Queso Blanco Dip is a creamy, spicy, perfectly smooth and cheesy dip just like they serve at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Queso blanco is a melted cheese dip that’s delicious every which way you eat it.
I’ve had a lot of pretty good queso dip in my life. I mean, we’re talking ooey gooey melted cheese with Mexican flavors. What’s not to like about that?
Still, I have no qualms saying that the Queso Blanco recipe I’m sharing today is the BEST Queso Blanco Dip I’ve had. It’s not just a fine-tasting easy dish to set out with a bag of chips for parties. This Queso Blanco recipe is so tasty that I found myself wanting to add it to just about everything.
Smother a burrito with this queso, pour it on a burger, drizzle it across roasted potatoes, pour it over Spanish rice, layer in into nachos or dip your chips in it. However you enjoy this Queso Blanco Dip, it’s sure to knock your socks off.
Queso Blanco Dip
There is just enough heat in this Queso Blanco Dip to keep you coming back for one more bite.
The heat in the cheese comes from the addition of pickled jalapenos and green chiles. It’s easy to adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your spice preferences and tolerance.
If you like your queso extra hot, double up on the peppers. I’ve made this dip exactly as written and I’ve made it twice as hot. We all loved it as written below and my husband and my oldest son especially enjoyed it with the extra heat.
I promise it’s not overwhelmingly spicy as written, but you could also reduce the peppers by half if you prefer a mild Queso Blanco Dip. It’ll still be creamy, flavorful, and completely delicious.
My family has always enjoyed the queso we’ve had at Mexican restaurants. I’ve tried over the years to recreate our favorite restaurant-style Queso Blanco to no avail.
Every version of cheesy dips I’ve made over the past couple years was never quite right. The queso recipes were all okay but nothing ever wowed me. Every cheese I tried, from the fancy ones to the not so fancy ones, failed to produce the perfectly creamy sauce that is found in Mexican restaurants.
Then, I ran across my friend Nikki’s recipe. It was given to her by a reader who worked at a Mexican restaurant and I couldn’t believe how perfect it was or how easy. I am thrilled with this recipe!
How to Make Queso
Once you learn how to make queso, you’re likely to never order it from a restaurant again. It takes no more than the right combination of ingredients, a microwave and five minutes.
The BEST Queso Blanco Dip starts with combining white American cheese, chopped green chiles and pickled jalapenos in a bowl. Milk, water, cumin and just a little juice from the pickled jalapenos are added before the whole thing goes in the microwave.
I’ve used Boar’s Head and Land o’ Lakes brands of white American cheese with good success. This cheese is usually found in the deli section of the grocery store. Be sure not to confuse it with the shelf-stable American cheese product.
When you’re making queso dip in the microwave, it’s extremely important to pause after every minute or so to stir everything together. The first couple of times you pull the bowl out to stir the queso, it will look watery. Don’t worry; the cheese dip will come together and thicken after a few minutes.
It takes about five minutes in the microwave for the cheese to fully melt and combined. It may take more or less time depending on the strength of your microwave. When the dip is thick and creamy, you know it’s ready.
Serve this dip piping hot and don’t be surprised when it disappears quickly, especially if you have a household full of cheese lovers like us.
Queso Blanco Dip Recipe
Kitchen Tip: I use this bowl and this spatula to make this recipe.
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-size glass bowl.
- Microwave for five minutes, pausing to stir every minute. The dip will look watery at first but it will thicken as it cooks.
- Serve hot over anything you want to make more delicious! Enjoy!
This is wonderful on all kinds of tacos from Red Chile Chicken Tacos to Bacon and Egg Breakfast Tacos. (In my book, Queso Blanco is acceptable at any time of day, even breakfast.)
Queso Blanco is also a tasty addition to burgers like these Filthy Burgers with barbecue pulled pork, beef and bacon. For a really delicious variation on this dip, try adding corn and bell peppers to your next batch of queso. The result is a fantastic Corn Queso Dip that you won’t be able to stop eating.
Of course, much of the time this Queso Blanco Dip never makes it into another recipe. We just end up eating this straight out of the bowl with tortilla chips. There are never any complaints; My family loves this Queso Blanco Dip and the kids request it frequently.
That said, this cheddar version of homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce caught my eye this week and it is calling my name for our next family movie night. (I could never have too many cheese dips!) Best of all, it’s made with just a handful of ingredients just like this easy recipe.
For another terrific hot snacking option, try this Hot Bean Dip too!
The BEST Queso Blanco Dip
Ingredients
- ½ pound White American Cheese roughly chopped into 1″ pieces
- 2 tablespoons chopped green chile frozen or canned will work fine
- 1 tablespoon pickled jalapeno slices diced fine
- 1 tablespoon juice from the pickled jalapenos
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup water
- dash of cumin
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a medium size glass bowl. Microwave for five minutes, pausing to stir after every minute. The dip will be very watery at first, but it will thicken as it finishes cooking.
- Serve hot, poured over just about anything that you want to make more delicious. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally posted 10-4-13 – recipe notes and photos updated 12/27/22)
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says
Thank you for this recipe. Just yesterday we ordered in Mexican at the office which included a delicious white queso. Refreshing not to see that fake yellow stuff and I had on my list of things to do, to recreate it.
Jenn S says
Oh my word… I just want to reach in my computer and grab that little bowl!!! It looks so incredibly creamy and delicious!!
Mary Callan says
I'm not surprised your family is happy – delicious!
Mary x
Big Dude says
Sounds delicious Mary as do the Taco Meatballs.
Tricia Buice says
Oh Mary – you did it this time! I agree with Mary C – you are one terrific mom/wife/blogger, etc.! This looks so creamy and delicious. Yes please!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says
Can't wait to try this. I'm think I could live on cheese dip!
Anonymous says
This sounds great! We love Queso dip, and it is about $5.00 for a small dish in the Mexican restaurant we go to. Wonderful to make it at home. Yum!
Anonymous says
This is wonderful with 1/2 pound of hamburger meat in it….mmmmmm
Velva says
My son loves queso and I buy it all the time from the grocery store….I am now thinking, "why?" I can make it at home. Thanks for the inspiration.
Chris says
Honestly though, I don't mind the Velveeta Mexican queso but I'll try it with the white American cheese.
Joy Sigler says
We have tried for years to replicate this dip. Hope I can find white American cheese in our Publix. I have used Montery Jack and that white Mexican cheese and it's just not the same. Thank you ! I always trust your recipes.
Nikole says
We made this for lunch it was amazing, not a drop left and I think my son and husband were licking the pot lol
Derinda says
This is delish !!! I made a double batch and it was all gone before it got cold lol. Went and got more stuff to make Sunday again.
Lisa says
I made this and it is delicious!!
Mandy says
I made this and it is amazing!!
Marion says
We love this!!!!!
Lauren @ Momhomeguide says
I have to try this! I spend too much money on takeout queso. Thanks for posting!
Bernadine Kosman says
Silly me …didn't write down the ingredient list when I went to the store, Got the jalapenos and the green chili's but got white sharp cheddar instead of white american….Came out ok!
Anonymous says
I tried this tonite and my family loved it. There was not any cheese dip or chips left over. I didn't add the cumin as I didn't have any- but was still very good. I was very pleased that the cheese dip didn't get hard and stayed soft and creamy.
Anonymous says
I have made this dip many many times, it's the best!