Frederic Melton
Nacho cheese sauce is a delicious, melty treat that is perfect for pouring over tortilla chips, fries, or nachos. It can also be used as a dip for soft pretzels, hot dogs, or grilled sausages. Making nacho cheese sauce from scratch is easy and only takes about 5–10 minutes. The sauce typically uses five all-natural ingredients, including butter, flour, milk, cheese, and salt. The cheese used is typically a processed American cheese, but cheddar is a great alternative for more flavor. The sauce can be made on a stovetop or in a microwave, and it can be customized with various seasonings and ingredients, such as pickled jalapeño juice, cumin, ground mustard, or taco seasoning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Time | 5-10 minutes |
| Ingredients | Butter, flour, milk, cheese, salt, cayenne pepper, cumin, ground mustard, taco seasoning, beer, pickled jalapeno juice, roasted veggies |
| Texture | Melty, smooth, thick, creamy |
| Taste | Spicy, tangy, smoky |
| Serving suggestions | Nachos, tortilla chips, fries, tater tots, soft pretzels, hot dogs, grilled sausages, steamed vegetables, baked potato |
| Storage | Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 6 months |
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Choosing your cheese
The type of cheese you use in your nacho cheese sauce will depend on your personal preference and the desired texture and flavour of your sauce.
Processed American cheese, such as Velveeta, is a classic option for nacho cheese sauce. It melts well and results in a thick, smooth, and creamy sauce. However, some people may prefer to avoid the processed taste of American cheese. If you want to avoid processed cheese, a good alternative is cheddar cheese, preferably freshly grated sharp cheddar, as it has a superior flavour and melts more smoothly. However, cheddar cheese tends to create a thinner, slightly grainier sauce, and sharp cheddar can become grainy if it overheats. When melting cheddar cheese, it is important to remove the pot from the heat before stirring in the cheese and to use low heat to prevent the sauce from becoming thick and grainy.
You can also use a Mexican blend of shredded cheese or Colby Jack cheese, as mentioned in some recipes.
For a smoother sauce, it is recommended to use block cheese and shred it yourself, as pre-shredded cheese may contain anti-caking powders that can affect the flavour and texture of the sauce.
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Making a roux
To make a roux for nacho cheese sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Use salted butter or unsalted butter with a pinch of salt. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Next, add in an equal amount of flour and stir continuously for 1-2 minutes to form a roux. This mixture will thicken your sauce. Make sure to cook the flour for long enough to get rid of the raw floury flavour. However, you want the roux to stay "blonde", so if it begins to brown, remove it from the heat.
Now, slowly whisk in milk and bring the mixture to a simmer. You can use whole milk for a richer flavour, or swap out half the milk for light beer for a malty vibe. Stir continuously as the mixture simmers. It should thicken quite quickly. When it's thick enough to coat a spoon, turn off the heat.
At this point, you can season the sauce with salt and spices. Then, slowly add in your cheese, stirring until it melts. You can use processed American cheese, which melts well, or cheddar, which has a great flavour. It's best to grate the cheese yourself, as pre-shredded cheese contains additives that can affect how well it melts.
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Adding milk
To add milk to your nacho cheese sauce, start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in an equal amount of flour to create a roux. Cook the roux for around a minute—you want it to cook enough to get rid of the raw floury flavour, but not so much that it starts to brown.
Next, stir in the milk. You'll want to add a cup of milk, and it's best to use whole milk for a richer flavour. Turn up the heat slightly and let the mixture come to a simmer, whisking frequently. It should thicken quite quickly. When it's thick enough to coat a spoon, turn off the heat.
If you want to add a twist to your nacho cheese sauce, you can replace up to half of the milk with light beer. This will give your sauce a rich, malty flavour.
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Seasoning
Salt
A pinch of salt is a classic seasoning for nacho cheese sauce. It enhances the savoury flavour of the cheese and can be adjusted according to taste preference.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is a popular option to add a spicy kick to the nacho cheese sauce. It can be adjusted to your desired level of spiciness. If you prefer a milder heat, you can use a smaller amount, or omit it altogether if you prefer a mild sauce.
Chili Powder
Chili powder is a great way to add a bold, spicy kick to your nacho cheese sauce. It provides a different type of heat compared to cayenne pepper, so you can experiment with both to find your preferred level of spiciness.
Pickled Jalapeno Juice
Adding pickled jalapeno juice is an excellent way to incorporate a tangy, spicy flavour into your nacho cheese sauce. You can adjust the amount of juice to control the spiciness and tanginess of the final sauce.
Taco Seasoning
If you're looking for a zesty, Mexican-inspired flavour, taco seasoning is a great option. It adds a bold and unique taste to the nacho cheese sauce, reminiscent of tacos.
Cumin or Ground Mustard
For those who want to amp up the flavour without too much heat, cumin or ground mustard are excellent choices. They add a distinct flavour profile that complements the cheese and can be adjusted according to your taste preferences.
Roasted Vegetables
Including roasted poblano or red peppers in your nacho cheese sauce adds a smoky-sweet touch. Roasting the vegetables first gives them a deeper, slightly charred flavour that can enhance the overall taste of the sauce.
Additional Tips
When seasoning your nacho cheese sauce, it's important to taste as you go and adjust the seasonings to your preference. Remember that you can always add more seasoning, but it's difficult to reduce it once it's been added. Start with smaller amounts and gradually increase until you achieve your desired flavour profile.
Additionally, feel free to experiment with different combinations of seasonings to create a unique nacho cheese sauce that suits your taste buds. You can also try adding other ingredients like salsa, diced onions, or garlic to enhance the flavour and create a more complex sauce.
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Storing and reheating
Storing nacho cheese sauce depends on whether it is canned or freshly made. Canned nacho cheese can be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and odorous items. It is crucial to check the expiration date and ensure that the can is not damaged before storing it. The shelf life of canned nacho cheese is typically around 1-2 years.
Freshly made nacho cheese sauce can be stored in the freezer. Separate the sauce into portions to prevent having to refreeze the sauce, which can cause a loss of quality. Place the cheese sauce in an airtight container and close it properly. If your freezer has a quick-freeze" shelf, this can be used to speed up the process, although it is not necessary.
To thaw frozen nacho cheese sauce, take it out of the freezer and place it in the fridge a day before you plan to use it. This can take several hours to a day, depending on the amount of cheese. The sauce may appear oddly colored, but this is normal as the oils can separate. Simply stir well when reheating.
Reheating nacho cheese sauce can be done in a microwave or on a stovetop. For the microwave, place the cheese sauce in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until it reaches the desired temperature. On the stovetop, reheat the sauce at low heat in a saucepan, stirring frequently to prevent overheating, which can cause the sauce to seize up and become thick and/or grainy.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need butter, flour, milk, cheese, and salt. Some recipes also call for cayenne pepper, cumin, ground mustard, taco seasoning, or pickled jalapeño juice.
First, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Then, stir in the flour and cook for 1-3 minutes to form a roux. Next, whisk in the milk and bring to a simmer. Finally, slowly add the cheese and stir until it melts. Season with salt to taste.
It typically takes 5-10 minutes to make nacho cheese sauce from scratch.
