Bushra Griffith
Whether it's for a movie night, a party, or just a snack, nachos are a great, versatile food. But what's the best cheese sauce to use? While some people opt for shop-bought cheese sauces, like Rico's, El Mexicano, or Tostitos, others prefer to make their own. Homemade nacho cheese sauce is easy to make and can be adapted to your taste, with the option to add extra ingredients like hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or jalapeños.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Processed American cheese, Cheddar, Colby Jack |
| Texture | Melty, Smooth, Creamy, Thick |
| Ingredients | Butter, Flour, Milk, Cheese, Pickled Jalapeno Juice, Salt, Chilli Powder |
| Toppings | Jalapenos, Tomatoes, Scallions, Ground Beef |
| Storage | Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days |
| Reheating | Use a pot with butter or milk on medium-low heat |
| Brand | Tostitos, El Mexicano, Rico's, Juanita's |
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What You'll Learn
Making nacho cheese sauce from scratch
Ingredients
To make the sauce, you will need the following ingredients:
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Cheese (cheddar, Monterey jack, pepper jack, Swiss, Colby, or a combination)
- Pickled jalapeno juice
- Salt
- Chili powder
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Add flour to the melted butter and stir continuously for about a minute to form a thickening paste (a roux). Cooking the flour in butter helps to get rid of the "floury" flavour.
- Pour in the milk and stir until it simmers. It will bubble slightly around the edges.
- Reduce the heat to low and slowly add the shredded cheese, stirring continuously until it melts.
- Add the pickled jalapeno juice and stir until the sauce is smooth.
- Season with salt and chilli powder, adjusting the seasoning to your taste.
Tips
- Use medium cheddar for a smoother sauce. Sharp cheddar tends to become grainy.
- Remove the pot from the heat before adding the cheese to prevent the sauce from becoming thick and grainy.
- Shred the cheese yourself instead of using pre-shredded cheese, as the latter contains anti-caking agents that can affect the melt and texture of the sauce.
- If the sauce is too thick, add more milk to thin it out.
- For a glossy consistency, add evaporated milk.
- For extra heat, add cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or more pickled jalapenos.
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Using pre-shredded cheese
While it is generally recommended to grate a block of cheese yourself for nacho cheese sauce, you can still make a tasty sauce using pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese contains additives like powdered cellulose or anti-caking agents to prevent clumping and caking. These additives can make your sauce grainy, so it's important to choose a high-quality pre-shredded cheese with minimal additives.
When using pre-shredded cheese, follow the same basic steps as you would for any nacho cheese sauce recipe: melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stir in flour to form a roux, add milk, and then slowly add your cheese, stirring continuously. However, when using pre-shredded cheese, it's important to be extra careful not to overheat the sauce, as this can make it even grainier. Keep the heat low and allow the residual heat to melt the cheese.
If you're using a sharp cheddar pre-shredded cheese, be aware that it may “break” or become grainy more easily than medium cheddar. In this case, removing the pot from the heat before stirring in the cheese can help prevent graininess. You can also try adding a small amount of milk to thin out the sauce if it becomes too thick.
Finally, taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Add salt to enhance the flavour and, for a spicier kick, include some pickled jalapeño juice and chopped jalapeños.
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Adding extra ingredients
While making your nacho cheese sauce, you can add extra ingredients to make it spicier and more flavourful. The most popular additions are pickled jalapeños, jalapeño juice, and hot sauce. You can also add cayenne pepper for an extra kick. If you want to add more cheese, it is recommended to use medium cheddar for a smoother sauce. Sharp cheddar tends to "break" or become grainy. You can also add a cup of whole milk to thin out the sauce and give it a smooth, creamy texture.
If you want to make a large batch of nacho cheese sauce, you can add in some heavy cream, cream cheese, sour cream, or evaporated milk. However, these ingredients are not necessary and may not add much to the flavour or texture. It is also important to note that pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can make your sauce gritty, so it is recommended to shred a block of cheese yourself.
For a more indulgent nacho cheese sauce, you can add in some ground beef, tomatoes, scallions, or any other toppings you desire. This will make your sauce heartier and more filling. You can also add about half a cup of salsa for some extra spice and flavour. If you're feeling adventurous, you can even add in some buffalo sauce!
If you're making a large batch of nacho cheese sauce, you might want to consider adding some preservatives to extend its shelf life. However, this is not necessary if you plan on consuming the sauce within a few days. The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, but it is best served fresh and warm.
Some people also like to add in a bit of butter to their nacho cheese sauce. This can help with the melting process and add a bit of extra richness. However, this is not necessary, and the sauce can be made without it. Experiment with different ingredients and quantities to find your perfect nacho cheese sauce!
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Storing and reheating nacho cheese sauce
Storing Nacho Cheese Sauce
Leftover nacho cheese sauce can be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 5 days.
Reheating Nacho Cheese Sauce
The best way to reheat nacho cheese sauce is slowly and on low heat. The double-boiler method is recommended by experts as it slowly heats the sauce and prevents it from separating. If you don't have a double boiler, you can place a metal or heat-proof ceramic bowl over a pot of simmering water. Alternatively, you can reheat the sauce in a microwave, but be sure to use a microwave-safe container. You can also reheat the sauce in a pan on low heat, but this requires more attention as you need to regularly stir the sauce to prevent it from clumping and hardening. To help with this, you can add a bit of butter or milk while heating.
Making Nacho Cheese Sauce
Processed American cheese melts the best for nacho cheese, but cheddar is great for flavour. To make a simple roux, heat a small pot or saucepan over medium heat, add butter and melt it, then stir in flour continuously for 2-3 minutes. Next, stir in milk and let it simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then slowly add the cheese a bit at a time, stirring continuously until it melts. Finally, add pickled jalapeno juice and stir until smooth.
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Some popular nacho cheese sauce brands include Rico's, Tostitos, El Mexicano, and Juanita's.
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Toppings and sides
When it comes to toppings and sides, the options are endless. You can load up your nachos with juicy steak slices, cheese, jalapeños, and sauce. You can also add ground beef, seasoned with a taco-style mix of paprika, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, and chili powder. For a vegetarian option, bell peppers and sweetcorn add a crunchy and subtly sweet twist to your nachos.
If you're looking for a more classic take, you can't go wrong with melted cheese, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. For an extra kick of spice, add some pickled jalapeño juice or chopped jalapeños to your nacho cheese sauce. You can also add in a bit of cayenne pepper or hot sauce. If you're feeling creative, try a combination of cheeses like sharp cheddar, Monterey jack, pepper jack, or Swiss.
For a more substantial meal, BBQ pulled chicken, shredded chicken, or chili con carne are all excellent choices to pile on top of your nachos. If you're feeling adventurous, try Thai basil beef, combining the savoury goodness of soy sauce with the sweetness of brown sugar and a touch of zingy lime.
Sides are just as important as toppings! Chicken wings, buffalo chicken dip, and soft pretzels are always a hit. For a healthier option, serve your nachos with vegetable sticks and a side of salsa or guacamole for dipping.
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Frequently asked questions
Rico’s Nacho Cheese Sauce is said to taste like the cheese sauce at movie theatres and baseball games. Tostitos queso is also considered one of the best queso brands.
Tostitos queso comes in a tiny plastic container, making it perfect for a single serving of nachos.
Walmart carries giant boxes of nacho cheese.
You will need medium cheddar cheese, butter, flour, and milk.
First, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Then, whisk in an equal amount of flour until combined. Next, add milk to thin out the sauce and give it a smooth, creamy texture. Finally, whisk in shredded medium cheddar, one handful at a time, until it is melted into the sauce.
