This simple white queso is made with evaporated milk, two kinds of cheese and just a few other ingredients. So easy even the kids can make it for an appetizer or snack!
Hi friends!
We’re excited to share this simple white queso recipe with you today. My daughter is a huge queso lover and begs to order it every time we are out to eat. She even orders extra so she can take some home with her leftovers.
Over the past year or so we’ve tried several times to make it at home and have just not quite found a recipe that she likes as much as the one at our favorite restaurant.
But last weekend we gave it another try and found a winning combination that requires just a few simple ingredients.
What is queso?
Queso means cheese in Spanish but typically when you order queso at a Mexican restaurant, you’ll get a big dish of creamy gooey cheese that’s served with chips.
There are so many recipes out there and all of them seem to use a different combination of cheeses, spices, chilis and milk. The best thing to do is try a couple of recipes so you can figure out what you like!
I find our recipe is a good consistency, reheats well and you can easily add more to it.
Ingredients To Make White Queso
For our recipe, here’s what you need:
- Evaporated milk – this is just milk with some of the water removed
- Cornstarch – to help thicken the milk
- White American cheese – I typically buy this sliced from the deli.
- Pepperjack cheese – be sure to buy the block and shred it yourself.
- Spices – my daughter likes just garlic powder and salt. I like to add cumin and paprika
- Green chilis – these are optional but add a little dimension to the sauce and can add some spice if you want them to!
How To Make Queso
We make ours on the stovetop in just a few simple steps:
- Add a can of evaporated milk, spices and some cornstarch to a pan.
- As it warms, slowly add small chunks of cheese, stirring until all the cheese has melted.
- Stir in green chilis if you’re using them and serve with chips.
Easy White Queso Recipe
Here’s the recipe we use:
PrintHow To Make White Queso
This simple white queso is made with evaporated milk, two kinds of cheese and just a few other ingredients. So easy even the kids can make it for an appetizer or snack!
- Yield: 3–4 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp each cumin and paprika (optional)
- 1/2 pound White American cheese
- 1/2 pound Pepperjack cheese, shredded
- 4 oz can diced green chilis (mild or spicy), optional
Instructions
- Over medium heat, add evaporated milk, cornstarch and spices to a pot and whisk to combine.
- Slowly add White American cheese (cut into small chunks to help it melt faster), stirring until melted.
- Add Pepperjack cheese and stir until melted.
- Drain the green chilis and stir them in if using.
- Taste and adjust seasonings. You may want to add more salt or more of the other spices.
- Serve warm with chips.
White Queso FAQs
Is white queso gluten-free?
Yes! This recipe is gluten-free. Be sure to use certified gluten-free cornstarch, spices and chips if needed.
How do you store white queso?
We store ours in a glass Tupperware dish. I actually usually split it into two smaller containers to make it easier to reheat over the next several days.
How long does white queso last?
Store your leftovers in the fridge and enjoy for up to 5 days.
How to reheat queso?
We just reheat ours in the microwave. If you’re not storing in a glass container, be sure to transfer some to a bowl or microwave-safe dish before reheating in 30-second increments, stirring after each one, until hot!
How can I make queso spicy?
Either use hot green chilis or mix in some cayenne pepper along with the rest of the spices.
Can I use a different cheese in queso?
If you don’t have White American you can look for queso fresco or queso blanco at your store. You can also try cheddar – white, or yellow if you don’t care about the dip being white!
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
Deb says
Just made it and it turned out great! Thanks for sharing this recipe. So good.