Easy Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American / TexMex

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 15

Servings:

Calories: 282kcal

Author: Kris Longwell

This Easy Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce is rich, creamy, and full of bold, cheesy flavor — ready in just minutes! Perfect for dipping chips, drizzling over fries, or serving with soft pretzels, it’s a quick and crowd-pleasing recipe that tastes just like classic movie-theater nachos.

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Equipment

1 medium skillet

Ingredients

2 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cup American cheese yellow, shredded from a block, see NOTES
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
3 tablespoon jalapeño brine

Instructions

In a medium skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute.
2 tablespoon unsalted butter, 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Slowly whisk in the milk and cream. Stir until any lumps are gone and has slightly thickened.
1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream
Turn off the heat (or turn to low) and add the shredded cheese a handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth.
2 cup American cheese
Stir in the salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and jalapeño brine.
1 teaspoon Kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, 3 tablespoon jalapeño brine
Serve at once or keep warm over very low heat in a small slow cooker on WARM or LOW. If too thick, add a splash or two of milk until the desired consistency.

Video

Notes

NOTE: Watch the video in the recipe card for visual guidance.

For a slightly lighter version, you can substitute half-and-half for the heavy cream — the sauce will still be creamy, just a bit less rich.
Cheese matters! American cheese gives you that ultra-smooth, classic nacho texture, while mild cheddar or Monterey Jack adds a sharper flavor. You can even mix a few types for the best of both worlds.
To reheat, warm the sauce slowly over low heat or in short microwave bursts, stirring often. Add a splash of milk or cream to bring back the silky consistency.

Nutrition