Nacho Cheese Recipe

I know, it seems kind of weird that I’m posting this homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce recipe the day after the super bowl. But, the reason I made this nacho cheese sauce has nothing to do with the super bowl and everything to do with the fact that I have just had a crappy week. 🙂 After a series of unfortunate events and two recipe flops, I had an, “Ugh, I give up. Just give me some chips and nacho cheese.” moment.

Rather than going totally off the deep end and buying a gelatinous block of Velveeta, I decided to try to make the nacho cheese sauce myself, with real, simple ingredients. To my surprise (and probably to my detriment), this homemade nacho cheese recipe made with real cheddar cheese is extremely fast and easy to make.

The nacho cheese recipe below is the very basic version of nacho cheese, which you can customize or embellish in many different ways. Try substituting half of the cheddar with pepper jack, or stirring in a 4oz. can of diced green chiles. Experiment with the seasonings by adding a pinch of garlic powder, cumin, or even cayenne pepper. Stir in a few sliced green onions, or a can of Rotel tomatoes (drained). You can really have fun with this one.

Here are a few tips to help make sure your homemade nacho cheese recipe is a success:

New to cheese sauce? Try making our no-roux Easy Cheese Sauce that melts together smoothly in minutes and is absolutely fool-proof!

5 Minute Nacho Cheese Sauce

This rich and tangy homemade nacho cheese only takes about 5 minutes to make and uses only real, simple ingredients.

Total: 5min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 1 Serving, calories 183.1 kcal, Carbohydrate 4.92 g, Protein 8.13 g, Fat 14.65 g, Fiber 0.32 g, Sodium 337.23 mg

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp butter ($0.22)
• 2 Tbsp flour ($0.02)
• 1 cup whole milk ($0.30)
• 6 oz. medium cheddar, shredded (about 1.5 cups) ($2.25)
• 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
• 1/4 tsp chili powder ($0.02)

Instruction:

1. Add the butter and flour to a small sauce pot. Heat and whisk the butter and flour together until they become bubbly and foamy. Continue to cook and whisk the bubbly mixture for about 60 seconds.
2. Whisk the milk into the flour and butter mixture. Turn the heat up slightly and allow the milk to come to a simmer while whisking. When it reaches a simmer, the mixture will thicken. Once it’s thick enough to coat a spoon, turn off the heat.
3. Stir in the shredded cheddar, one handful at a time, until melted into the sauce. If needed, place the pot over a low flame to help the cheese melt. Do not overheat the cheese sauce.
4. Once all the cheese is melted into the sauce, stir in the salt and chili powder. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. If the sauce becomes too thick, simply whisk in an additional splash of milk.

Quick and Easy Nacho Cheese Recipe

This nacho cheese sauce is sharp and creamy, and everything you ever dreamed of smothering over nachos, veggies, or a giant pretzel.

Prep: 5min

Total: 10min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 0.25 cup

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 0.25 cup, calories 203 kcal

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (12oz) freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese (*)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 12-ounce can (1 1/2 cups) evaporated milk
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (plus more as needed)

Instruction:

1. In a large bowl, combine shredded cheese and cornstarch and toss to coat.
2. To a medium saucepan, add evaporated milk. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until milk just begins to simmer.
3. Remove the milk from heat and stir in the cheese, a large handful at a time, until all the cheese has been incorporated and it has completely melted into the sauce.
4. Add hot sauce, salt, and cayenne, and then taste and add more if needed. Serve over nachos, fries, or steamed vegetables and enjoy!

The EASY NACHO CHEESE Everyone should learn how to make, Easy Nachos Recipe