Description
This Best Queso Recipe offers a creamy, flavorful cheese dip perfect for game days, parties, or casual snacking. Combining white American cheese, spicy Pepper Jack, and green chiles, it’s balanced with a savory chorizo addition and fresh toppings like cilantro, Roma tomatoes, and pickled jalapeños for vibrant layers of taste. Ready in just 25 minutes, this crowd-pleasing queso is warm, smooth, and irresistibly cheesy.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1/2 medium Onion, finely diced
- 1 Garlic clove, finely minced
- 1 (12-ounce) can Evaporated Milk
- 1 lb. White American Cheese
- 8 ounces Pepper Jack Cheese, freshly grated
- 4 ounces Diced Green Chiles
Meat (Optional)
- 1/2 lb. Pork or Beef Chorizo (or ground beef or sausage)
Toppings
- Cilantro, for topping
- Roma Tomato, diced (optional)
- Pickled Jalapeños (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 8-9 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Warm Evaporated Milk: Pour in the evaporated milk and gently warm it without boiling to prevent separation.
- Melt White American Cheese: Add the white American cheese and stir continuously until fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add Pepper Jack and Green Chiles: Gradually add the shredded Pepper Jack cheese, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth. Then stir in the diced green chiles.
- Keep Warm and Prepare Toppings: Reduce heat to low to keep the queso warm, stirring occasionally. Prepare toppings such as cilantro, diced Roma tomatoes, and pickled jalapeños if desired.
- Cook Meat (Optional): In a separate saucepan or skillet over medium heat, brown the chorizo, sausage, or ground beef, breaking it up finely. Cook until fully browned and drain any excess grease. If using ground beef, season with salt and pepper.
- Incorporate Meat into Queso: Stir half of the cooked meat into the queso sauce, mixing thoroughly, and reserve the remaining half as a garnish on top of the dip.
- Serve: Transfer queso to a serving dish, top with remaining cooked meat and fresh toppings. Serve warm with tortilla chips or your favorite dippers.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheese for best melting and flavor.
- Do not boil the cheese sauce as it can cause the cheese to become grainy.
- You can substitute the chorizo with your choice of ground beef or sausage.
- Adjust the amount of diced green chiles for your preferred spice level.
- This queso can be kept warm in a slow cooker on low setting for parties.
- For a smoother consistency, stir frequently and melt cheeses slowly over low heat.
