This Queso Dip recipe blows away any store-bought cheese dip with real, natural ingredients. It tastes unbelievably delicious with a secret ingredient that keeps the dip smooth and velvety for days. No processed anything here – this Queso Dip recipe sticks to real, natural ingredients for the best results! In This Article Why This Recipe Stands OutKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadWhat To Serve With Queso DipCommonly Asked QuestionsQueso Dip Recipe RecipeMore to Cook And Eat View more This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Why This Recipe Stands Out Who doesn’t love creamy, cheesy dips? This Queso Dip recipe is better than anything you can buy from a store. Here’s why we love it: Pure, Real Cheese: This recipe uses real, good-quality sharp cheddar cheese and evaporated milk for a dip that’s all about the cheese. It reminds us of our Cheesy Mexican Bean Dip! Smooth and Velvety for Days: The surprise ingredient in this recipe? Just a tablespoon of cornstarch makes the cheese sauce thick, velvety, and smooth. Won’t Seize Up: Unlike other homemade cheese dips, this one won’t harden or “seize up” on you. Rather, it tends to get a bit thicker as it cools, but it’s still smooth. Kid-Friendly: Kids and adults all love Homemade Nachos and Queso Dip with crunchy tortilla chips. Key Recipe Ingredients Sharp Cheddar Cheese – We use a block of good quality sharp cheddar cheese and shred it ourselves. Pre-shredded cheese is often coated in anti-caking agents that can make the queso grainy. Evaporated Milk – This is our base liquid and we use it because it has less water than regular milk, which helps keep the dip smooth and creamy. Cornstarch – We use cornstarch to thicken the dip. It’s important to fully dissolve it with the evaporated milk before adding it to the cheese to ensure there are no lumps in the finished recipe. Spices – We use a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, and cayenne pepper to give our queso dip delicious flavor with a bit of kick. Substitutions And Variations Here are some of our favorite variations and substitutions: Cheese: Sharp cheddar adds a classic flavor but you can also experiment with different cheeses. Pepper Jack, Colby, or even a Mexican cheese blend could be delicious. Spices: Using different spices can add a new spin to this recipe. You can add some Taco Seasoning or even a sprinkle of smoked paprika for a smoky flavor. Add-Ins: Avocado, tomatoes, green onions, peppers, and cilantro all make great toppings. Or, go a step further and try adding in some cooked crumbled sausage, ground beef, or shredded chicken to make this dip a meal. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Start by shredding a block of good-quality sharp cheddar cheese. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan, ensuring the cornstarch is fully dissolved. Stir the mixture over medium heat until smooth. Adjust seasonings and consistency as needed. Keep the sauce warm for serving. Stir occasionally, as it may thicken when cooled. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at our favorite prep-ahead strategies for this recipe: Shred the Cheese: You can shred the cheddar cheese ahead of time. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. This will save you some time when you’re ready to make the queso dip. Make it a Day Ahead: This queso dip recipe can be made a day ahead of time and stored in the fridge. It’s a great make-ahead option for parties and gatherings. This homemade Queso Dip is creamy, velvety, smooth, and rich. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make too! What To Serve With Queso Dip Chips and Salsa Serve your homemade queso with a variety of tortilla chips and our Blender Salsa. The cheesy dip is the perfect match for the crispy chips and the fresh flavors from the salsa to balance it out. Serve tortilla chips with this Pico de Gallo recipe and Guacamole recipe, along with queso. Fresh Vegetables Queso dip also goes great with fresh veggies. Try serving it with carrot sticks, celery, bell pepper strips, or broccoli florets. This cheese sauce is fantastic when drizzled over steamed, roasted, or air fried broccoli. Nachos, Quesadillas, and Tacos Use your queso dip as a nacho cheese sauce. Drizzle it over a plate of tortilla chips, then add your favorite toppings. We love this BBQ Chicken Nachos recipe. It’s also a must-have with any of your favorite Tex-Mex meals. Serve it alongside carne asado tacos, chicken burrito bowls, or pizza quesadillas! Commonly Asked Questions What type of cheese is best for queso dip? We recommend using high quality, name brand sharp cheddar cheese for this queso dip. We highly recommend shredding your own cheese from a block for the best texture, as pre-shredded packaged cheeses often contain additives that can affect melted texture. Can I make this queso dip ahead of time? Yes, you can make this queso dip ahead of time. Reheat it gently on stovetop before serving. If needed, thin out the sauce with a splash of milk and whisk to incorporate. What if my queso dip is too thick? If your queso dip is too thick, you can easily thin it out with a bit of milk. Just add a little at a time and stir until you reach your desired consistency. How long does queso dip keep? Queso dip can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it gently before serving and add a splash of milk if needed to adjust the consistency. Print Queso Dip Recipe This Queso Dip recipe blows away any store-bought cheese dips. No processed anything here. Just real, natural ingredients that taste unbelievably delicious! A surprise ingredient keeps this dip smooth and velvety for days. Course Appetizer, SnackCuisine Mexican American, Tex-MexDiet Gluten Free, VegetarianMethod Stovetop Prep Time 10 minutes minutesCook Time 5 minutes minutesTotal Time 15 minutes minutes Servings 8 servings Calories 155kcal Author Amy Dong Ingredients8 oz sharp cheddar cheese good quality block, shredded yourself12 oz evaporated milk1 TB cornstarch1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp onion powder½ tsp ground cumin¼ – ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper depending on desired heatwhole or low-fat milk optional, for thinning sauce as needed and toppings as desired InstructionsOff heat, place all ingredients in a medium saucepan and stir to combine well. Be sure cornstarch is fully dissolved. Turn heat on medium and stir until mixture is completely melted and smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste, if needed. If needed, thin out sauce with a splash of milk and whisk to incorporate.Keep sauce warm to serve. Sauce will thicken some as it cools but should remain soft. Notes Leftover dip can be stored in airtight container in fridge for a few days. Gently reheat on stovetop, stirring with a bit more milk if needed. Shred your own cheese from a good block of cheddar. The additives found in pre-shredded bags of cheese will affect your results. Keep the queso dip warm if you’re serving it at a party or for a gathering. A small fondue pot works well.  Adjust the seasonings to your liking. This is your queso dip, so make it as mild or as spicy as you want. This recipe is part of our Mexican and Tex Mex Recipes Collection. Serve your homemade queso dip with a variety of tortilla chips and our Blender Salsa at your next gathering!   If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionCalories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 235mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 479IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 326mg | Iron: 0.3mg More to Cook And Eat Hot Imitation Crab Dip – Hot Imitation Crab Dip makes a hearty and satisfying appetizer for any occasion. Roasted Beet Hummus – This Roasted Beet Hummus is jaw dropping delicious. Easy, healthy, and crazy addictive. Jalapeño Popper Party Dip – This Jalapeño Popper Party Dip is just what the party or game day calls for. It’s crispy, cheesy, kicked-up, and pretty much ensures an empty bowl at the end of the night. Frank’s Buffalo Chicken Dip – This Frank’s Buffalo Chicken Dip is ultra easy and perfect for the big games and all the parties. It’s creamy, cheesy, and irresistibly delicious. The post Queso Dip Recipe appeared first on Chew Out Loud.