This nacho cheese dip is smooth, creamy and a little spicy! It’s easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients then just add some tortilla chips for dipping.
More dip recipes we love to make include chicken enchilada dip, slow cooker queso blanco and hot cheesy corn dip.
Table of Contents
Nacho Cheese Sauce
This is is the best nacho cheese dip and not just because it tastes so much better than store-bought but because it’s creamy, flavorful, and costs less to make it from scratch. You can taste the flavor of the cheese that you can’t get from the overly processed store-bought stuff and it’s so easy to make in just 10 minutes.
If you like a bit of heat, this nacho cheese dip recipe has a nice kick to it. It’s the perfect party dip that is usually gone in as little time as it takes to make. It makes a delicious Mexican appetizer along with my 7 layer dip for family night and a quick and easy dip for when I’m hosting a crowd!
Recipe Ingredients
- Butter and cornstarch: Both are used to make a simple roux that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. All-purpose flour can be used, too.
- Cayenne pepper: To add some spice to the nacho cheese.
- Milk: I prefer 2% milk for a smoother cheese sauce.
- Cheese: Freshly grated cheddar cheese or Velveeta cheese can be used.
- Hot sauce: A few teaspoons to really make the flavor bold and spicy. I prefer Frank’s Red Hot Sauce.
- Salt and pepper:
Best Cheese For Melting
Sometimes I’ll use Velveeta, similar to my Velveeta queso (a 2 ingredient dip you’ve got to try!) because I like that it melts nicely, but there are also times when I’ll use good quality sharp cheddar.
Ideally, you want to use a cheese that melts nicely (think fondue cheese). Mozzarella, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, Fontina, or Gouda are some great options.
How to Make Nacho Cheese Dip
- Make a roux. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter then sprinkle the cornstarch or flour over the butter along with the cayenne pepper. Stir constantly and cook for about 1 minute.
- Pour in milk. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking it fast. Continue whisking and cooking until it has thickened (but still pourable). Be careful to watch it so it does not burn.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese until and stir until smooth. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Season to taste. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce and more cayenne pepper depending on heat preference.
Ways to Use Cheese Sauce
- Family movie night calls for homemade tortilla chips and nacho dip!
- When hosting a party, set up a nacho bar and have a variety of dips, including salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and of course, a spicy nacho cheese dip.
- My kids love to use it as a pretzel cheese dip with homemade pretzel bites, which makes for a great after-school snack idea.
- Drizzle it on top of sheet pan nachos or baked skillet nachos for a nice finish to the loaded toppings!
- A great way to get your kids to eat more raw veggies is to serve a delicious dip along with them!
- Make a muffin tin snack tray! Place a variety of different snacks in the tin and let your kids pick and choose what they like to dip.
Cheese Sauce Tips
- Is the sauce too thick? Stir in an extra 1-2 Tablespoons of warmed milk.
- Transfer the dip to a mini crockpot, or if no kids are around, a fondue bowl, to keep it warm and melty.
- Dice up Velveeta before melting. It will melt better for a nice smooth consistency.
- If using cheddar, make sure it’s good quality and freshly grated from a block. The anti-clumping additives used in pre-shredded cheese don’t allow for easy melting.
- Adjust the spice. Add a little more hot sauce or cayenne pepper if you like your dip extra spicy. You could even want to add in some diced jalapeno!
- Omit the spice if you don’t like any spice at all. It’ll still be great!
Storing & Reheating
- To store: This dip is best served immediately, so it’s not recommended to try and make it too far ahead. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days, covered, however, the texture will change over time.
- To reheat: Reheat the dip in the microwave or gently on the stove top until warmed through.
Other dips you may like include black bean salsa, bean dip with cream cheese and homemade salsa.
More Mexican Dip Recipes
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Nacho Cheese Dip
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- ½ Tablespoon corn starch , or all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper , more to taste
- 1 cup milk , warm in microwave 15 seconds
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese or Velveeta
- 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce (I prefer Frank's) , more to taste
- S&P , to taste
For serving: Tortilla chips, soft pretzels, vegetables
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the cornstarch or flour over the butter along with the cayenne pepper. Stir constantly and cook for about 1 minute.
- Next slowly pour in the milk while whisking it fast. Continue whisking and cooking until it has thickened (but still pourable). Be careful to watch it so it does not burn.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese until and stir until smooth. The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Season with salt and pepper, to taste (I start with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper). Add 2-3 teaspoons hot sauce and more cayenne pepper depending on heat preference. If it's too thick, you can whisk in a Tablespoon or two more of warmed milk.
- Place in a mini crockpot to keep warm and gooey. If it thickens, reheat in the microwave for 15 seconds. Serve with tortilla chips. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Appetizers, Condiments, Crockpot, Crockpot, Dips, Kid-Friendly, Low Carb, Nut-Free, One Pot, Sauces, Stovetop, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
This is such a great queso recipe. So creamy!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Gina :)
This is exactly the type of dip I was looking for! Perfect for a game day recipe!
Enjoy! :)