From Chipotle’s “I know it costs extra” guacamole to fresh corn salsa, customers line up at the fast casual chain for burritos and bowls piled high with toppings. The famous Chipotle queso blanco is especially popular and keeps everyone coming back for more. It’s creamy, cheesy and perfectly spicy. The only downside? It’ll set you back a few bucks to add queso to your order.
Stretch your dollar a little further by whipping up a batch of your own copycat Chipotle queso. With just a few simple, affordable ingredients, you can take your order to go (or try your hand at this copycat Chipotle chicken) then cheese it up to your heart’s content at home.
Chipotle Queso Ingredients
- Butter
- Onion
- Poblano pepper
- Serrano pepper
- Garlic
- Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- Cornstarch
- Evaporated milk
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Sharp white cheddar cheese
- Tomato
- Ground cumin
- Salt
- Pepper
- Tortilla chips
Directions
Step 1: Cook the onions and peppers
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Toss in the finely chopped onions, poblanos and serrano peppers, then cook until tender, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Add the garlic and chipotle peppers. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
Step 2: Add a cornstarch slurry
In a separate small bowl, combine the cornstarch and milk. Whisk together until smooth, and then stir the slurry into the onion mixture. Bring the queso to a boil and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: While some queso recipes rely on flour or arrowroot as a thickening agent, in testing, we found a simple cornstarch slurry to be the best and easiest way to thicken the sauce.
Step 3: Stir in the cheese
Reduce the heat to low, then gradually stir in the shredded cheese.
Editor’s Tip: For a silky smooth queso, add the cheese in small amounts and allow it to melt completely before the next addition.
Step 4: Season the queso
To finish this dip, gently stir in the chopped tomato and the remaining seasonings. Serve warm with tortilla chips or on top of your favorite copycat Chipotle recipes.
Chipotle Queso Variations
Make this recipe your own with an array of zesty additions or substitutions. For a spicier queso, add more hot peppers of your choice. You could also switch up the cheese choices by opting for pepper jack or sharp yellow cheddar. A final flourish of fresh cilantro or oregano or would also be welcome queso additions.
How do you store leftover queso?
Leftover queso can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until heated through, adding additional milk as needed to thin the queso to the desired consistency.
Chipotle Queso Tips
Why is my queso grainy?
Grainy queso? No bueno! Avoid this common queso conundrum by melting the cheese into your queso low and slow. High heat can cause the proteins in cheese to break and allow too much water to evaporate. This can lead to stringy, tough and grainy queso.
Additionally, we always recommend grating your own cheese for queso. Preshredded cheese often contains additives intended to prevent the cheese from clumping together in the package. These same additives can also inhibit the cheese from melting smoothly.
What goes with Chipotle queso?
While our favorite way to enjoy this copycat Chipotle queso blanco is with homemade tortilla chips, you can also dip, drizzle or pour this queso over:
- Tacos: Chicken, beef, pork and more! Pair with any one of these amazing taco recipes.
- Enchiladas: From creamy chicken enchiladas to cheddar beef enchiladas, both will benefit from the addition of Chipotle queso.
- Nachos: Try this copycat queso with skillet nachos or one of these other must-try nacho recipes.
- Taco Bell: For a fast-food crossover event, pair the queso with a homemade Cheesy Gordita Crunch or Crunchwrap Supreme.
