Best Nacho Cheese: Slow-Cooked To Perfection

Whether you're hosting a Super Bowl party or a Cinco de Mayo celebration, crockpot nacho cheese is a great, simple dish to serve your guests. The beauty of this recipe is that it's versatile, customisable, and easy to make. You can use a variety of cheeses, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Velveeta, and adjust the spice level to your preference. The cooking time varies depending on the heat setting, but typically, it takes around 1-2 hours on high heat or 1 hour on low heat.

How to make nacho cheese in a crock pot

Ingredients

You can use a variety of cheeses for your nacho cheese, including Velveeta, cheddar, Monterey Jack, or sharp cheddar. For a spicier sauce, you can also add jalapenos or chili powder. Other ingredients include:

• Cornstarch
• Evaporated milk (or regular milk)
• Hot sauce
• Olive oil
• Onion
• Lime juice
• Cilantro

Method

• If using cornstarch, whisk it together with the milk and hot sauce in a medium mixing bowl. Then add this mixture into your crock pot.
• Stir in the shredded cheese.
• Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is melted and the sauce has thickened.
• Serve warm with tortilla chips, crackers, or pretzels.

Tips

• It is recommended to shred your own cheese, as pre-shredded cheese contains additional ingredients that may affect the taste and melting ability.
• If you want to keep the nacho cheese warm for a party, leave the slow cooker covered and set it to 'warm' to prevent burning.
• If the cheese sauce becomes too thick, stir in a small amount of milk to thin it out.
• To store leftovers, place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave.

What type of cheese to use

There is no technical definition of nacho cheese, and it is not a real type of cheese. However, it is typically made from real cheese. While there is no standard for nacho cheese, it is usually a combination of cheddar and a cheese with a lot of umami flavour. For example, Old El Paso uses cheddar and blue cheese, Doritos use cheddar and Romano, and Pringles use cheddar, Romano, and parmesan.

For a crockpot nacho cheese recipe, you can use cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, or sharp cheddar. It is recommended to shred the cheese yourself from a block of cheese, as pre-shredded cheese contains unnecessary ingredients that can prevent the cheese from melting smoothly.

For a crockpot queso recipe, a mix of three different types of cheeses can be used: blocks of white and yellow American cheese, and shredded Mexican blend cheese. The American cheese creates a sharp, cheesy taste, while the Mexican blend adds depth of flavour.

How to make it spicier

To make your nacho cheese dip spicier, you can try the following:

• Keep the seeds in the jalapenos
• Add more jalapenos
• Add chili powder
• Add taco seasoning
• Add hot sauce
• Add jalapeno juice
• Add Rotel (a can of Rotel-style fire-roasted tomatoes with green chilies)
• Add taco meat

The following ingredients are also recommended to balance the spice:

• 30 ounces fire-roasted diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 24 ounces whole fat evaporated milk
• 1 whole lime, juiced
• 1 pound white American block-style cheese, cubed
• 1 pound yellow American block-style cheese, cubed
• 1 pound Velveeta Queso Blanco cheese, cubed
• 7 ounces Supremo Mexican Blend cheese, shredded
• ½ bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
• ½ yellow onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

Cook the onion and jalapeno peppers in a medium skillet over medium heat with the olive oil until tender and translucent (about 3-4 minutes). Add the cumin, red pepper flakes, and chili powder and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring continuously.

Add the cooked vegetables to your cheese mixture in the crockpot and stir well. Leave the lid on the crockpot slightly ajar and stir the cheese several times until it is completely melted (about 30 minutes).

Lower the temperature to warm and stir every 15-20 minutes. If the mixture thickens, add a little evaporated milk.

How to store leftovers

Storing and reheating nacho cheese is simple and allows you to enjoy this tasty treat for longer. Here is a detailed guide on how to store and reheat nacho cheese.

To store nacho cheese, place it in an airtight container. You can use a bowl with a lid, a jar, or a plastic container. Alternatively, you can use a freezer bag.

Store the nacho cheese in the refrigerator if you plan to use it within 3-4 days. If you want to save it for longer, you can store it in the freezer for future use. Homemade nacho cheese can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months, while store-bought nacho cheese, which contains preservatives, can last for nearly 6 months.

When freezing nacho cheese, ensure that it is at room temperature. Do not freeze hot or warm cheese sauce, as this can alter the quality. Additionally, avoid freezing cheese sauce with broken bits of nacho chips, salsa, or guacamole.

To freeze nacho cheese, spoon it into individual freezer bags, preferably smaller ones, and seal them tightly, removing as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn. Then, place the bags in a larger container or freezer bag for added protection.

How to Reheat Nacho Cheese

There are several methods you can use to reheat nacho cheese:

• Microwave: Place the nacho cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it for 5 minutes. Stir the cheese every minute for the first 3 minutes, and then stir every 30 seconds for the remaining 2 minutes.
• Stovetop: Melt a small amount of butter in a skillet over low to medium heat. Add the nacho cheese and stir regularly until it is warm, which should take less than 10 minutes.
• Crockpot: You can also reheat nacho cheese in a crockpot. Set the crockpot to high and stir the cheese every few minutes, or use the low temperature setting and stir regularly.

If your nacho cheese becomes too thick after storing, you can add a little milk to thin it out. Additionally, if you notice any clumping during the thawing process, use a whisk to incorporate the separated ingredients.

What to serve with nacho cheese

There are many options for what to serve with nacho cheese. Here are some ideas:

Nachos

The classic option is, of course, to load up a plate of tortilla chips and drizzle your nacho cheese over the top. You can also add some toppings to your nachos, such as bacon, ground beef, chicken, or jalapeños.

Burrito Bowls

If you have some leftover ground beef or chicken, you can make burrito bowls by adding your homemade cheese sauce on top of rice, beans, and meat.

Quesadillas

You can also use your nacho cheese as a dipping sauce for quesadillas, or add it to your chicken before cooking.

Tacos

Make your favourite taco recipe and drizzle your nacho cheese on top. It will go perfectly with your tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.

Chicken Nachos

Chicken nachos are a great option if you're looking for something a little different. You can use pulled chicken as a topping for your nachos, or try making chicken tacos or a chicken burrito on the side.

Fajitas

Fajitas are another great option to serve alongside nachos, especially if you lay out a bunch of toppings from your nachos to top the fajita wraps.

Guacamole

Guacamole is the perfect classic pairing for nachos. You can also add some Tomatillo Salsa to your guacamole for a tangy twist.

Mexican Black Beans

Black beans are a must-have addition to any nacho feast. Garnish them with onion, tomatoes, chilies, coriander, avocado, and creme fraiche.

Corn Ribs with Macha Mayo

Season corn ribs with olive oil and Gran Luchito Smoky Chipotle Fajita and Taco Mix, then cook them in the oven until the edges are crispy and charred. Serve them with a spicy macha mayo for a unique and tasty side dish.

Frequently asked questions