01 -
In a medium saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.
02 -
Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for approximately 1 minute, stirring constantly to form a smooth roux.
03 -
Gradually whisk in the whole milk to the roux, continuing to whisk until the mixture thickens and becomes smooth.
04 -
Stir in shredded cheddar cheese, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, optional cayenne pepper, and salt. Mix until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is homogeneous.
05 -
Remove the sauce from heat and serve immediately alongside nachos or your preferred Tex-Mex dishes.