Homemade Queso Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

The Best Queso Dip Recipe(aka Cheese Sauce) – Cheese sauce makes or breaks any nacho recipe. The Best Queso recipe is easy and flavorful, with sharp and smoky notes.

Why We Love This Homemade Queso

You say party, I say nachos… Party! Nachos! Party! Nachos! Sorry. When we get to the end of football season, everything tends to come out in chant format.

What I meant to say, was that it would be a shame to have aSuper Bowl Partyand forget the spicy cheese sauce.

You’ve probably tried the 2-ingredient version with velveeta cheese and Rotel, which features tomatoes and green chiles. I’m not knocking either of these products, or the queso they make. Let’s be honest, it is delicious in its own way.

But I do believe we can make even better-tasting queso with real cheese! And this my friends, is The Best Queso Dip Recipe I’ve ever made.

Start with fresh onions, garlic, and jalapeños, sautéed until soft, then add creamy half & half, smoky chipotle peppers, and three fabulous cheeses, including smoked cheddar to add a huge punch of flavor.

The reason so many people stick withsaidprocessed 2-ingredient cheese sauce is that it’s nice and smooth. However, if you know how to thicken your queso recipe and use quality cheeses (without fillers) you can create the best cheese sauces you’ve ever tried, that tastes authentic and super fresh.

Pour this Mexican cheese dip over tortilla chips, fries, broccoli, burgers, pretzels, and corn chipsyourself...Just kidding, let’s stick to food!

Pour it over all things food, and enter cheese-lover’s heaven.

Ingredients for Homemade Queso

• Butter – to sauté the shallot, garlic and jalapeño peppers
• Shallot – finely diced
• Garlic – freshly minced
• Jalapeños – deseeded and diced
• Half & Half – or evaporated milk will do the trick
• Chipotle chiles – use the ones that are canned in adobo sauce for a smoky flavor
• Cornstarch – to thicken things to creamy perfection
• Cream cheese – cut into cubes and softened
• Yellow mustard – to balance the flavor with a little tang
• Smoked cheddar cheese – for a slightly smoky flavor
• Sharp cheddar cheese – if you don’t like the smoky flavor, use all sharp cheddar cheese

This is the Best Queso Recipe, Perfect for Nachos, Burritos, and All Your Dipping Needs!

How to Make Homemade Queso Dip

Place a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add the butter, shallots, garlic, and jalapeño. Saute for 3-4 minutes to soften, then add the half & half and chipotle peppers.

Whisk in the cornstarch. Allow the mixture to come to a simmer, so the half & half can scald (not necessary with evaporated milk). Then lower the temperature to medium-low. Next stir in the cream cheese and mustard.

Slowly start adding the shredded cheese. Stir and add by the handful, until the sauce comes together. If you prefer your cheese sauce a little thinner, add an extra splash of half & half. Serve immediately, or keep warm in a slow cooker or fondue pot.

Serve with chips, or on top of nachos, burritos, or enchiladas!

How to Thicken Queso Dip

The best way to thicken your homemade queso is touse cornstarch as the thickening agent instead of flour.

It can be tricky to know when to choose cornstarch and when to choose flour. But the general rule of thumb is that if you plan to cook something for a longer time, use flour, and if you need your thickening agent to act quickly, use cornstarch.

Flour produces a much better flavor over time, but must be cooked quite a bit to ensure your recipe is smooth, not gritty.

Tips For Homemade Queso Dip

• In this queso recipe, there are so many bold ingredients to add flavor, so we don’t need to rely on the flour to build flavor. Cornstarch is the answer for a very smooth creamy consistency.
• It’s also important to mention that block cheese, shredded at home, produces a much better texture than pre-shredded cheese covered in additives to ward off clumping.
• Once you’ve scalded the half & half (also important for texture) keep the heat down and be patient as you slowly stir in the fresh shredded cheese.

You’ll be amazed by how rich, creamy, and zesty this smoky homemade queso sauce is.

Recipe Variations

• Peppers: I chose to use jalapeño pepper and chipotle chile peppers here. If you prefer a less spicy option, you can opt for canned hatch green chiles instead!
• Cheeses: If you don’t like smoky-flavored cheese, you can opt for all sharp cheddar cheese, or throw in some other options like pepper jack, or white American cheese!
• Seasonings: For a dash of extra spice, try adding a little bit of cayenne pepper! You can also add garlic powder in addition to the fresh garlic for a deeper savory flavor. No need to add salt here since there is salt in the cheese!

Frequently Asked Questions

Check the Recipe Card for Instructions on How to Make the Best Queso Recipe!

Looking for More Delicious Dips? Be Sure to Also Try:

• 3-Ingredient Beer Cheese Dip Recipe
• Smoked Queso Dip
• Hot Pimento Cheese Dip
• Baked Brie Bites
• Fresh Ricotta Cheese
• Creamy Sausage Cheese Dip
• Homemade Cheese Spread

Check the printable recipe card below with the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, fiber, vitamin c, and calcium percentages.