Creamy White Queso (Mexican Cheese Dip Recipe)

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This creamy, cheesy, and flavor-packed White Queso Recipe is practically addictive! Trust me, after throwing it together in just a few minutes, you’ll be dipping your tortilla chip into the silky, cheesy goodness again and again and AGAIN!

If you’re like me, one of your favorite things about dining out at a Mexican restaurant is munching on warm tortilla chips with a side of silky and creamy white cheese dip — YUM! But what if you could make this irresistible dish in your own kitchen?

Learning how to make Mexican queso from scratch is a game-changer! You will no longer need to go out to enjoy this tasty cheese dip. Instead, you can cook it up with a few ingredients in under 30 minutes at home!

Ingredient notes

• White American cheese | The creamy cheese base for your Mexican dip is delicious white American cheese. You can purchase a block at the deli counter in your local grocery store or grab some slices.
• Unsalted butter | Use 100% real unsalted butter rather than margarine. You surely don’t want to skip this essential queso ingredient because it adds a rich creaminess.
• Milk | Make it creamy and silky-smooth with whole milk. Or use heavy cream or half and half if preferred.

• Green chilis | Canned green chilis work perfectly and make your job a bit easier.
• Cumin | Cumin is one of the critical ingredients that blends all the flavors so nicely. For the best results, choose a high-quality jar of cumin.
• Garlic and onion powder | Complete the savory taste of this queso recipe with a bit of garlic and onion powder.
• Cayenne pepper | If you’d like, add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a hint of heat. Or, use chili powder, paprika, or your favorite hot sauce instead.

How to make The Best White Queso Dip

In under 30 minutes, you’ll have a freshly made and oh-so-delicious queso cheese dip! Serve it with tacos, quesadillas, or tortilla chips — Buen Provecho!

STEP 1 | Add the cheese and other ingredients to a saucepan

In just four simple steps, you’ll master this easy queso blanco recipe.

First, cut the cheese into 1-inch cubes. If you grabbed white American slices from the store, you could still chop the cheese into cubes. This is the best way to melt it down without the risk of burning the cheese. 

Then, place the cubes in a medium saucepan with the unsalted butter, milk, and one can of green chilis.

STEP 2 | Melt the cheese

Next, set the burner temperature to low heat and cook the ingredients. Continuously stir the cheese, chili, butter, and milk mixture to avoid burning and help it to cook evenly.

After about 7-8 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted, move to the next step in this easy recipe.

STEP 3 | Sprinkle in the seasonings

Now, carefully add the tasty seasoning to the cheese sauce — cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir to incorporate them thoroughly.

STEP 4 | Add cayenne pepper and serve!

You’re just about finished with your homemade cheese dip! All you need to do is slowly pour it into a serving bowl and sprinkle the surface with a dash of spicy red cayenne pepper.

Then, serve warm with tortilla chips or another food perfect for dipping into this irresistible queso dip!

Did you think making creamy and cheesy white queso would be so simple? When you dip your crispy tortilla chip into the queso at a local Mexican restaurant, you may think, “with how delicious this is, it must be tricky to throw together!”

Well, as you’ve learned, this is not the case! Make white queso with restaurant-quality flavor in little time with easy-to-find ingredients.

Variations and substitutions

• In a crunch, substitute the White American Cheese with Velveeta Blanco.
• If available, use chopped fresh green chilies for even more authentic flavor.

Storage and reheating tips

• You won’t want to throw out your leftover Mexican cheese dip — it’s just too delicious to waste! Instead, pour the completely cooled queso into an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to four days.
• Then, reheat it on the stovetop, in the crock pot, or even in the microwave, and serve it again!

Frequently asked questions

What to serve with White Queso Mexican Cheese Dip

Pair this heavenly white American cheese queso with toasted tortilla chips as a side for a flavorful dish, like a Fish Taco Bowl with Mango Salsa or these one-of-a-kind BBQ Chicken Tostadas.

Or, drizzle the cheesy queso on top of your Chicken Burrito Bowl made with fresh ingredients, like crisp onions, filling brown rice, and sliced cherry tomatoes.

And, of course, Mexican queso beautifully blends with the smoky flavors of my Chicken Street Tacos.

Beyond the recipe

We may refer to it as “Mexican” queso; however, this popular recipe originated in Spain. From there, it spread like wildfire to Mexico and North and South America.

Today, there are thousands of variations of traditional queso — from pale yellow Tex-Mex recipes made with cheddar or yellow American cheese to silky white queso filled with diced peppers and tomatoes.

In Texas, queso could be considered one of the main food groups with how often it is consumed and how obsessed with queso many Texans are. Many Texans born and raised in the southern state say a gathering of family or friends isn’t complete without a batch of freshly made steaming white queso — and homemade BBQ, of course!