Description
Taco Bell’s legendary nacho cheese sauce brings restaurant-style magic home with creamy, zesty goodness. Melted cheese, spices, and a quick blend create an irresistible dip that elevates nachos, fries, and snacks you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
Thickening and Flour:
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Spices and Seasonings:
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a medium saucepan and melt butter over medium heat, creating a foundational base for a silky, luxurious cheese sauce with exceptional depth.
- Introduce flour to the melted butter, whisking vigorously to create a golden roux that will provide subtle thickening without overwhelming flavor complexity.
- Gradually stream milk into the roux while continuously stirring, ensuring a seamless integration that eliminates potential lumps and develops a velvety smooth texture.
- Reduce heat to low, preventing sauce separation, and incorporate shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until completely dissolved and maintaining a glossy, uniform consistency.
- Enhance the sauce’s flavor profile by introducing a harmonious blend of chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and a delicate salt sprinkle, which will elevate the overall taste experience.
- Remove saucepan from heat, allowing the nacho cheese sauce to reach an ideal serving temperature while preserving its rich, creamy characteristics.
- Explore versatile serving options like drizzling over crisp tortilla chips, garnishing tacos with a luxurious cheese cascade, or offering as a complementary dipping companion for Mexican-inspired culinary creations.
Notes
- Crafting this copycat Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce transforms ordinary ingredients into a restaurant-worthy condiment.
- Melting butter creates a silky foundation that guarantees smooth, luxurious texture without graininess.
- Whisking flour develops a light golden roux that thickens the sauce while maintaining delicate flavor nuances.
- Gradually incorporating milk prevents lumps, ensuring a velvety consistency that coats every chip perfectly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 259
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 58 mg