Perfect Queso Dip Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This Perfect Queso Dip Recipe is creamy, cheesy, and super tasty—ready in under 15 minutes! Made with real cheese and simple ingredients, it’s the ultimate dip for parties, game days, Tex-Mex dinners, and any time you crave restaurant-style queso at home.
The Perfect Queso Dip for snacks, dinners, and parties!
Hi there, friends! Nothing compares to warm, rich, cheesy homemade queso dip! This easy, made-from-scratch recipe delivers smooth texture and amazing flavor without processed cheese. Whether you’re having a family dinner, a casual party, tailgating, or craving a snack, this queso is sure to disappear quickly! I hope you love it as much as we do!
Why You’ll Love This Perfect Queso
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 15 minutes with a few simple ingredients.
- Real Cheese Taste: Creamy, melty, real cheese—nothing artificial.
- Choose the Heat: Make it mild or spicy—adjust to your crowd.
- Make-Ahead Easy: Reheats perfectly for parties or leftovers.
- Crowd-Fave: Kid-approved and always the first thing to go at gatherings.
Table of Contents
Ingredients
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
To make this queso, you need the following:
- Jalapeno Cheddar or Pepper Jack cheese: Grate this yourself for the best results. Either of these types of cheese adds just enough “spice” or flavor.
- White American Cheese: May be found in slices, so it’s easy to stack and cut into smaller pieces. Melts easily for creamy queso.
- White Queso Blanco: Usually comes in a block, grate prior to making recipe. Mixes well with the other cheeses.
- Whole Milk or Half-and-Half: Gives the perfect consistency for dipping or eating atop favorite Mexican dishes.
If you need help finding any of these cheeses, ask your deli or dairy departments at the grocery store.
How to Make Queso {THREE Ways!}
There are three easy ways to make this: the Stovetop, Slow Cooker, and Microwave.
Stovetop (Double Boiler Method)
- Grate the cheese and add it to 1/2 of the half-and-half or milk in double boiler over low heat.
- Stir as the cheese melts; add more half-and-half or milk until it reaches desired consistency.
- Sauce should be thin but thick enough to coat a chip when dipped.
- Serve immediately, or pour it into a small slow cooker set to Warm to keep it hot.
Slow Cooker
Step by Step Instructions
- Add all of the grated cheese and the half-and-half or the whole milk.
- Stir to combine and turn the slow cooker to Low setting.
- Heat for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Turn the slow cooker to the Warm setting to keep it hot for serving.
Microwave
This is ready in 5 minutes in the microwave. Great for quick snacks!
- Add the grated cheeses and the half-and-half or milk into a large microwaveable bowl.
- Microwave for 3 minutes at 80% power, stopping and stirring after each minute. Remove from the microwave and stir vigorously to combine.
- If needed, continue microwaving for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese is thoroughly melted and all ingredients are well blended.
- Serve it immediately or pour it into a small slow cooker on the Warm setting for serving.
Recipe Tip
Three Easy Methods to Make Queso:
- Let it cook on the stovetop while preparing other dishes.
- Make in the slow cooker when you want to make ahead, or let the slow cooker do the “work”. Keep it warm in the crockpot for serving, especially for parties.
- Prepare it quickly in the microwave. It is easy for my son and his friends to make it in the microwave in just a few minutes when they want a tasty snack.
Recipe Success Tips
- Grate Your Own Cheese: Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents; can make queso grainy.
- Cook Slow with Low Heat: Never boil; high heat causes cheese to separate.
- Keep Warm for Serving: Use a small slow cooker on the warm setting for serving and parties.
- Thin if Needed: Stir in 1–2 tbsp extra milk or half-and-half if it thickens too much.
Storage Tips
- Store: Refrigerate cooled queso in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm on stovetop or in microwave (30-second intervals, stirring each time). Stir in 1–2 tbsp milk as needed.
- Make Ahead Tip: Prepare a day ahead and reheat slowly before serving.
More Favorite Dip Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Queso means “cheese” in Spanish. But it most commonly refers to Mexican cheese dip or Tex-Mex cheese dip.
Grab the tortilla chips and use queso as a dip. Pour it over nachos, burritos, Steak Fajitas or Chicken Fajitas, or other Mexican food favorites.
You probably cooked it too hot or used pre-shredded cheese. Use low heat and freshly grated cheese.
Why This Perfect Queso Dip is a Snack and Party Favorite
Creamy, smooth, and loaded with real cheese flavor, this homemade queso dip is the ultimate crowd hit. Quick and better than any restaurant version—once you taste it, you’ll never go back to store-bought!
Perfect Queso Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese
- 1 cup grated white American cheese
- 1/2 cup grated white queso cheese
- 1/2 cup half and half or whole milk
Instructions
Stovetop Queso:
- Add cheeses and half of the half and half or milk to the double boiler over low heat. Stir as the cheese melts and add more of the half and half or milk until the mixture reaches the desired consistency. The cheese sauce should be thin, but still thick enough to coat a chip when dipped. Serve immediately or pour into a small slow cooker on the warm setting to serve.
Microwave Queso:
- Add cheeses and the half and half or milk into large microwaveable bowl. Microwave for 3 minutes at 80% power, stopping and stirring after each minute. Remove from the microwave and stir vigorously to combine.
- If needed, continue microwaving an additional 1 – 2 minutes, or until cheese is melted thoroughly and ingredients are well blended. Serve immediately or pour into a small slow cooker on the warm setting to serve.
Slow Cooker Queso:
- Add cheeses and half and half or milk to the slow cooker. Stir to combine and set on low setting for at least 30 minutes. Then, stir when the cheeses have melted and lower to the warm setting to keep warm while serving.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate cooled queso in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm on stovetop or in microwave (30-second intervals, stirring each time). Stir in 1–2 tbsp milk as needed.
- Make Ahead Tip: Prepare a day ahead and reheat slowly before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Originally published in 2010. Updated with additional cooking methods.
Would this survive in the slow cooker???
Sure! It should do fine for serving on a low setting.
Hi Robyn! One question – you say jalapeño cheddar cheese…do you mean pepper jack cheese or is there actually a cheddar with peppers in it? Love the recipes and your sweet way of delivering them. On queso, I always joke that my kids love it so much that the waiter should just bring the bowl of it and some straws. They inhale the stuff! Can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks.
Pam
Hi Pam,
Great question. Yes, there are a few brands of white cheddar cheese that have jalapenos added to it. If you can’t find that and your grocery store doesn’t carry it, you could always use Pepper Jack or double the amount of white cheddar and add in diced jarred or fresh jalapenos to taste.
I’m right there with your kiddos! A straw would make such good sense!!! xo
yes, there is jalapeno cheddar – I have some
You have just gone straight to my eleven year old boy’s heart. He LOVES queso! Our favorite brand is no longer in the store so I’ll have to give this a try.
I don’t know if I’m the only one who does this, but I usually mix my quest dip with my salsa dip. It looks god awful, but it’s so yummy!
Lol, that was supposed to be queso not quest
OMG I do that too and my mom always snarls up her nose at the look of it
This is queso PERFECTION. I could eat the whole bowl!
Sounds really good Robyn. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Liz.
You can never have enough cheese. This sounds great! Time to Pin. Thanks, Robyn.
I agree! Thanks so much, Karla!
Cheese, cheese and then more cheese…….OMG!!! Pinning it!!
Oh yes, don’t forget the cheese! 🙂
I am the same way! I can’t EVER pass up the queso dip when we go out for Mexican. It’s the best part! Excited to try out this at-home recipe. Looks amazing.
I hope you enjoy it, Crissy! It has spoiled me being able to have it on the table so quickly, which leads to making it waaaay more often! 🙂
We’ll have to try this. We make ours using white American, adding pickled jalapeños, chopped green chillies, milk and a bit is the juice from the jalapeño jar. Have a teen age son, so he and friends love demolishing this when they are over.
Yum! That sounds delicious!