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You are here: Home / Recipes / Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

April 30, 2022 by Mahy 1 Comment

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pin for nacho cheese sauce

This Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe is one of life’s simplest pleasures! Cheesy, saucy, smooth, flavor packed, better than store bought nacho cheese sauce that you will use endlessly! Sharing a quick video below on how to make this nacho cheese sauce recipe in a snap!

a hand holding a piece of chips dipped in cheese sauce showing how saucy it is

Starting up another Mexican inspired recipe as I am IN LOVE with anything Mexican spiced! My easy Chicken Flautas would be so good with this sauce, Sheet Pan Fajitas and even this Fajita Bowl. BEST thing is to slather it on this Crunchwrap Supreme!

The beauty of this sauce is it takes minutes to make and stores in your fridge for a while, so you can enjoy it endlessly!

 

This Nacho cheese sauce recipe is similar in comfort like my popular Cheese Fondue. While the latter is a Swiss and made differently, and used different, they both however have the same cheesy comfort tasty feel!

Why Nacho Cheese Sauce?

There’s no denying that cheese makes everything better! Turn that cheese into a creamy sauce, and you’ve got yourself a dip that goes with literally everything! 

That’s why today I’m going to share my secret nacho cheese sauce recipe with you. 

The creamy texture of nacho cheese sauce makes for an incredible condiment. When you dip any type of foods in this creamy goodness, it’s heavenly!

Nacho cheese sauce poured into a bowl served along side chips, some tomatoes and a tea towel

This sauce is so easy to make, even though it’s pricey to buy. Not only easy, but so versatile! 

I’ve had nacho cheese sauce where it’s pure cheese and it was awesome, but I have flavored mine up a bit and it turned out even better!

It’s definitely optional, however I can’t recommend it enough! A dash of minced jalapeno, cilantro and scallions along with a dash of spices into the sauce–OMG so crazy good!

And that’s why we love nacho cheese sauce!

How to Use Nacho Cheese Sauce?

There is no wrong way of using nacho cheese sauce! Just pair it up with whatever you’re eating!

A hand going in to the bowl of nacho cheese sauce with a tortiall chips and showing the stretchy cheesy smooth sauce

Having fried chicken? Side it with some cheese sauce! Got some fries? Top em’ with some creamy cheese sauce! Snacking on some tortilla chips? Dip ‘em in nacho cheese sauce! Are those nuggets? Smother them with that nacho cheese sauce! Veggies, nachos, tacos, you name it!

I mean, you can add nacho cheese dip to anything to make it taste heavenly!

I know you’re drooling right now! So, let me get straight to the recipe!

Ingredients for Nacho Cheese Sauce

ingredients for the nacho cheese recipe including flour, butter, milk, cheese, spices oregano, chilli powder, cilantro, jalapeno and salt

Here’s what you need to make a finger-licking nacho cheese sauce:

  • Butter 
  • Flour 
  • Whole Milk 
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese 0r a combo of cheddar and Monterey jack, or your favorite!
  • Seasoning: salt and pepper
  • Spices (optional but so good!!) chilli powder, oregano, garlic powder
  • Flavorings (optional but SERIOUSLY good) – minced jalapenos, scallions, cilantro, pickled jalapeno

If you want to make it creamier, you can increase the amount of butter and cheese. 

How to Make Nacho Cheese Sauce?

butter melting in a pot to make the nacho cheese sauce

– Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.

A hand pouring in the flour into the pot of butter

– Now add flour to the melted butter and continue whisking until the mixture is well-blended and starts bubbling. 

A whisk whisking in the flour into the butter to make the roux base of the sauce

– Next, add milk to the butter and flour mixture, and let it simmer for a while. 

milk is added into the pot with the whisk

– Continue whisking till the mixture starts thickening. 

A spatula showing the final consistency of the rouch with. the milk boiled and the flour thickened

– Once it reaches the consistency of a thick sauce, stop whisking.

A hand pouring in the cheese into the post gradually

– Start adding the grated cheese to the mixture in small batches till it completely melts.

cheese whisked into the nacho cheese sauce until smooth and creamy

– At this point, turn the flame low, and stir the mixture a bit to help the cheese melt into the mixture.

A combination of spices and flavoring added over the pot to flavor the nacho cheese sauce recipe which is optional

– Once everything is completely blended, stir in the flavor elements, spice and seasoning if using. You can increase or decrease the amount depending on your taste and preference.

A spatula showing the final sauce in the pot ready

And there you have it – The ultimate homemade nacho cheese sauce!

A hand dipping in the tortilla into the pot to check if the sauce is ready

Tips for Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce

If you want your nacho cheese sauce to turn out just right, here are some tips:

1. How to remove the raw flour taste from the cheese sauce?

When you add flour to the melted butter, cook it for at least a minute to get rid of the flour-like taste.

2. What is the best cheese to use?

The best cheese to use for nacho cheese sauce is medium cheddar. You can use sharp cheddar cheese also, but it can cause the sauce to become too thick or grainy. In such a case, let the sauce simmer on low flame to help melt the cheese and remove the grains.

Another pro tip is to hand grate block cheese rather than getting pre-shredded cheese, to avoid artificial taste in your cheese sauce.

3. How to store the cheese sauce?

The best way to store your nacho cheese sauce is to keep it in an air-tight jar and refrigerate it. It might get a bit thick after being refrigerated, but you can microwave it right before using it.

nacho cheese sauce placed in a mason jar to store in the fridge

I hope this homemade nacho cheese sauce recipe will help you add flavor to your food and wow your friends! 

BEST Cheese Recipes

Whipped Feta

Caprese Salad

Burrata Cheese

Halloumi Fries

Strawberry Goat Cheese Appetizer

Cheese Fondue with Lamb Dippers

Blue Cheese Dressing

Halloumi Cheese Salad

Labneh Dip with Zaatar Pistachio Mint Olive Topping

Mini Zesty Feta Stuffed Peppers

A hand going in to the bowl of nacho cheese sauce with a tortiall chips and showing the stretchy cheesy smooth sauce
4.75 from 8 votes
Print

Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

This Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe is CRAZY Delicious! Cheesy, saucy, smooth, flavor packed, better than store bought nacho cheese sauce that you will use endlessly!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican, TexMex
Keyword almond crunch cheesecake, blue cheese recipe, blue cheese sauce, lamb burgers with nachos, nacho cheese sauce, Nacho cheese sauce recipe, nacho sauce, nachos sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 138 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

Nacho Cheese Sauce

  • 2 Tablespoon Butter unsalted at room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoon Flour all purpose regular
  • 1 cup milk whole milk or even 2%
  • 1.5 cups cheddar cheese grated. You can also use monterey jack or a combo

Seasoning and Flavoring

  • 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder
  • 1/2 Tablespoon cilantro monced
  • 1/2 Tablespoon jalapeno minced
  • 1 teaspoon pickled jalapeno minced
  • 1 Tablespoon scallions minced

Instructions

  1. - Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
    butter melting in a pot to make the nacho cheese sauce
  2. - Now add flour to the melted butter and continue whisking until the mixture is well-blended and starts bubbling.
    A hand pouring in the flour into the pot of butter
  3. - Next, add milk to the butter and flour mixture, and let it simmer for a while.
    A whisk whisking in the flour into the butter to make the roux base of the sauce
  4. - Continue whisking till the mixture starts thickening.
    A spatula showing the final consistency of the rouch with. the milk boiled and the flour thickened
  5. - Once it reaches the consistency of a thick sauce, stop whisking.
    A hand pouring in the cheese into the post gradually
  6. - Start adding the grated cheese to the mixture in small batches till it completely melts.
    cheese whisked into the nacho cheese sauce until smooth and creamy
  7. - At this point, turn the flame low, and stir the mixture a bit to help the cheese melt into the mixture.
  8. - Once everything is completely blended, stir in the seasoning and flavoring. You can increase or decrease the amount depending on your taste and preference.

    A combination of spices and flavoring added over the pot to flavor the nacho cheese sauce recipe which is optional
  9. And there you have it - The ultimate homemade nacho cheese sauce!
    A spatula showing the final sauce in the pot ready

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Tips for Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce

If you want your nacho cheese sauce to turn out just right, here are some tips:

1. How to remove the raw flour taste from the cheese sauce?

When you add flour to the melted butter, cook it for at least a minute to get rid of the flour-like taste.

2. What is the best cheese to use?

The best cheese to use for nacho cheese sauce is medium cheddar. You can use sharp cheddar cheese also, but it can cause the sauce to become too thick or grainy. In such a case, let the sauce simmer on low flame to help melt the cheese and remove the grains.

Another pro tip is to hand grate block cheese rather than getting pre-shredded cheese, to avoid artificial taste in your cheese sauce.

3. How to store the cheese sauce?

The best way to store your nacho cheese sauce is to keep it in an air-tight jar and refrigerate it. It might get a bit thick after being refrigerated, but you can microwave it right before using it.

I hope this homemade nacho cheese sauce recipe will help you add flavor to your food and wow your friends! 

Nutrition Facts
Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 138 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 32mg11%
Sodium 257mg11%
Potassium 75mg2%
Carbohydrates 4g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 402IU8%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 193mg19%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Appetizer Recipes, Mexican Recipes, Parties, Potluck, Recipes, Side Dishes, Tailgate, Vegetarian, Videos Tagged With: butter, cheese, cheese recipe, cheese sauce, chilli powder, cilanto, flour, jalapeño, mexican recipes, mexican sauce, Nachos, nachos sauce, quick sauce, roux

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Comments

  1. Dionne

    June 21, 2022 at 7:41 am

    5 stars
    I am so thrilled to finally have found this recipe. I LOVE nachos and I LOVE making my own sauce for them. This recipe is exactly what I need!

    Reply
4.75 from 8 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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Mahy PicHi, I'm Mahy, a recipe developer, food stylist, culinary instructor, photographer, wife and busy mom! Welcome to my blog!...Read More

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