White Queso Dip Recipe (2024)

Published . Last updated by Lauren Vavala Harris

This post has been sponsored by Muir Glen. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Don’t let White Queso Dip be a food that you only enjoy when eating out at Mexican restaurants. It’s easy to make this traditional dip at home in less than 10 minutes with only a handful of ingredients.

White Queso Dip Recipe (1)

We often eat out at Mexican restaurants. My fiancé and I typically go for the most authentic and unique dishes we can find, while the kids stick to cheese quesadillas and tacos. But, the one food that we all love and must have is White Queso Dip.

It was time to make a batch myself so that we can have it as an appetizer when we have Mexican-inspired meals at home.

I headed to Safeway to pick up all of the ingredients, including American cheese, green chiles, and Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes.

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I have been cooking with Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes for years. First, the flavor and quality is incredible. They are probably the tastiest tomatoes I’ve ever tasted. And, incredibly, they go from field to can in less than 8 hours!

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Why This Recipe Works

  • It’s so easy! Literally, all you need to do is melt the cheese and stir in the rest of the ingredients. It’s an easy appetizer to whip up for late summer and early fall entertaining!
  • It tastes just like what you’ll find in authentic Mexican restaurants. Yep, I did my research and found that American cheese is the go-to cheese for most White Queso Dip recipes.
  • You can alter it to suit your own tastes. We like to mix some diced tomatoes in and put them on top for added flavor.

How to Make White Queso Dip

Prep!

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There really isn’t much prep work to do for this recipe. I do prefer to dice the American cheese before adding it to a sauce pan with heavy whipping cream over low-medium heat.

Create!

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Cook the cheese and heavy cream, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.

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Stir in the diced green chili peppers, cumin, and 1/4 cup of the Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes.

I know it’s a bit different to mix the tomatoes into the queso—but the tomatoes have a slightly smoky, sweet flavor that works so well with the cheese and peppers. I also love their firm, chunky texture.

Present!

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Pour the queso into a serving bowl and top with the remaining tomatoes.

Serve with chips or use this queso dip as a cheese sauce on tacos, burritos, and other Mexican dishes.

Tips and Techniques for the Best White Queso Dip

  • Make sure to get the American cheese sliced fresh from the deli for the best flavor and melting.
  • To spice up the recipe, replace half or all of the diced green chili peppers with diced jalapenos.
  • You can swap out the heavy whipping cream for half-and-half or milk if preferred.
  • Store leftover queso dip in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until is smooth and heated through.

FAQ’s

  • What is queso dip made from? Queso dip is traditionally made from American cheese, milk, and diced green chili peppers.
  • What kind of cheese is used to make queso dip? Surprisingly the cheese that most Mexican restaurants use to make their white queso dip recipes is American cheese.
  • Is queso dip keto? The ingredients in queso dip are all keto friendly and suitable for low-carb and gluten-free diets as well.

Love this White Queso Dip recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more!

White Queso Dip Recipe (9)

Print

Don’t let White Queso Dip be a food that you only enjoy when eating out at Mexican restaurants. It’s easy to make this traditional dip at home in less than 10 minutes with only a handful of ingredients.

Course Appetizers, Side Dish

Cuisine Gluten Free, Low Carb, Mexican

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 276kcal

Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound white American cheese * diced
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounce can diced green chili peppers
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 cup Muir Glen Organic Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes * divided

Instructions

  • Add the cheese and heavy cream to a sauce pan over low-medium heat.

  • Cook, stirring frequently, until melted and blended.

  • Stir in the diced green chili peppers, cumin, and 1/4 cup of the tomatoes.

  • Is queso is too thick, slowly add more heavy cream until desired consistency is reached.

  • Pour into a serving bowl and top with the remaining tomatoes.

Notes

Tips and Techniques for the Best White Queso Dip

  • Make sure to get the American cheese sliced fresh from the deli for the best flavor and melting.
  • To spice up the recipe, replace half or all of the diced green chili peppers with diced jalapenos.
  • You can swap out the heavy whipping cream for half-and-half or milk, if preferred.
  • Store leftover queso dip in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. To reheat, microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until is smooth and heated through.

** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 1116mg | Potassium: 118mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 920IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 622mg | Iron: 1mg

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White Queso Dip Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is white queso sauce made of? ›

Place cheese, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until cheese is melted. Add green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper; stir until smooth. Thin with more milk if sauce is too thick.

What kind of white cheese is used in Mexican restaurants? ›

Although they are often used interchangeably, queso blanco is typically seen in fried or grilled dishes because it doesn't completely melt when exposed to heat. On the other hand, queso fresco is often used to top off soups, tacos and salads due to its crumbly nature.

What is the difference between queso and white queso? ›

Despite their similar names, flavors, and appearances, queso fresco and queso blanco are slightly different cheeses. To make queso fresco, producers use rennet and cultures to form the curds. Queso blanco requires just milk and an acidifying agent such as lemon juice or vinegar, making it an easy cheese to DIY at home.

What is cheese dip at Mexican restaurants made of? ›

White melting cheese, such as white American cheese, Monterey Jack, or Asadero. Milk or heavy cream. Diced green chilies or jalapeños (optional) Onions, garlic, or other seasonings (optional)

What makes queso taste like queso? ›

Whether it's orange or white, queso can contain green chiles or jalapenos or both, and it may be spiced with a dash of cumin or chili powder. Some even add meat to queso, like ground beef or spicy sausage.

What is the difference between queso and cheese dip? ›

Scanning the internet and the supermarket shelf, we realized that the cheese sauces are divided into two basic categories: Queso Dips, which include some amount of heat, spices, and other flavorings, and Cheese Dips, which are cheese and little else.

What is the best Mexican white cheese for melting? ›

Queso asadero is Mexican cheese that's great for melting. It is soft, white and creamy with a mild taste, and is often used to make pizzas, quesadillas and queso fundido.

What is the white creamy Mexican cheese called? ›

Queso blanco is a general term for fresh white cheese, but is also the name given to a fresh white cheese often described as a cross between mozzarella and cottage cheese. This cheese is typically made from skim cow's milk.

Is queso fresco the same as queso blanco? ›

Although these two cheeses are commonly confused for each other, they have a few key differences. While queso fresco is made with rennet and bacterial cultures that separate the milk into whey and curd, queso blanco simplifies things even further by using lemon juice or vinegar to achieve the same result.

What is the white queso called? ›

Back to Top. Queso blanco, Spanish for "white cheese," is a soft, crumbly fresh cheese often used in Mexican and other Latin American cuisines. Its flavor is fresh, tangy, and milky, as it is typically sold only a few days after being produced.

What is a substitute for white queso cheese? ›

Monterey Jack cheese: Monterey Jack is a mild, semi-soft cheese that is similar in texture to queso blanco. It has a subtle flavor and melts well, making it a good substitute for queso blanco in recipes. Feta cheese: Feta is a tangy and crumbly cheese that is commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine.

What is authentic queso? ›

The Origin of Queso

Queso blanco, or white cheese, was originally made from goat's milk. However, over time, the recipe has evolved to include cow's milk. In order to make authentic queso, use Manchego cheese. Mexican Manchego Cheese is a golden-yellow, semi-firm cheese with a slightly nutty flavor.

What cheese to buy for queso? ›

White American Cheese: This is the best cheese for white queso dip. Buy slices, or a block, and chop into small cubes so that it melts evenly. Mozzarella: I like to mix in some shredded mozzarella to add more depth of flavor.

Does authentic Mexican food use queso? ›

It depends on the restaurant. Authentic Mexican restaurants will likely use only cotija or queso fresco. Americanized Mexican restaurants will list the cheeses they use, often monterey jack or cheddar.

What kind of cheese is queso blanco made from? ›

Queso Blanco means “white cheese” in Spanish and it originated in Mexico. It's made by pressing the whey cottage cheese, resembling a mild feta.

Is queso blanco like mozzarella? ›

Queso blanco is a general term for fresh white cheese, but is also the name given to a fresh white cheese often described as a cross between mozzarella and cottage cheese. This cheese is typically made from skim cow's milk. While it doesn't melt particularly well, it does soften nicely when heated.

Is white queso made from goat milk? ›

Queso blanco and queso fresco cheese is a creamy fresh (un-aged) cheese, typically made from cow or goat's milk. Its taste is fresh and bright with a slightly salty, sour tang. While it's milky, queso fresco is not rich, and rather similar to fresh mozzarella.

Is queso just melted cheese? ›

It's mostly cheese. Beyond that, there is usually tomato, onion, and jalapeños or chiles for some added heat. Add in evaporated milk and cornstarch for thickening, and viola! You've got queso.

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