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Home / How to Make Nacho Cheese Sauce at Home

How to Make Nacho Cheese Sauce at Home

bowl of chips and cheese with text "the best nacho cheese sauce"

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Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce is quick and easy to make!

With just 5 natural ingredients and less than 10 minutes, you can have rich and creamy nacho cheese sauce for nachos, fries, or any game day snack!

bowl of chips and cheese sauce

If you'd rather skip my essential cooking tips and tricks and get straight to this delicious recipe –  simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.

I was always a sucker for nachos when I went to the movies.

Don't get me wrong, I always ordered popcorn and candy too, but nachos are where it's at!

Crunchy, cheesy, and they serve it in those handy dandy cups:)

Now some people say that it's fake but I'm ok with it since I am inhaling copious amount of popcorn butter and salt and washing it down with a gallon of soda.

Go big or go home!

I jazzed mine up with extra pickled jalapeños so who cares!?!

Want to join me in enjoying some crunch tortilla chips dipped in cheesy, melty, drippy cheese sauce? Come on over!

Or check out the recipe below and celebrate at home:)

WHY IS IT CALLED NACHO CHEESE?

Because basically it's the melty cheese that is served with tortilla chips when you order nachos. It stays melty and smooth for a longer time which is perfect for dipping your chips in!

Not to mention, it's better for spreading on other dishes and mixing in with other ingredients like ground beef and chicken to make super cheesy quesadillas and burritos.

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labeled picture of cheese sauce ingredients

WHAT'S IN NACHO CHEESE SAUCE?

  • butter
  • flour
  • evaporated milk
  • cheese
  • spices

Evaporated Milk – If you don't have evaporated milk you can use whole milk. I wouldn't use reduced fat milk as the water in it can make your cheese sauce grainy.

Cheese – I prefer to grate my own mild or medium cheddar cheese. It will melt the best. the pre-shredded cheese you get in a bag contains anti-caking chemicals which can keep it from melting properly.

If you want to use the processed cheese like Velveeta or American cheese slices, that is fine but I feel the block cheese has the best flavor!

Spices – I like to use paprika and salt but you can use chili powder if you prefer!

For more insider tips & tricks, and a candid behind the scenes look follow me on social media! Check use out on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter (yes, people still use Twitter, LOL!)

  • flour and butter in a pan
    add flour and butter
  • roux in a pan
    cook until foamy
  • milk in a pan with cheese
    add milk and cook to thicken
  • shredded cheese in a pot
    add cheese
  • melted cheese in a pot
    add spices
  • whisk with cheese sauce
    stir until ready

HOW TO MAKE NACHO CHEESE SAUCE FROM SCRATCH?

ONE: Place the flour and butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to melt the butter, combine with the flour, and cook over medium heat until the flour no longer tastes raw and the mixture starts to bubble and look foamy.

Roughly 1-2 minutes.

TWO: Slowly pour in the milk and stir to combine. Stirring constantly, cook until the mixture forms a thickened "sauce" that when a spoon dipped in and you run your finger through it, doesn't bleed back into the space.

THREE: Reduce the heat to low and add the grated cheese. Keep stirring until all the cheese is melted and a smooth sauce is formed.

FOUR: Remove from the heat and stir in the spices. Serve warm with chips!

For the full recipe and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

chip dipping in sauce

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MELT CHEESE FOR NACHOS?

The best way to get your cheese to melt smooth is to use whole cheese (not pre-shredded), add it to your milk mixture in a few batches instead of all at one time, and keep your stove on the lowest setting so it doesn't burn.

CAN I FREEZE IT?

You can freeze it, but it will separate when thawed. You will need to reheat it, with a small amount of milk, and whisk until combined and smooth again.

HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

You can keep it in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 4 days. If it lasts that long!

HOW DO I REHEAT IT?

The best way to reheat your cheese sauce is in the microwave at 30 second intervals until nice and smooth. If it seems thick, you can add a tablespoon or two of milk to thin it out.

You can also put it in a saucepan and reheat it on the stove top over medium-low heat.

bowl of chips and cheese sauce

TAPAS TIPS & TRICKS

  • use a block of cheese and shred it yourself. You will get a smoother and creamier sauce.
  • make sure you cook the flour and butter for at least a minute to cook out the raw flour flavor or your sauce will have a chalky taste.
  • mild cheddar is the best flavor without being overly sharp and seems to be the one that will be loved by everyone
  • switch up your flavors a bit by adding Rotel, pico, or diced jalapeños to the cheese once it's melted.
  • you can switch out the paprika for chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper for even more flavor!
  • if the pan is too hot when adding the cheese, turn off heat and remove pan for a minute or two.
  • keep it warm in a crock pot or slow cooker while you have your party!

If you love this recipe as much as I do, please write a five-star review in the comment section below (or on Pinterest with the "tried it" button – you can now add pictures into reviews, too!), and be sure to help me share on facebook!

bowl of chips and cheese with text "the best nacho cheese sauce"

This nacho cheese recipe is super easy to make and perfect for dipping all sorts of tasty treats! I love mine on seasoned french fries, soft pretzels, a taco ring, or drizzling on my Nachos Supreme!

OTHER RECIPES TO MAKE

  • Pretzel Dessert Nachos
  • Breakfast Nachos
  • Chicken Nachos
  • Pizza Nachos
  • Sheet Pan Italian Nachos
  • Nachos Supreme
  • Cheesy Taco Pasta

NACHO CHEESE SAUCE RECIPE

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
  • 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 10 ounces mild cheddar cheese (grated by hand)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Instructions

    1. In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour.
    2. Stir to combine and cook over medium heat until the flour no longer tastes raw and the mixture starts to bubble and look foamy
    3. Slowly pour in the milk and stir to combine. Stirring constantly, cook until the mixture forms a thickened "sauce" that when a spoon dipped in and you run your finger through it, doesn't bleed back into the space.
    4. Reduce the heat to low and add the grated cheese.
    5. Keep stirring until all the cheese is melted and a smooth sauce is formed.
    6. Remove from the heat and stir in the spices. Serve warm with chips!

Notes

*If you love this recipe as much as I do, please leave me a comment and rate it 5 stars. Thank you!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139 Total Fat: 11g Saturated Fat: 7g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 4g Cholesterol: 33mg Sodium: 276mg Carbohydrates: 3g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 0g Protein: 6g

This nutrition information was generated via a third party. I can not be held liable for any discrepancies in the information provided.

@TakeTwoTapas.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

How to Make Nacho Cheese Sauce at Home

Source: https://www.taketwotapas.com/homemade-nacho-cheese-sauce/