Quick Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce (Copycat Style)
Make a rich, creamy, and smooth nacho cheese sauce at home in minutes. This recipe mimics popular restaurant styles and is perfect for dipping chips or topping nachos.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Total Time: 10 min
- Yield: About 1.5 cups 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup milk
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a kick)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly to create a roux.
- Gradually whisk in the milk until the mixture is smooth and starts to thicken slightly.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the shredded cheddar cheese one handful at a time, stirring until each addition is completely melted and smooth before adding more. Do not let the sauce boil.
- Once all the cheese is incorporated, stir in the salt, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper, if using.
- Continue to stir until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately over tortilla chips, fries, or tacos.
Notes
- For the creamiest texture, shred your own cheese instead of using pre-shredded varieties, which contain anti-caking agents.
- If the sauce becomes too thick upon standing, whisk in a splash of milk or water until smooth.
- This sauce is excellent as a topping for game day snacks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 9
- Unsaturated Fat: 6
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 35
Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/quick-homemade-nacho-cheese-sauce/