
Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce is a beloved menu item, but what brand do they use? The answer may surprise you: they don't use a brand. According to sources, including former employees, Taco Bell makes its famous nacho cheese sauce in-house. It arrives at the restaurants premade in bags, and employees simply heat it up using hot water. While the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, home cooks have attempted to recreate it, and some have claimed that Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce is the closest in taste and consistency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation | The cheese is prepared by taking it out of the freezer and letting it set in hot water to thaw out and warm up. |
| Texture | The cheese comes in a bag already creamy, with no powder. |
| Ingredients | Nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, vegetable oil (canola oil, soybean oil), modified food starch, maltodextrin, natural flavors, salt, dipotassium phosphate, jalapeno puree, vinegar, lactic acid, cellulose gum, potassium citrate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, citric acid, annatto, and oleoresin paprika. |
| Taste | The closest substitutes to Taco Bell's nacho cheese in terms of taste are Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce and Frito's Mild Cheddar Dip. |
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What You'll Learn
- Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce is vegetarian-friendly
- The cheese comes premade in bags and is heated in hot water
- Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce is similar to Taco Bell's
- The cheese sauce is made at a central kitchen, not sourced from vendors
- The sauce contains nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, and vegetable oil

Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce is vegetarian-friendly
Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce is a true original. Its supreme cheesiness complements the crunchiness, beefiness, and spiciness of other Taco Bell ingredients. The Nacho Cheese Sauce is certified vegetarian-friendly by the American Vegetarian Association. The sauce is lacto-ovo-vegetarian, meaning it contains dairy and eggs but no animal byproducts.
The full list of ingredients in Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce is as follows: nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, vegetable oil (canola oil, soybean oil), modified food starch, maltodextrin, natural flavors, salt, dipotassium phosphate, jalapeno puree, vinegar, lactic acid, cellulose gum, potassium citrate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, citric acid, annatto, and oleoresin paprika. The Nacho Chips that accompany the sauce are also vegetarian-friendly, made from white ground corn, water, calcium propionate, fumaric acid, sorbic acid, cellulose gum, sodium propionate, salt, and prepared in canola and/or vegetable oil.
Taco Bell's Nacho Cheese Sauce comes premade in bags and is heated in hot water before serving. While the sauce is certified vegetarian, it is important to note that Taco Bell uses the same frying oil to prepare menu items that may contain meat, and vegetarian and meat ingredients are handled in common spaces, so cross-contact may occur.
Some people have tried to recreate the Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce at home, with varying levels of success. One person recommended using Old El Paso jalapeno brine to get the closest flavor to Taco Bell's sauce. Another person suggested that Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce is similar to Taco Bell's, as both contain jalapenos and vinegar.
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The cheese comes premade in bags and is heated in hot water
Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce is a beloved menu item, and many have tried to replicate its unique flavour. The cheese sauce is vegetarian-friendly, and its ingredients include nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, vegetable oil, modified food starch, and jalapeno puree, among others.
Some have speculated that Taco Bell makes its cheese sauce in a central kitchen, while others have suggested that it is sourced from vendors. One former employee recalled that the cheese was a powder when they worked there, while another claimed it came as a premade creamy cheese.
While the exact method of preparation may vary, it is clear that the cheese comes premade and is heated in hot water to achieve the perfect, creamy consistency that has made it a favourite among Taco Bell fans.
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Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce is similar to Taco Bell's
Taco Bell is known for its delicious nacho cheese sauce, which has gained a lot of popularity. The cheese sauce is a staple and the perfect side to any meal at Taco Bell. The brand of cheese that Taco Bell uses is not known, but it is speculated that they make it themselves at a central kitchen. The cheese sauce comes in a bag, premade and already creamy, and is heated in hot water before being served.
While the exact recipe for Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce is not publicly available, many have tried to recreate it at home. Some have claimed that the closest substitute to Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce is Ricos Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce. This is because the ingredients and consistency of Ricos Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce are very similar to those of Taco Bell's sauce. For example, both Taco Bell's and Ricos' sauces contain jalapenos and vinegar.
In addition to Ricos, other brands that are said to taste similar to Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce include Fritos and Old El Paso. However, some have noted that Fritos' Mild Cheddar Dip does not contain jalapenos and vinegar, which are key ingredients in both Taco Bell's and Ricos' sauces.
Overall, it seems that Ricos Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce is the closest match to Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce in terms of ingredients and consistency. For those looking to recreate the taste of Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce at home, Ricos may be the best option.
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The cheese sauce is made at a central kitchen, not sourced from vendors
Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce is a well-loved and iconic menu item. The orange, creamy cheese sauce has a dedicated fan base and is a popular choice as a side dish with tortilla chips or as a topping for other menu items.
There is some variation in preparation methods, with some employees recalling that the cheese sauce arrived as a powder, while others remember it as a premade creamy cheese or a block of cheese that was melted down with milk. The cheese sauce is then placed in a pump and added to dishes or served as a side.
The exact recipe for the nacho cheese sauce is not publicly available, but some have attempted to recreate it at home. The ingredients and preparation methods vary, but the signature orange colour and creamy texture are distinctive features that fans try to replicate.
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The sauce contains nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, and vegetable oil
While Taco Bell does not disclose the brand of nacho cheese sauce it uses, we do know that the sauce contains nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, and vegetable oil. The full list of ingredients in the sauce includes modified food starch, maltodextrin, natural flavors, salt, dipotassium phosphate, jalapeno puree, vinegar, lactic acid, cellulose gum, potassium citrate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, citric acid, annatto, and oleoresin paprika.
Some people have speculated that the nacho cheese sauce used by Taco Bell comes from a specific brand, such as Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce, Frito's Mild Cheddar Dip, or Kraft Cheese Whiz. However, former employees have stated that the sauce comes premade in bags and is simply heated up in hot water before being served.
There are also several recipes available online for those who want to try making their own version of Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce at home. These recipes typically include ingredients such as nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, and vegetable oil, which are commonly used in cheese sauces to create a creamy and flavorful consistency.
By using a combination of these ingredients, a similar taste and texture to Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce can be achieved. The sauce can then be used as a dip for tortilla chips, added to burritos, or used in any other desired way. While it may not be exactly the same as Taco Bell's proprietary sauce, it can come very close in terms of flavor and texture.
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Frequently asked questions
Taco Bell makes its nacho cheese sauce in-house. It arrives at the restaurants pre-made in bags and is heated in hot water.
The ingredients in Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce are: nonfat milk, cheese whey, water, vegetable oil (canola oil, soybean oil), modified food starch, maltodextrin, natural flavors, salt, dipotassium phosphate, jalapeno puree, vinegar, lactic acid, cellulose gum, potassium citrate, sodium stearoyl lactylate, citric acid, annatto, and oleoresin paprika.
Rico's Gourmet Cheddar Cheese Sauce is said to be the closest substitute to Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce, as both have similar ingredients and consistencies, including jalapeños and vinegar.
Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce is served as a side with warm, crispy tortilla chips for dipping.

























