Description
Creamy homemade nacho cheese sauce brings restaurant-style flavor to your kitchen. Melted cheddar, spices, and smooth milk create a quick dip perfect for chips, vegetables, and game day snacks you’ll devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (170 grams) medium cheddar, shredded (about 1.5 cups)
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) whole milk
Thickening Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons (30 grams) butter
- 2 tablespoons (16 grams) flour
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Create a foundational roux by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat, then gradually sprinkle flour while continuously whisking until the mixture becomes frothy and golden, cooking for approximately 1 minute.
- Gradually pour milk into the roux, increasing heat slightly and stirring consistently until the liquid reaches a gentle simmer and thickens enough to smoothly coat the back of a spoon, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and incorporate shredded cheddar cheese incrementally, stirring until each handful melts completely and creates a smooth, velvety consistency without overheating the sauce.
- Enhance the sauce’s flavor profile by blending in salt and chili powder, tasting and adjusting seasonings as desired. If the sauce appears too dense, thin it with a small amount of milk while whisking to maintain a luxurious, pourable texture.
Notes
- Choose high-quality sharp cheddar cheese for maximum flavor depth and creamy consistency.
- Keep the heat low when melting cheese to prevent separating or becoming grainy, maintaining smooth texture.
- Customize spice levels by adjusting chili powder or adding cayenne for extra kick.
- Store leftover sauce in an airtight container, gently reheating with occasional milk whisking to restore original creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 183
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 115 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 38 mg