White Queso Recipe

By Becky Hardin

Updated Dec 8, 2025

a bowl of mexican dip with chips and salsa. - 5

mexican cheese dip with chips and salsa. - 6

four stages of making cheesy cheesy cheesy cheesy cheesy sauce. - 7

mexican cheese dip with chips and salsa. - 8

This white queso is easily my all-time favorite dip—and for good reason. I’ve always loved a good queso blanco, but once I learned how to make it at home, this quickly became the recipe I’ve made more times than I can count. It’s everything queso should be: perfectly gooey, ultra-creamy, and packed with rich, irresistible flavor. It comes together quickly, stays smooth (not grainy or clumpy!), and works for everything from game day to weeknight snacking. And I’m so proud that over 3,000 home cooks agree, giving this queso dip a glowing 5-star rating!

a hand dopping a tortilla chips into a bowl of homemade white queso. - 10

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5-Star Review

“This recipe was such a huge hit with my family. I would attach a picture, but as soon as I made it. They devoured it lol!” -Sara

Easy Queso Dip Recipe

This super popular homemade white queso dip has been a favorite at my house for years and years. I love to make it for Cinco de Mayo , eat it with tacos on Taco Tuesday , and serve it up for the ultimate game day celebration, Super Bowl Sunday , or any time we need football snacks. If we are celebrating, I am making this queso dip recipe!

If you’ve shied away from making queso dip at home, let me tell you this recipe is easy and delivers a restaurant-quality dip that will disappear in no time at all. Yes, you do need to be on top of it, as it does require constant stirring, but the result is so worth it. What you get is creamy, drool-worthy cheesy goodness that you can easily change up based on what you’ve got on hand.

Tips for Beginners

Do not boil. Lower the heat just as the mixture begins to boil. Boiling or overheating may produce a grainy texture.
Use freshly grated cheese. Store-bought grated cheese is coated so it won’t melt as well as freshly grated.
Cornstarch is optional. If you prefer not to have a super thick consistency, you can omit the cornstarch.
If the dip is too thick . Gradually add milk until you get your desired consistency.
Stir constantly . While the cheese is melting, stir constantly to ensure a smooth, creamy queso. Note that queso thickens as it cools.
Make it in a slow cooker . We have step-by-step Crockpot instructions in the recipe card as well.

Ingredients1x2x3x

Cheese Dip

▢ 12 oz. evaporated milk (1 can)
▢ 1 tbsp cornstarch
▢ ¾ lb. white American cheese
▢ 4 oz. freshly shredded mozzarella cheese

Seasonings

▢ 2 tbsp chopped canned jalapeños or chopped green chiles
▢ 1 tsp chili powder or cumin
▢ ½ tsp ground nutmeg optional
▢ 1 tsp red pepper flakes
▢ ¼ tsp kosher salt
▢ ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Toppings

▢ chopped fresh cilantro, tomatoes, and jalapeños for garnish

Video

Instructions

Heat evaporated milk over medium-high heat in a small saucepan. Stir in the cornstarch and whisk to combine. 1 tbsp cornstarch
Once simmering (bring it to just before boil—when it starts bubbling up the sides, it’s ready), immediately reduce heat to low.
Immediately stir in the cheese in batches, starting with the white American cheese. As you stir in the cheese, increase the heat to medium/low and whisk CONSTANTLY while the cheese melts. Once each batch is melted and creamy, add more. Don’t stop stirring—you have to whisk the entire time while adding cheese. ¾ lb. white American cheese
Once done with the white American cheese, add in the shredded mozzarella. Again, whisk CONSTANTLY while the cheese melts, ensuring you have a creamy blend. If you prefer the cheese a bit thicker, add a bit more mozzarella. 4 oz. freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
Once all the cheese is melted, stir in the jalapeños, chili powder, nutmeg, red pepper, and salt and pepper. 2 tbsp chopped canned jalapeños, 1 tsp chili powder, ½ tsp ground nutmeg, 1 tsp red pepper flakes, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper
(Optional) If you want the queso to be a bit browned (as pictured), pour the queso into a skillet and place in the oven. Broil for 3-4 minutes, or until cheese begins to bubble and brown.
Top with cilantro, tomatoes, and more jalapeños if desired. chopped fresh cilantro, tomatoes, and jalapeños
Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

Becky’s Tips

Set the slow cooker to HIGH and add in the evaporated milk/cornstarch and all of the cheese.
Cover and let the cheese fully melt, stirring regularly.
Once melted, switch the cooker to LOW and stir in any additional ingredients and spices.
Keep it in the slow cooker while serving (great option for parties) on warm, and be sure to stir it occasionally.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

How to Make Homemade Queso Step by Step

Ingredients to make homemade white queso. - 11

Gather all your ingredients together.

Evaporated milk and cornstarch in a saucepan with a whisk. - 12

Heat the milk: Over medium-high heat, heat 1 can of evaporated milk in a small saucepan. Stir in 1 tbsp of cornstarch and whisk to combine.

Cubes of cheese and milk in a saucepan. - 13

Melt the white American cheese: Once the milk begins simmering, bring it to just before a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Immediately stir in ¾ lb. of white American cheese in batches. As I stir in the cheese, I increase the heat to medium/low and whisk CONSTANTLY as the cheese melts. Once each batch is melted and creamy, add more. I don’t stop stirring, I whisk the entire time while adding cheese.

Shredded cheese added to white queso in a saucepan with a whisk. - 14

Add the mozzarella: Add 4 oz. of freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and whisk CONSTANTLY while it melts, ensuring you have a creamy blend. If you prefer the cheese thicker, add a bit more mozzarella.

Creamy cheese sauce with spices and peppers in a saucepan. - 15

Season the queso: Once all the cheese is melted, add 2 tbsp of chopped canned jalapeños, 1 tsp of chili powder, ½ tsp of ground nutmeg, 1 tsp of red pepper flakes, ¼ tsp of kosher salt, and ¼ tsp of ground black pepper. Note, these are optional, but I like a little heat!

Thickened white queso in a saucepan with a whisk. - 16

(Optional) Broil: I like to brown the queso, so I pour it into a skillet and place it in the oven. I broil for 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese begins to bubble and turn brown.

Garnish and serve: Top with cilantro, tomatoes, and more jalapeños if desired. Serve with tortilla chips, and enjoy!

Cheese and Seasoning Variations

Cheese: Instead of mozzarella, use Monterey Jack, extra sharp cheddar, provolone, white cheddar, or Muenster.
Chiles: Add more or less depending on your spice preference or substitute with whatever chiles you have on hand.
Spices: Some readers don’t like cumin and nutmeg, so feel free to skip or change the spices as you see fit. If you’re not sure, add a pinch at a time, and make sure you like it before adding the full amount. If you prefer just the cheesy taste, leave them out.
Add-ins: I love to mix in chorizo, taco meat, or ground beef , or even rotisserie or shredded chicken (these ingredients should all be fully cooked first).

How to Store

If I have leftover cheese dip, I pour it into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat it, add a splash of milk and heat it in the microwave in 15-30 second increments, stirring in between to make sure it’s fully heated through.

Serving Suggestions

This white queso is made for dipping tortilla chips , homemade or store-bought. But I don’t stop at dipping because this queso works as a sauce for chicken enchiladas or baked tacos . I’ve even poured it over chicken quesadillas and chicken nachos . The possibilities are endless. My fridge is never without a batch of this white queso ready to go at any moment.

More Cheesy dips to try

Cowboy Dip Queso (Loaded Velveeta Queso Dip) is the ultimate Super Bowl appetizer. This EASY Rotel Dip recipe is loaded with Velveeta, beer, pepper jack, black beans, Rotel, and sausage! - 18

Velveeta Queso Recipe (Rotel Dip)

Buffalo Chicken Dip

dipping a tortilla chip into a bowl of nacho cheese sauce - 22

dipping a tortilla chip into a bowl of nacho cheese sauce - 23

Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

Crockpot Queso

mexican cheese dip with chips and salsa. - 26

White Queso Dip Recipe