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Dipping a corn tortilla chip into cheese queso

Copycat Chipotle Queso Blanco

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My Copycat Chipotle Queso Blanco is smooth, irresistibly creamy, and packed with bold cheesy flavor and just the right amount of spice. Seriously, it’s as close to the real recipe as it gets. Now you can whip up restaurant-quality queso at home and instantly become the most popular person in the room. Don’t just take my word for it—the glowing reviews and five-star ratings say it all.
Course Appetizers
Cuisine Mexican
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 397
Author Janette

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (472 ml) whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons yellow onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons serrano pepper seeds removed finely chopped * see note
  • 1 ½ tablespoons poblano pepper seeds removed, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle pepper seeds removed and chopped from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1 garlic clove peeled and grated
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Water
  • 1 cup (240 grams) sour cream
  • 2 (172 grams) Monterey jack cheese, freshly grated
  • 1 cup( 86 grams) sharp white cheddar, freshly grated * * see note
  • 1 tablespoon fresh tomato seeds and juice removed, chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon salt or to taste

Instructions

Yields: 4 cups/1 quart/2 pints/850 ml

  • To a saucepan add the milk over medium heat. Stir in the onion, serrano peppers, poblano pepper, chipotle pepper and garlic. Mix cornstarch with just enough water so it dissolves, stir into the milk and bring to a light bubble, cook, stirring often until thickened. Remove from heat as soon as it is thickened (you will need to keep an eye on it). If it doesn't thicken to your liking, add a little more cornstarch mixed with milk.
  • Turn down to the heat to very low and whisk in the sour cream. Once the sour cream is incorporated, add a handful of cheese and stir until melted. Continue to add and handfuls of cheese and stir until all the cheese is used, making sure it is completely melted before adding another handful and ensure the queso is smooth. If too hot, the queso may turn gritty and separate. (see tips below to prevent this).
  • Stir in the tomato. Remove from the heat and allow the queso to cool, it will get even thicker as it cools.

Tips to prevent the sauce turning gritting or grainy and separating:

  • Slow and steady heat - If you heat over high heat, this heats the liquid too quickly. You want to slowly bring up to a simmer over medium heat or medium-low heat is best. And never, ever boil. Always grate the cheese yourself. Pre-grated cheese has anti-clumping added and this will affect the texture of the sauce.
  • Cornstarch is highly recommended. If you use flour instead of cornstarch, double the amount (cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour). I also can't guarantee that any raw flour taste will cook out.
  • Taste for seasoning and adjust to your taste.
  • To reheat your queso or cheese sauce, add to a pan and heat low and slow, stirring often.

Video

Notes

* Use more if you like it spicy
** Pre-grated cheese has anti-clumping added and this will affect the texture of the sauce and may result in grainy queso.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 397kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 530mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g