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Quick and Easy Nacho Cheese Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 92 reviews

This quick and easy nacho cheese recipe yields a creamy, smooth, and perfectly spiced cheese sauce made from sharp cheddar and evaporated milk. It’s perfect for drizzling over nachos, fries, or steamed vegetables, and can be customized with hot sauce and cayenne for a kick of heat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Mix

  • 3 cups (12 oz) freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

Cheese Sauce Base

  • 1 12-ounce can (1 1/2 cups) evaporated milk
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce (optional)
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (plus more as needed)

Instructions

  1. Coat the Cheese: In a large bowl, toss the freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese with cornstarch to coat all the shreds evenly. This helps prevent clumping and ensures a smooth cheese sauce.
  2. Heat the Milk: Pour the evaporated milk into a medium saucepan and heat it over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Heat the milk just until it begins to simmer, then remove it from the heat.
  3. Melt the Cheese: Gradually add the cornstarch-coated cheese to the hot evaporated milk, adding a large handful at a time. Stir continuously until each addition fully melts and incorporates, resulting in a smooth, creamy sauce.
  4. Season the Sauce: Stir in the hot sauce (if using), salt, and ground cayenne pepper. Taste the sauce and adjust the cayenne pepper to increase the heat if desired.
  5. Serve: Pour the warm nacho cheese sauce over your favorite nachos, fries, or steamed vegetables and enjoy this versatile and flavorful topping.

Notes

  • Use sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded for best melting and flavor.
  • Cornstarch prevents a grainy texture by keeping the cheese from clumping.
  • Evaporated milk gives the sauce richness without being overly heavy.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper and hot sauce to control the heat level to your liking.
  • The sauce is best served immediately but can be gently reheated to maintain texture.
  • For a smoother sauce, shred the cheese finely and stir constantly when melting.

Keywords: nacho cheese, cheese sauce, quick cheese sauce, cheddar cheese sauce, nacho topping

Find it online: https://tastybella.com/quick-and-easy-nacho-cheese-recipe/