Best Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe (2024)

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This Mexican white cheese dip recipe is similar to white cheese sauces served in many delicious Mexican restaurants. It is so delicious and so versatile.

You are going to love this super simple Mexican Restaurant White Sauce.

The Best White Mexican Cheese Dip Recipe

Our family loves this easy queso blanco recipe. It has become a tradition to serve it during any football game and on Taco Tuesdays around here. If I don’t serve this Mexican white cheese dip recipe with our tacos I’m going to have some upset children.

This is a must New Years Eve Recipe or easy game day recipes when we host a party. One of our favorite and Easy Mexican Recipes.

Mexican White Queso Dip Recipe:

This queso blanco recipe is very kid friendly and will be a nice surprise to your family gatherings. It is a nice change from the normal velveeta cheese dip.

If you cannot find American cheese, I suggest you go to the deli counter at the grocery store to buy it.

Ask them to slice it for you, so you can break it into your saucepan and help it melt faster.

White American cheese is actually better priced than Velveeta, and it makes an amazing creamy white queso dip.

What type of pan do you need for this recipe?

Now to make your life easier, I highly recommend a double boiler to melt your cheese. It will go much smoother and will melt more evenly and you don’t have to stress about the cheese accidentally burning.

You don’t have to use a double boiler for this recipe. You can use a small saucepan, just make sure to watch it closely as you’re preparing this cheese to ensure that the cheese does not burn on the bottom of the pan.

Ingredients

  • White American Cheese – I find this at the deli counter at my local grocery store. If you cannot find it, you can use Velveeta Blanco in this recipe instead.
  • Milk – I usually use milk as it makes this cheese dip creamier. You can use heavy cream or half and half as well.
  • Butter – Don’t skip the butter and make sure to use a high quality butter not margarine for this recipe. I prefer Land O Lakes butter but any 100% butter will work great in this recipe.
  • Green Chiles – I use the canned ones and they work awesome. You can use fresh diced fresh green chiles as well if any are available in your area.
  • Cumin – Don’t skip the cumin in this recipe. It’s add the perfect flavor to this dip recipe that you will miss! If you don’t have cumin, check out Best Substitute for Cumin.
  • Garlic Salt – Garlic powder would work as well. If you use garlic powder, I recommend using ¼ of the total amount.
  • Cayenne pepper – I just use a pinch and this recipe and it adds a little zip. You can use more or less depending on how spicy you enjoy your dip recipe! If you don’t like cayenne check out our Best Cayenne Pepper Substitute.

How to make Mexican White Cheese Dip

  1. Place cheese, milk, and butter in a sauce pan. Heat over low heat.
  2. Heat until melted – stirring frequently to ensure that the cheese doesn’t stick or burn to the bottom of the pan.
  3. Stir in the green chillies, cumin, garlic salt, and just a pinch of cayenne pepper.
  4. Add more milk if you want the dip to be thinner or if the dip is too thin, you can continue to heat it on low until the sauce thickens to your prefer.
  5. Serve immediately with tortilla chips, tortillas, and your favorite Mexican dish.

What kind of cheese is needed for Queso Blanco:

To make the traditional Mexican restaurant style queso blanco, use white American cheese.

It melts the best. You can also mix in a small amount of Mozzarella, pepper jack, or Monterey jack to enhance the flavor. Buy the block and then hand shred it for a spicy but smooth cheese dip.

Tips for this White Cheese Dip:

  • Heat on Low – You don’t want the milk to over cook in this recipe as this will cause your cheese dip to be grainy so ensure that you are simmering the dip and watching it closely so that the milk does not over cooke.
  • Stir, Stir, Stir – This cheese dip does need to be stirred frequently so that the dip does not burn and melts evenly.
  • Control your Spice Level – Everyone likes different level of spice in this cheese dip recipe. If you like spicier foods, add more cayenne or stir in some diced jalapeños to increase the spice level of this dip.

Can this dip be made in a crock pot?

Yes, this dip can be made in a crock pot. Crock Pot White Cheese Dip is great to make for parties as the crock pot will keep the dip warm for you.

Variation ideas:

  • Mix in 1 cup cottage cheese for a different flavor to this cheese dip recipe.
  • Consider topping with ½ cup queso fresco before serving.
  • Replace the green chilies with a can or Rotel to add in some diced tomatoes.
  • Top with diced tomatoes and jalapeños right before serving.
  • Add in brown ground beef or sausage to add some meat to this delicious dip recipe.

How to Store this Dip:

If you have any dip leftover, you can refrigerate the dip in an air tight container for up to 3-4 days or freeze the dip in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.

To reheat, defrost the dip out if frozen in your refrigerator, then add a splash of milk and microwave in 20-30 second intervals stirring between each interval until the dip is heated through and warm.

Best Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe (7)

Review

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Best Mexican White Cheese Dip

4.96 from 1813 votes

This is the Best Mexican White Cheese Dip recipe. An Authentic queso dip that tastes just like the Mexican Restaurant white sauce. Your entire family is going to love this queso blanco.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 10

Cuisine American, Mexican

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Calories 100

Author Carrie Barnard

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place cheese, milk, and butter in a sauce pan over low heat.

  • Heat until melted – stirring frequently.

  • Stir in the green chillis, cumin, garlic salt, and the cayenne pepper. Remember, it doesn’t take much cayenne.

  • Add more milk if you want it thinner.

  • Serve immediately with chips, tortillas, and your favorite mexican dish.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Serving 10z, Calories 100kcal, Carbohydrates 1g, Protein 4g, Fat 8g, Saturated Fat 4g, Cholesterol 26mg, Sodium 494mg, Potassium 50mg, Vitamin A 285IU, Vitamin C 3.9mg, Calcium 248mg, Iron 0.3mg

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More easy dip recipes to try

  • Chili Cheese Dip Recipe
  • Queso Fundido
  • Jalapeño Popper Dip Recipe
  • Crock pot Sausage Cheese Dip Recipe
  • Copycat Qdoba Queso Recipe
  • Crock pot Rotel Dip Recipe
  • Sausage Cream Cheese Dip Recipe
  • Crock pot cream cheese taco dip
  • Easy Guacamole Recipe with Salsa

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About the Author

Best Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe (16)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

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Best Mexican White Cheese Dip Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the white cheese sauce at Mexican restaurants made of? ›

Many people think it contains goat cheese, but what you customarily find in restaurants is made from easy melt white american cheese, purchased thru suppliers or large supermarkets."

What is the white shredded cheese that Mexican restaurants use? ›

Queso Blanco

Translated to “white cheese,” this option is yet another crumbly cheese for Mexican food. It's softer than Cotija, making it a more subtle option for refried beans, salads, and enchiladas. Queso Blanco is unique in that it melts well without melting completely.

What is authentic Mexican cheese dip made of? ›

The Mexican cheese dip I know about is queso fundido, which means simply melted cheese. Typically, chopped tomatoes, onions, and chiles are sautéed in a skillet, often with chorizo and sometimes with mushrooms or other vegetables.

What is the white melted Mexican cheese called? ›

Queso asadero is Mexican cheese that's great for melting. It is soft, white and creamy with a mild taste, and is often used to make pizzas, quesadillas and queso fundido.

What kind of white cheese do most Mexican restaurants use? ›

Cotija cheese is one of the most used varieties in Mexico. You'll find it in several different recipes such as enchiladas, tacos, beans, salads, and soups. It's a white crumbly variety with a similar flavor and texture to feta.

What is queso blanco sauce made of? ›

The BEST Queso Blanco Dip starts with combining white American cheese, chopped green chiles and pickled jalapenos in a bowl. Milk, water, cumin and just a little juice from the pickled jalapenos are added before the whole thing goes in the microwave.

What Mexican white cheese doesn't melt? ›

Because queso blanco doesn't melt, it makes an excellent garnish or topping cheese.

What is the white shredded cheese for street tacos? ›

Queso fresco, queso panela, queso cotija, queso ranchero, etc. if it melts, it's probably Oaxaca or Chihuahua. If it crumbles and is moist, it's queso fresco, if it crumbles and it's dry, it's Cotija. There's a lot more cheese varieties but these are the most commonly used.

What cheese do most Mexican restaurants use? ›

Two of the most common Mexican cheeses you probably heard are cotija and queso fresco. These two popular Mexican kinds of cheese have distinctive characters that they add to various Mexican dishes. Queso fresco and cotija cheese are the most common and are often compared to each other for multiple reasons.

What is the difference between queso and cheese dip? ›

Scanning the internet and the supermarket shelf, we realized that the cheese sauces are divided into two basic categories: Queso Dips, which include some amount of heat, spices, and other flavorings, and Cheese Dips, which are cheese and little else.

Is real Mexican queso white or yellow? ›

In fact, most of the cheese in Mexico is white and includes such staples as queso fresco and queso cotija, among others. If the cheese in the taco is yellow, it's safe to assume that it's a Tex-Mex taco. That also goes for that bowl of delicious gooey yellowness served in nearly every Mexican restaurant.

What is queso dip called in Mexico? ›

Queso Fundido: A Mexican variation of queso dip that typically includes melted cheese mixed with cooked chorizo (spicy sausage), mushrooms, or other savory ingredients. It's often served in a skillet and meant to be scooped up with tortillas.

What is the difference between queso and queso blanco? ›

Although these two cheeses are commonly confused for each other, they have a few key differences. While queso fresco is made with rennet and bacterial cultures that separate the milk into whey and curd, queso blanco simplifies things even further by using lemon juice or vinegar to achieve the same result.

What is white cheese called? ›

Also known as pickled or white brine cheese, white cheese is coagulated and preserved in brine. Commonly produced in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East, many local varieties exist and many, such as feta, akawi and halloumi, have achieved global appeal.

What cheese melts creamy? ›

Cheeses with more moisture and lower melting points make for mouthwatering, creamy cheese sauces. Cheddar is one of the most popular choices, but Swiss and Gruyère are also terrific options.

What kind of cheese is the white cheese in Mexican food? ›

Queso blanco is a general term for fresh white cheese, but is also the name given to a fresh white cheese often described as a cross between mozzarella and cottage cheese. This cheese is typically made from skim cow's milk.

What kind of cheese is Mexican restaurant cheese? ›

Two of the most common Mexican cheeses you probably heard are cotija and queso fresco. These two popular Mexican kinds of cheese have distinctive characters that they add to various Mexican dishes. Queso fresco and cotija cheese are the most common and are often compared to each other for multiple reasons.

What kind of cheese do Mexican restaurants use in quesadillas? ›

Traditional Mexican cheeses like Oaxaca cheese or Chihuahua cheese are commonly used in quesadillas because they melt easily and have a mild, slightly salty flavor. Other cheese options include Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, and mozzarella.

What exactly is queso fresco? ›

Translated as “fresh cheese” from Spanish, queso fresco is everything you could want from a fresh cheese and then some. Every bite is light, airy, refreshing, and just a little bit tangy—just what you want crumbled on an enchilada fresh out of the oven.

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