• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Nourish Nutrition Blog

  • ABOUT
  • COOKBOOK
  • RECIPES
  • SERVICES
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • TIPS
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • ABOUT
  • COOKBOOK
  • RECIPES
  • SERVICES
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • TIPS
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipe Index » Appetizers

    10 Minute Queso Dip

    October 28, 2019 Updated August 5, 2022 By Rebecca Appetizers, Easy Recipes, Entrees, Recipe Index

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    easy queso dip on a plate with salsa on top and chips and celery on the side
    easy queso dip on a platter with chips and celery with text overlay

    This easy queso dip recipe is super cheesy, and almost as easy as buying from the store! It'll take just 10 minutes to make, and has delicious pantry ingredients like cheddar cheese, milk, butter, whole wheat flour, and a pinch of salt. That's it!

    easy queso dip with sliced jalapenos on top with chips and celery on a plate

    [This recipe was originally posted in December 2018. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    PIN HERE to add to your recipe box. 

    Table of contents

    • How will this queso recipe make your life easier?
      • Other great appetizers for game day:
    • What makes this game day queso so good?
    • How do I make queso?
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • How can I repurpose?
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    How will this queso recipe make your life easier?

    Bring cheddar jalapeno dip, or Instant Pot Crispy BBQ chicken wings or this easy queso dip to a watch party. You know for sports on game day and fun shows! It takes 10 minutes to prepare and is super deliciously cheesy.

    Plus, if you have any leftovers, or double the recipe, you've got an awesome cheese sauce to turn around the lamest burrito bowl ever, make into the ultimate mac & cheese, or dip pretzels into.

    Other great appetizers for game day:

    • Game day jalapeno cheddar dip
    • Pear & prosciutto flatbread pizza
    • 3 ingredient guacamole

    What makes this game day queso so good?

    • Butter
    • Whole wheat flour
    • Milk
    • Salt
    • Shredded cheddar cheese

    How do I make queso?

    stirring butter and flour in a pot

    Start your queso dip by placing small pot over medium-low heat. Once it's hot, add butter, whole wheat flour, and smoked paprika (optional). Whisk together until it becomes a paste, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk constantly, until smooth.

    pouring milk into flour and butter

    Whisk in milk. Whisk until smooth and slightly thickened, with medium sized bubbles forming, about 1 minute. Add salt. Remove from heat once smooth.

    stirring cheese into queso dip

    Add cheddar cheese and continue to whisk until cheese is well combined and smooth. Cheese will melt while whisking all ingredients together.

    stirring queso dip in a pot

    Pour your queso dip into bowl, then top with salsa or sliced jalapenos if desired, and serve with chips and veggies.

    Substitutions/Tips

    • Swap the whole wheat flour for white flour if that's all you have
    • Make sure to stir continually (and don't leave it!) so paste doesn't get clumpy or burned
    • You'll be ready to remove the roux + milk mixture from the burner once it's all smooth, incorporated, and medium bubbles are forming (about ½ inch in diameter)
    • Other great add-ins: sliced jalapenos or salsa.
    • Serve your queso dip with chips &/or vegetables

    FAQ

    What cheese is used for queso?

    Queso is made of cheese (a white cheese like white American, monterey jack, pepper jack, or cheddar cheese), milk, and a roux (flour + butter).

    Is queso dip spicy?

    This queso recipe isn't spicy, it doesn't have any pepper added. But you can add fresh or pickled peppers to it, salsa, and lots of other ingredients to make it spicy.

    Is queso dip really Mexican?

    Queso dip is more of a Tex-Mex, or Texas dish. It's morphed over time from chiles with some cheese to more of a fondue type sauce that's used to dip chips into. One source traces this queso back to El Fenix restaurant in the early 1900s.

    Source: Mashed

    How to tell if queso dip is bad?

    Queso usually lasts 3-4 days in the fridge. I recommend doing the sniff test, even if it's more than 3-4 days and it still smells good, it'll be safe to eat. Foods will usually smell bad BEFORE they're unsafe to eat.

    I'd recommend using leftover queso to improve the lamest burrito bowl ever, or add it to the ultimate mac & cheese, or you can dip pretzels into it.

    queso dip on a plate with salsa on top and chips and celery on the side

    How can I repurpose?

    • Add leftover queso to a Burrito bowl
    • Make it into mac & cheese, like this one
    • Dip a quesadilla into it

    What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    • Cheddar Cheese: Secret Ingredient Mac & Cheese, Pantry Rice and Bean Soup, and Chorizo Breakfast Casserole.
    • Flour: Banana Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins, Chocolate Blueberry Muffins, and Stove Top Peach Crisp.
    • Milk: Strawberry Banana Milkshake, Butterscotch Milkshake, Biscoff Milkshake, and Apple Pie Overnight Oats.

    Did you make this queso dip? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

    dipping a chip into queso
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Easy Queso Dip

    Need quick game day appetizer? This easy queso dip is so much better than store-bought, and almost as easy as buying from the store! 
    Course Appetizer, Dip
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 10 minutes
    Servings 1 cup
    Author Rebecca

    Equipment

    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cups
    • Small Cooking Pot
    • whisk

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
    • 1 cup milk
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
    • salsa optional
    • sliced jalapenos optional
    • ½-1 teaspoon smoked paprika optional

    Instructions

    • Place small pot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add 2T butter, 2T whole wheat flour, and optional ½-1 teaspoon smoked paprika. Whisk together until it becomes a paste, about 1-2 minutes
    • Whisk in 1 c milk. Whisk until smooth and thickened, about 1 minute, add salt. Remove from heat once incorporated.
    • Add 2 c cheese, and continue to whisk until well combined, and smooth. About 2-3 minutes. Pour into bowl, top with salsa or sliced jalapenos, and serve with chips and veggies.

    Video

    Easy Queso Dip

    Notes

    • Swap the whole wheat flour for white flour if that's all you have
    • Make sure to stir continually (and don't leave it!) so paste doesn't get clumpy or burned
    • You'll be ready to remove the roux from the burner once it's all smooth, incorporated, and medium bubbles are forming (about ½ inch in diameter)
    • Level up your queso dip with sliced jalapenos or salsa. Serve with chips &/or vegetables

    Want to get more single serving recipes and others like this queso dip delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

    More Appetizers

    • Zucchini with Feta
    • Pickled Dill Carrots
    • Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad Recipe
    • Jalapeno Artichoke Dip

    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Caroline says

      December 11, 2018 at 8:35 am

      I've not made queso either, but it looks so easy and I can see it being all too addictive to dip when you are hungry or as you say pour over some veg for an easy snack or meal.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        December 11, 2018 at 2:16 pm

        ya it's surprisingly easy! try it out 🙂

        Reply
    2. Tayler Ross says

      December 11, 2018 at 8:43 am

      5 stars
      You had me at cheeeese!! I am saving this recipe for football this Sunday!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        December 11, 2018 at 2:16 pm

        right?! can't go wrong with cheese! and LMK how it turns out

        Reply
    3. Elaine Benoit says

      December 11, 2018 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      I love queso dips! This looks perfect! It's delicious and easy and I can't wait to try it! Hmm. Perhaps as an appetizer at my NYE party!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        December 11, 2018 at 2:15 pm

        yaaaa! it's good any time!

        Reply
    4. Traci says

      December 11, 2018 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      Oh yeah! Nothing like a warm queso dip to soothe the soul on a winter day. I love it that this is completely from scratch too! Great recipe!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        December 11, 2018 at 2:15 pm

        right?! its so warm & comforting AND soo easy from scratch!

        Reply
    5. Tawnie Kroll says

      December 11, 2018 at 9:30 am

      5 stars
      This is going to be a perfect appetizer for my holiday party coming up!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        December 11, 2018 at 2:14 pm

        yay! great to hear! LMK how it turns out

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Rebecca of Nourish Nutrition Blog in a kitchen making guacamole with chips and dips on counter

    Rebecca, MS, RDN
    of Nourish Nutrition

    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

    popular posts

    • Easy Instant Pot Fish (can cook from frozen!)
    • Overnight Oats with Yogurt
    • Red Wine Vinegar Coleslaw
    • Thai Inspired Beef and Spinach Bowl

    featured on

    logos of media outlets Rebecca of Nourish Nutrition Co has contributed to

    nutrition counseling

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Rebecca
    • Recipes
    • How to Eat
    • Disclaimer/Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for a free single serving cookbook

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Nutrition Services
    • Recipe/Food Photography Services

    Copyright © 2022 Nourish Nutrition Co