Don’t Even Pretend You Don’t Love Queso
Whether you think of it as guilty pleasure, your favorite Mexican restaurant go-to, or a football season staple, queso dip is beloved by most. It’s like a cheese-lovers fever dream—gooey, melty, cheesy, salty, loaded with a just-right spice blend and ready for your favorite tortilla chip. Served warm and fresh off the stove, queso dip feels just a bit more exciting—and a lot more party-worthy—than the jarred stuff that a lot of us have resorted to at one time or another. Honestly, we’re not even the worlds’ biggest sports fans, but we do love any excuse to make food like this! A little silly, a lot indulgent and ideal for sharing with our favorite people. Fellow queso cheese dip lovers, this recipe is for you!
What Is Queso Dip Made Of?
Queso dip is not the time for fancy cheese. Nope. Not even close! Look, we love a great Gruyère or taleggio as much as the next guy, but queso dip is all about that squeaky, factory-cheese-y stuff. You want a very specific texture—shall we call it gooey?—and the kind of melt-ability that only comes from American cheese. Embrace it! Love it! Also, buy the best quality American cheese you can! We like to buy it in a large block from the deli counter (usually they have the Boar’s Head brand). Feel free to use yellow or white, or a combination of the two. Here’s everything you’ll need to make the best, easiest queso dip ever:
Butter
Onion
Roma tomato
Canned green chiles
Cumin
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Cornstarch
Whole milk
4 Reasons This Is the Best Queso Recipe Ever
There are so many reasons to try making queso at home instead of buying it, and this recipe is especially easy. It’s really a no brainer! Other than the cheese, it’s made mostly of pantry ingredients, and it comes together in less than 10 minutes. Here are four more reasons to love it (and make it asap!):
You can make this queso dip ahead of time!
All of your friends love queso and will love you forever for making it for them. This is not opinion, it’s a fact.
You can make it your own! Try the recipe as-written the first time, but then feel free to tinker! You can make it spicier by adding a splash of hot sauce, or tinker with the spice blend until it tastes just right.
It’s super easy to make homemade queso! Like much much easier than you might think. You don’t need fancy ingredients or special tools—just some spices and cheese.
How To Make Queso Dip
While you could dip other things in this queso—maybe chopped veggies, for example—nothing beats good old tortilla chips. And conveniently, this dip comes together in just about the amount of time it’ll take you to open a bag of chips (and snack on a few while the dip simmers). Here’s how to make queso dip:
Sauté the onion in a little butter or oil.
Stir in the chopped tomatoes, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and cornstarch.
Stir in the milk and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Whisk in the cheese. Stir the queso constantly so that the bottom doesn’t burn at all.
When the cheese has melted and the queso dip is creamy and smooth, pull it from the heat and grab your favorite chips—it’s time to eat!
Can I Make Queso Ahead of Time?
You sure can! It’ll keep in the fridge for about a week. When you’re ready to serve the queso, it’s easy to reheat it! You’ll want to simply warm it slowly over low heat on the stove top, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn at all.
Tools You’ll Need:
More Super-Cheesy Game Day Recipes to Try
Queso Fanatics, Unite!
This queso recipe is admittedly a little dangerous. Once you know how truly easy it is to make queso dip at home, you’ll be wanting to make it all the time. When you make it, let us know how you like it! Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!