This Queso Dip is a copycat of the cheese dip sold in jars and served at your favourite Mexican restaurant. The miracle of this is that it’s silky smooth even when it cools – and reheats perfectly. Imagine the possibilities!
COPYCAT QUESO DIP
“I MUST try fake cheese dip!” I declared to Jo when I visited her in Calgary, Canada, earlier this month. “We don’t have it in Australia!” She wrinkled her nose and looked at me dubiously, trying to figure out if I was serious. Once she realised I was, she lead me to the astonishingly large range of fake cheese dips in the corn chip aisle at the supermarket.
I picked out an orange coloured Queso with “MADE WITH REAL CHEESE!!!” plastered across the label. Honestly – does anyone believe that for a second??? Cheese ain’t cheese if it can survive on the shelves for months – years!!!
But…. don’t judge me. We warmed that “stuff” up, and I had my first try of fake cheese dip….. and I enjoyed it. Yes, there’s that artificial edge to it (real cheese… *snort*!). But I still liked it. Decided I had to replicate it using real ingredients when I got home to Sydney.
So I did. 🙂
WHY THIS IS LIFE CHANGING
This Queso Dip recipe is for everyone out there who has attempted to make a Mexican cheese dip like what you get at Mexican restaurants and found it lacking. If you want the dip to be silky smooth like the stuff you get in jars, then the recipes call for fake cheese – Velveeta or other processed cheeses.
Other recipes are made starting with a roux – butter & flour – which is used to make a béchamel sauce into which cheese is added. While this makes a terrific cheese sauce for pouring over vegetables, in lasagna, gratins etc, it doesn’t have that truly silky and rich texture of a cheese dip.
Some recipes call for real cheese and varying combinations of cream / sour cream / mayonnaise – but the problem with these is that when the dip cools down, the cheese congeals. It’s super tasty – but you need to keep it warm. And it has a tendency to split when rewarmed.
The solution? Evaporated milk + cornflour/cornstarch + cheese = silky smooth rich cheese dip / sauce. Truly. It works. 🙂
Actually, I shared Nachos Cheese Dip a couple of years ago which is a simpler version of this dip. This Queso Dip is my copycat of the fake cheese dip I tried in Canada (it was Tostitos) and the ultra addictive dips served at Tex Mex restaurants in America.
I even made my own corn chips using corn tortillas because I can no longer find white corn chips here. And also because corn chips made using corn tortillas tastes so much more like corn than store bought. Plus the added bonus of being able to control the amount of salt on them – is it just me who finds store bought corn chips super salty?? I swear, they are getting saltier. If I want corn chips to use for a dip, I have to hunt for salt reduced or even unsalted.
Don’t make this Queso Dip when you’re home alone. I’m supposed to be on my Post Holiday Health Kick (I know, I know, you hear this every time I come back from holidays!!!) and it’s taken astronomical will power to hold back.
I’ve got 3 batches of this Mexican Cheese Dip in my fridge. I’m planning to offload them tomorrow. – Nagi x
PS Except maybe that one little jar. I might keep that for myself…..
PPS I realise that some people may raise their eyebrows at the name “Life Changing Queso Dip”, but for Queso Dip lovers, I deign to say this will be life changing!!!
More dip recipes
-
Guacamole (done right!) or Avocado Hummus Dip
-
French Onion Dip (from scratch) OR Retro Soup Mix 2 Minute French Onion Dip
-
Hot Corn Dip – you’ll love the flavour in this creamy, bubbly dip!
-
Smoked Salmon Dip (flavour you can’t buy in tubs!)
-
See all Dip Recipes
QUESO DIP RECIPE
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Queso Dip (Mexican Cheese Dip) recipe video!
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Queso Dip (Mexican Cheese Dip)
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups / 225 g Cheddar cheese, freshly shredded (Important - read Note 1)
- 1 tbsp cornflour / cornstarch
- 1/2 tbsp / 8 g butter
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 small white onion, very finely chopped (1/4 cup)
- 375 g / 13 oz evaporated milk (1 can, not low fat)
- 1 small tomato, finely diced (3/4 cup) (Note 2)
- 1/4 tsp each onion powder, garlic powder, cumin
- 4 oz / 113g can chopped green chile, fire roasted (Subs Note 3)
- 1/4 cup coriander / cilantro, finely chopped
- 2 - 3 tbsp milk, any
- Salt
Instructions
- Place cheese and cornflour in a bowl, toss to coat.
- Melt butter over medium heat in a large saucepan or small pot.
- Add garlic and onion, cook slowly for 3 minutes or until onion is translucent but not browned.
- Add tomato (including juices) and cook for 2 minutes until tomato is slightly softened.
- Add evaporated milk and cheese. Stir, then add chiles and Spices.
- Stir until cheese melts and it becomes a silky sauce.
- Add salt to taste - amount required depends on saltiness of cheese used - and stir through coriander.
- Stir in milk or water to adjust consistency (I use 2 tbsp) - the dip thickens when it cools, and milk can be added later to adjust to taste.
- Remove from heat. Serve warm or at room temperature - it will be soft and scoopable even when it cools.
- Store in the refrigerator. When refrigerated, it becomes the consistency of the cheese spread sold in jars that are not in the refrigerator section. Reheat in microwave and adjust consistency as desired with a tiny bit of milk. If you add too much, just put on stove again until it thickens.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
That’s not a peeved look on his face, even though that’s what you might think. It’s a look of contentment and utter comfort in his very cozy sweatshirt. I’m sure of it. He’s not embarrassed. 😈
Been searching for the perfect queso in the UK for years. The search is over, this is excellent!
That’s great Gav!! I am so happy you liked it! N x
Amazing! We make it exactly as written. This was our first queso recipe we tried and we’ve made it several times since. Better than store bought. Thanks!!
Yippee!! I am happy that you liked it Anna!! N x
Hmmm I must have did something wrong. The sauce came out sweet. We even added more salt.
It should not be sweet…it should be spicy!! N x
Definitely spicy with the chiles but sweet also. How do I cut down the sweetness from the condensed milk?
Ah! That is your problem – it calls for evaporated milk, not condensed! They are very different!! Try Carnation Brand evaporated milk – it’s usually next to the condensed milk in the store! N x
Ahhh mystery solved! Thank you!!!!
Did you maybe used sweetened condensed milk rather than just condensed?
I once put coconut cream rather than coconut milk in korma recipe🤮.
I don’t know but 25 cups of cheese sounds like way too much
2 point 5 Ben! That’s 2 and a half!! 25 would make a LOT of cheese dip even for me!!! N x
2.5 and not 25
This dip was FANTABULOUS!! 🙂 I was looking for a quick queso dip for our taco dinner and found this one. I substituted heavy whipping cream for evaporated milk since I didn’t have any and it was still so creamy, comforting, and satisfying. Thank you for sharing your culinary skills with us!!
Hi Nagi. Do you think I can freeze this? Great recipe btw.
Yes it lasts 4-6 months in the freezer.
Hi Nagi
This recipe is unbelievable, had to restrain 2 guests at a party as they were hogging it.
I’m thinking of using the cheese dip in a Mac and cheese. Do you thinkit work ok.
Definitely it will work for mac&cheese!
How long does this keep in the fridge?
It should keep for about a week Tia. N x
I’m excited to try this recipe but have a couple questions. Does it call for cornstarch, cornflower, or both?
Is it coriander or cilantro, or both? They are so different and 1/4 cup of either seems like a lot. But 1/4 cup of coriander seems like an impossible ammount.
cornflour and corn starch are the same just different names, same goes for cilantro and coriander. i’d say it’s a 1/4 cup of coriander leaves then you chop them (depends how much you love coriander lol)
Cornstarch and cornflour are not the same thing. Cornflour is basically finely ground cornmeal, ground until it’s as fine as wheat flour. I’ve made cornbread using a cup of cornflour and a cup of cornmeal together. That wouldn’t have worked with cornstarch. It would have been terrible.
Cornstarch and cornflour can be exactly the same thing – it depends on where you live. In Australia, cornflour is a fine white powder (sometimes made from both corn and wheat!) and used to thicken sauces and desserts and to coat things for frying. In the USA, that same ingredient is called cornstarch. In South Africa and some other countries, cornflour is actually a milled flour made from corn (similar to what Americans call finely ground cornmeal – are you confused yet??!!) If my recipe calls for cornstarch/cornflour, then I mean for you to use the white one, not the yellow one! N x
Nagi is 100% correct. Just as the rest of the world is often bewildered by the vast number of culinary weights, measures and vernaculars used only in the US (translations never provided!) you’re confused because in Australia & NZ cornflour and cornstarch are indeed the same thing. As are coriander (which is our, and many other countries, name for it) and cilantro (yours) cheers
George
Cornstarch vs cornflower, Cornstarch is finer but both will work, in Australia a lot of the cornstarch is made from Wheat so check the label.
Cilantro is the leaves of the coriander plant, also just a different name used in other countries, so either is fine and like any recipe add to your taste.
Blessings Curtis
OMG this is yummo. Thanks – as always – Nagi xo
I made this last night for NYE and it was delicious. Nothing left. Thanks!
Almost got excited when I saw you using canned green Chili. Sigh. I used it while in USA and love it. USA foods is super expensive. Thanks for the sub Information. I’ll try that.
Definitely not life changing as one person stated! Was very bland even after adding extra salt, cumin and cayenne pepper. Became very thick with an unappetizing skin after reheating, Served it at a party and it was hardly touched. Will keep looking for a more flavorful queso!
Hi Torontogal…Sorry you didn’t enjoy it…what cheese did you use? N x
Hi Nagi… I used half sharp cheddar and half pepper jack which I grated.
Made this last night for my husband who loves the fake tostitos cheese in a jar. This was a very close tasting REAL INGREDIENT clone that I would happily make again. I sent the link to friends! We don’t have fire roasted jalapenos where I live I don’t think so I used a can of chopped jalepenos and added a chunk of chipotle in adobo for the smokey flavour and that worked just fine.
I seriously had my doubts about this because I’ve had zero luck with cheese dip. Happy to report, while not necessarily ‘life changing’ this recipe is certainly ‘life improving’! It’s actually better the next day. Immediately after making it, the texture is a bit gritty from the cheese, I think. The next day though, you could definitely describe it as silky. Extremely mild. So if you like something more flavorful, you might increase the garlic and spices. Homemade recipes tend to be that way, milder, because there’s no additives and fake flavors. My husband loves to grill tomatoes, onions, peppers and garlic so adding that into the recipe would definitely put it into the ‘life changing’ category!!!! This recipe is a keeper for sure!
Thank you! As a newly arrived Australian from the US I share your frustration about the lack of canned green chiles! (And RoTel…sigh.) I know I can always count on your recipes to be top notch, and now I also really appreciate that your recipes are adapted to ingredients I can actually get here. Can’t wait to try this!
Bring canned green Chili to Australia! I miss them. Been to USAfoods but it’s super expensive
Having spent over half my life in San Antonio, TX, I truly can’t believe that the 1st REAL cheese queso recipe I’ve ever found was from an Aussie!!! So excited to bring this to the next family gathering & tell them all where it came from. LOL!!! Thanks a million XOXO
Hi Nagi,
Have tried quite a few of your recipes and you are my go to girl.
Do you think i could add re-fried beans & bacon to this ?
I know it wont be a traditional Queso but its tempting.
Annie B
Yes 100%!!!! Crispy bacon bits – what’s not to love?!
This was soooo good! As an Aussie who lived in Texas, trying to replicate queso from scratch has been impossible but this is perfect!! I highly recommend using Coles’ (hideous looking) processed cheese slices – perfect orange colour and perfect quantity of lord knows what chemical to make it work so well! My daughter is beside herself excited!
That’s why Velveeta is such a foolproof dip base. I make queso dips by combining Velveeta or White American cheese with cheese like pepper jack, colby jack, Mexican blend, gouda, or anything else that might melt nicely. I melt it into a preparation of butter, spices, tomatoes, onions, and peppers that have been stir-fried long enough to remove all the excess liquid. To that, I add half-and-half to get it hot, then Velveeta until it’s melted. It’s got to be at least just thick enough to stop being watery or milky. Add cheese to less than that and it could turn gritty, depending on the cheese.
Velveeta is a little too sticky for my taste, but I make use of it anyway because other thickeners seem to mute the flavor too much, making it turn out more like cheese gravy than queso.
Go You Just Fabulous. I made this to go over jacket potatoes (which I had put broccoli florets into) it is seriously the best I have ever tasted. Once again Nagi you have completely nailed it. Love to yourself and Dozerxxx