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–+ servings
hand dipping chip in bowl of homemade nacho cheese sauce
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4.65 from 48 votes

Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce

Nacho Cheese Sauce is ridiculously easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought. Enjoy it as a dip or on a plate of nachos.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time5 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: Nacho Cheese Sauce
Servings: 6 servings
Author: Rachel Farnsworth

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese or cubed processed American cheese
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Melt 2 tablespoons salted butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Whisk in 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper and cook 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
  • Reduce the heat to low and add in 8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
  • Stir until cheese is melted and smooth.

Video

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Notes

Additional Flavor Options
  • Peppers: Cook minced jalapeno, serrano, or roasted peppers for 3-4 minutes in the butter before adding the flour,
  • Diced Onions and Garlic: Sauté finely diced onions and garlic in the butter for 5 to 7 minutes until soft before adding the flour.
  • Beer: Replace up to half the milk with a light beer.
  • Spices: Add up to 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, paprika, chili powder, ground mustard, or taco seasoning. Or try a combination of spices. Toast them in the butter for 1 minute before adding the flour.
  • Switch up the Cheese: Swap some cheddar for pepper jack, Monterey jack, Mexican cheese blends, or any combination of cheeses.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25cup | Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 286mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 579IU | Calcium: 318mg | Iron: 1mg
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