Frederic Melton
A rich and tangy homemade nacho cheese sauce can be made in just 2 to 5 minutes and uses simple, budget-friendly ingredients. It is perfect for tortilla chips, burgers, fries, or as a dip. To make the sauce, you can use cheese slices, butter, flour, milk, and salt. Some recipes also suggest adding chilli sauce, jalapenos, or other spices for extra flavour. The process involves shredding the cheese slices, creating a roux with butter and flour, adding milk, and then combining all the ingredients and cooking until the cheese is melted.
Characteristics and their Values for making Nacho Cheese using Cheese Slices
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Cheese slices, Milk, Butter, Flour, Salt, Chilli Sauce |
| Cheese type | Processed American cheese singles, Cheddar, Velveta |
| Cheese quantity | 9-10 slices |
| Preparation | Shred cheese, add butter and flour to make a roux, add milk, salt, chilli sauce, and other seasonings to taste |
| Cooking instructions | Microwave for 1 minute, stir, and microwave for another 30 seconds until melted |
| Serving suggestions | Pour over tortilla chips, drizzle on fries, serve with burgers, or as a dip |
| Storage | Best eaten fresh, can be kept warm in a fondue pot or slow cooker |
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What You'll Learn
Shred the cheese slices
Shredding the cheese slices is an important step in making nacho cheese sauce. It ensures the cheese melts evenly and smoothly, creating a rich and creamy texture. Here is a detailed guide to shredding the cheese slices for your nacho cheese:
Start by gathering your cheese slices. For the best results, it is recommended to use processed American cheese singles as they melt smoothly and give you that classic nacho cheese sauce consistency. You can find these cheese slices in most supermarkets, and they are usually quite affordable.
Next, take a sharp grater or cheese shredder and begin shredding the cheese slices. You will need about 10 slices, or approximately 2 cups of shredded cheese, for a standard batch of nacho cheese sauce. If you prefer a stronger cheese flavor, you can always add a few extra slices.
When shredding the cheese, apply gentle pressure and use a consistent motion to create uniform shreds. This will ensure that the cheese melts evenly later on. Try to shred the cheese slices into slightly thinner shreds, as thicker pieces may take longer to melt and could result in a lumpy sauce.
As you shred, keep an eye on the texture of the cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses often have anti-caking agents or powders added to them, which can affect the melting process and make your sauce gritty or powdery. Therefore, it is best to shred the cheese slices yourself and use them soon after shredding for the best results.
Finally, once you have shredded all the cheese slices, place them into a microwave-safe bowl and proceed to the next steps of your nacho cheese sauce recipe, such as adding milk, butter, or spices, depending on your preferred recipe. Remember to stir the shredded cheese well with the other ingredients before melting it to ensure an even distribution of flavors and textures.
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Make a roux with butter and flour
To make a roux with butter and flour, start by melting butter. As a general rule, use equal parts butter and flour—for example, 2 ounces of butter (4 tablespoons) and 2 ounces of flour (scant 1/2 cup). Melt the butter in a large regular or cast-iron skillet over medium-low heat.
As soon as the butter is melted, add the flour. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to stir the mixture in a figure-eight motion until the flour has completely absorbed all of the butter. This should take around 30 seconds to 1 minute. There should be no dry pockets of flour left in the mixture. The result will be a paste-like mixture.
Continue cooking the mixture, stirring constantly, until it becomes smooth, slightly thickened, and small bubbles begin to form. This should take another 30 seconds to 1 minute. The roux should smell nutty, and there should be no unincorporated flour left. If any lumps of flour remain, break them up with the spoon.
Once you have a smooth, slightly thickened mixture with small bubbles, you have a white roux that is perfect for using in light sauces.
After making the roux, you can slowly add a liquid such as broth or milk to create a silky-smooth sauce. For nacho cheese sauce, you would typically add milk to the roux and whisk until thick before adding cheese and salt.
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Add milk
To make nacho cheese using cheese slices, you will need to add milk to thin out the sauce and give it a smooth, creamy texture. Use a cup of whole milk and pour it into the mixture after you have made a roux with butter and flour. Whisk the mixture until it thickens.
You can use a microwave to make the cheese sauce, in which case you will need to shred the cheese slices and put them into a microwave-safe bowl. Add chilli sauce, such as Sriracha, and then pour in the milk. Microwave for one minute, stir, and then microwave for a further 30 seconds until the cheese has melted.
If you are making the sauce on a stovetop, it is recommended that you cook the flour in the butter for one minute to remove the "floury" flavour. You can then add the milk and whisk until the mixture thickens.
If you are making a large batch, you can keep the cheese sauce warm by putting it into a fondue pot or slow cooker. You can also reheat it in the microwave a couple of times to return it to a melty consistency.
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Season to taste
When making nacho cheese using cheese slices, you can adjust the seasonings according to your preferences. For a basic nacho cheese sauce, you can add salt to enhance the savoury flavour. If you want to add some spice, you can include chilli powder, cayenne pepper, or chopped pickled jalapeños. You can also add a dash of paprika to the sauce for a smoky flavour or a spoonful of fajita seasoning. For extra flavour, you can mix in a couple of tablespoons of salsa or diced green chillies.
If you want to experiment with different seasonings, you have several options. You can add a pinch of garlic powder, cumin, or sliced green onions. Alternatively, you can include diced tomatoes, ground beef, or sliced potatoes as toppings to complement the nacho cheese.
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Add toppings
Once you've made your nacho cheese sauce, it's time to add toppings! The options are endless, but here are some ideas to get you started:
Fresh Toppings
Add some fresh toppings to your nachos to brighten up the dish and add some crunch. Fresh toppings can include pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, sliced jalapeños, diced onions, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro. You can also add sliced scallions or green onions for a mild onion flavour. If you like spice, add some chopped pickled jalapeños or a dash of jalapeño brine. For a more subtle kick, add some sliced green chillies or diced green chiles.
Protein Toppings
If you're looking to add some protein to your nachos, try ground beef, seasoned beef, shredded grilled chicken, brisket, sliced steak, grilled tofu, or seasoned pork. You can also add refried beans, which help the toppings stick to the tortilla chips and provide extra protein.
Dairy Toppings
For extra cheesiness, sprinkle some cotija or queso fresco on top of your nachos. You can also add crumbled feta or shredded cheddar cheese.
Sauce Toppings
In addition to the nacho cheese sauce, you can add some salsa, jalapeño tomato salsa, or chilli sauce. You can also add some spice blends such as taco seasoning, fajita seasoning, or chilli powder.
Feel free to experiment with different combinations of toppings to find your favourite nacho creation!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need cheese slices, milk, butter, flour, and salt. You can also add chilli sauce or chilli powder for flavour.
First, shred the cheese slices and put them into a microwave-safe bowl. Next, make a roux by melting butter and mixing in flour. Then, pour in the milk and whisk until thick. Finally, add the cheese and salt, then cook until the cheese is melted.
It is recommended to use sliced processed American cheese to get the smoothest nacho cheese sauce. You can use slices of cheddar, but you won't get the same results.
This nacho cheese sauce can be made in as little as 2 minutes in the microwave. However, if you are making it on the stovetop, it may take around 5 minutes.
