Creamy Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
This creamy, smooth Nacho Cheese Sauce recipe combines melted cheddar cheese with a buttery roux and evaporated milk to create a perfect dip for chips, veggies, or nachos. Its velvety texture and mild, cheesy flavor make it an irresistible companion for any snack time or party platter.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: About 2 cups of cheese sauce 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- 10 ounces mild cheddar cheese, grated by hand
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Melt butter and add flour: In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the all purpose flour to create a roux.
- Cook roux: Stir the flour and butter mixture continuously until the raw flour taste disappears and the mixture starts to bubble and look foamy, which indicates the roux is cooked and ready.
- Add evaporated milk: Slowly pour in the evaporated milk while stirring constantly to ensure a smooth mixture without lumps. Continue cooking over medium heat until the sauce thickens to a consistency where a spoon dipped in it shows a clear path when you run your finger through.
- Incorporate cheese: Reduce the heat to low and gradually add the grated mild cheddar cheese, stirring constantly until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Season the sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the salt and paprika evenly to enhance the flavor.
- Serve: Serve the nacho cheese sauce warm immediately, perfect for dipping chips or drizzling over nachos.
Notes
- Use freshly grated cheddar cheese for the creamiest texture; pre-shredded cheese may contain anti-caking agents that affect smoothness.
- Keep stirring while adding milk and cheese to prevent lumps and ensure even melting.
- Adjust salt and paprika to taste, or add a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra heat.
- The sauce thickens as it cools, so keep it warm during serving or gently reheat before serving again.
- To make it spicier, consider adding diced jalapeños or hot sauce after adding cheese.
Keywords: nacho cheese sauce, cheese dip, cheddar cheese sauce, easy cheese sauce, party dip
