.

Next, remove the pan from the stove and stir in the shredded cheese until all the cheese has melted.

Finally, add a pinch of salt, if needed, and a pinch ground cayenne or red pepper. You can skip this step if you prefer less salt or no heat.

Last but not least, serve warm and enjoy!