This copycat Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce recipe is loaded with flavor. It combines Velveeta cheese and a few secret ingredients to make an irresistibly creamy and cheesy sauce that you'll want to put on everything. Plus, you can make this homemade version of the iconic Taco Bell cheese sauce in just 5 minutes!
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The Best Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce
I don't know about you, but Taco Bell's cheese sauce is easily one of my favorite things on the menu. And as you know by now, I can never resist creating a good copycat recipe, so I had to try recreating the Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce. And I know I'm biased, but I think I nailed it!
I mean, this copycat version is super rich and creamy with the perfect balance of savory, tangy, and spicy flavors. Gah, it's just so good! I'll even go as far as saying that it's better than the one from Taco Bell.
Also, in addition to tasting great, this recipe is so easy to make too. You literally just add all of the ingredients to a saucepot and let 'em melt together. Seriously, it's that easy!
So while the cheese is cooking, you can make these beef nachos, Taco Bell nacho fries, or even this Taco Bell chicken quesadilla to go with it. Or if you're craving cheesy fiesta potatoes, you can drizzle the cheese on top of these fried potatoes.
Of course, this nacho cheese sauce is perfect for some tortilla chips or for things like making a cheesy burrito. Honestly, it makes anything you eat with it taste better, so you can serve it on the side for dipping or drizzle it on anything you want!
Ingredients
Something else that I love about this Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce recipe is that it's made with just 5 simple ingredients. And you might even have all of them on hand already!
Anyway, check out all of the Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce ingredients:
- 10oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed
- ⅓ cup evaporated milk
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice
- Tortilla chips to serve with
Pretty simple stuff, right?!
By the way, if you have any leftover Velveeta cheese, then I definitely suggest you try making this Velveeta broccoli casserole recipe next! It's another easy recipe that's filled with cheesy goodness.
Ingredient Substitutions and Suggestions
Now, while I recommend making this copycat Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce with the ingredients listed above, there are some ways you can put your own spin on it and possibly save yourself a trip to the store as well.
For instance, if you don't have Velveeta cheese, you can swap it for a combination of cream cheese and cheddar cheese. The flavor and texture will be slightly different, but it'll still taste good regardless.
As for add-ons, I usually don't add anything since this cheese sauce is super flavorful as is. But with that said, if you want to add extra flavor to this cheese sauce, you can add shredded sharp cheddar cheese, a few dashes of hot sauce, and a sprinkle of garlic powder and onion powder.
How To Make Taco Bell Nacho Cheese
Now it's time for the fun part - making Taco Bell's nacho cheese sauce!
As I've said a few times, making this cheese sauce is about as easy as it gets. The whole thing comes together in one pot, so it's both easy to make and easy to clean. And the entire process will take you just 10 minutes.
Sounds pretty great, right?
So let's stop wasting time and make some Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce!
Step 1: Combine Cheese Sauce Ingredients
First things first, you'll want to start by placing the Velveeta cheese cut into cubes in a saucepot. Then you can follow that by adding the evaporated milk, cayenne pepper, and pickled jalapeño juice.
Now set the heat on your stovetop to medium-low and let the ingredients warm up. You'll want to stir them continuously until the Velveeta cheese is melted and the sauce has fully combined.
Step 2: Adjust Seasonings and Serve
Once all of the ingredients have combined into a fully melted cheese sauce, give it a taste and adjust the seasonings as necessary.
If you want it to be spicier, you can sprinkle in some more cayenne pepper and add more pickled jalapenos juice or jalapeno brine. You'll just want to add a little bit at a time so it doesn't get too spicy!
When the Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce is just how you want it, it's time to serve! You can serve the nacho cheese sauce hot with some tortilla chips, nacho fries, or anything else that you want.
Enjoy!
How To Store Taco Bell Nacho Cheese
This recipe for Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce makes 6 servings, so it should be the perfect sized amount for an appetizer or to go along with a family dinner. Honestly, I wouldn't expect to have any leftovers since it's so darn good. I usually find it's gone before it even cools down!
However, if you end up with any leftover cheese sauce, you can transfer it to an airtight container and store the cheese sauce in the fridge for about 3-4 days. If you want your cheese sauce to last even longer, you can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
How To Reheat Taco Bell Nacho Cheese
Whenever you're ready for another serving of cheese sauce, you'll definitely want to heat it back up.
If you're reheating a lot of the cheese sauce, you can put it in a saucepot over low heat and heat it up, stirring constantly until it reaches your desired temperature.
And if you're just reheating a single serving or two, you can transfer the leftovers to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it in 10-second intervals, stopping to stir between each interval until it's fully reheated.
FAQs About This Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Recipe
Does Taco Bell sell cheese dip?
Yes, Taco Bell sells cheese dip! You can buy it at big grocery stores like Walmart. They sell both a mild salsa con queso and a medium salsa con queso.
Can you order nacho cheese at Taco Bell?
Yes, you can order nacho cheese at Taco Bell. You can order the chips and nacho cheese from Taco Bell for $2.19. You can also get the cheese sauce on anything else that you're ordering from the menu.
Is the nacho cheese at Taco Bell real cheese?
No, the nacho cheese sauce at Taco Bell is not made with real cheese. According to the Taco Bell ingredients information, the nacho cheese is made with cheese whey which is powdered cheese, along with other ingredients.
Wrapping It Up
Well, that's how to make Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce!
I seriously think this is one of the best nacho cheese dip recipes you'll ever make. It's just so simple, and yet the results are loaded with creamy, cheesy, spicy, and tangy goodness.
Anytime I whip up this cheese dip, everyone goes crazy for it, and it's the talk of the night. So I have a feeling anyone you make it for will love it!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I/we do.
And, as always, if you gave this recipe a try then be sure to leave a comment below and let us know how it went!
More Copycat Recipes
If this nacho cheese sauce recipe has you craving more recipes from your favorite fast food restaurants, we have a ton on the blog for you to try next.
Here is some other copycat recipes you can make next:
- Moe's queso
- Qdoba queso
- Taco Bell Mexican pizza
- McDonalds chicken nuggets
- Chick fil A mac and cheese
- Chipotle cilantro lime rice
- Taco Bell grilled cheese burrito
Oh, and for more deliciousness, don't forget to follow us along on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram! We post new recipes on them every single day.
Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Recipe (My FAMOUS Copycat Recipe)
This copycat Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce recipe is loaded with flavor. It combines Velveeta cheese and a few secret ingredients to make an irresistibly creamy and cheesy sauce that you'll want to put on everything. Plus, you can make this homemade version of the iconic Taco Bell cheese sauce in just 5 minutes!
Ingredients
- 10oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed
- ⅓ cup evaporated milk
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 4 tablespoon pickled jalapeno juice
- Tortilla chips to serve with
Instructions
- Place Velveeta cheese in a saucepot.
- Add evaporated milk, cayenne pepper, and pickled jalapeno juice.
- Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is combined.
- Adjust the seasoning with additional cayenne pepper and pickling juice.
- Serve hot with tortilla chips.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 150Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 8g
Liam
Made it for baseball opening day and my brothers loved it.
Tianna J
I have made a nacho cheese at home before and it was meh. This on the other hand was sooo good!!
Brett L
Really had a fantastic flavor.
Brian
Went great with chips