Kickstart your party with a bowl of Chipotle’s Queso Blanco. This warm and creamy cheese dip is loaded with Mexican vibes that will have your guests coming back for more!
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What makes Chipotle’s Queso Blanco so good?
Cold dips have their place, yet no one is passing by a warm Queso Blanco from Chipotle to dip their chip into plain old salsa. This white queso recipe takes inspiration from classic Mexican cuisine by using hot peppers and spices. The flavor and creamy texture make this dip irresistible.
It may make the dish super delicious, but those with timid palettes may wonder, is Chipotle Queso Blanco spicy? Relax; the cheese cuts the heat, and you are left with a perfectly balanced bowl of goodness.
Why you’ll love this Chipotle Queso Blanco recipe
You can buy Queso Blanco in a jar, and there are shorter recipes online, but none of them can compete when it comes to taste. The secret is freshness.
So many other recipes skip real vegetables and hot peppers for the convenience of powdered or canned versions. Or use white American cheese instead of white cheddar and Monterey Jack. Likewise with jalapeños instead of poblano and serrano peppers.
Sure, using natural, whole ingredients may take a little longer, but once you taste it, you’ll know it was worth it.
Chipotle Queso Blanco ingredients
For Queso Blanco, you’ll need:
- Yellow onion
- Poblano pepper
- Serrano pepper
- Tomato
- Sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded
- Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- Cornstarch
- Unsalted butter
- Salt
- Garlic
- Tomato
- Ground cumin
- Ground chipotle
- Heavy cream
- Sour cream
Since you will be coating the shredded cheeses in cornstarch, it is best to shred the cheeses yourself.
How to make Queso Blanco from Chipotle
To prepare Queso Blanco like Chipotle:
- Dice the yellow onion, poblano pepper, serrano pepper, and tomato into small pieces. Set them aside
- Mince the garlic and keep it for later.
- In a bowl, combine the shredded cheeses with cornstarch and toss to coat. Reserve.
- Heat a medium saucepan over a medium flame.
- Melt the unsalted butter in the saucepan.
- When the butter stops foaming, add the diced hot peppers and onions to the saucepan and season with salt. Stir well to combine.
- Saute the peppers and onions for two to three minutes until they soften.
- Add the minced garlic and chopped tomatoes. Stir well for about a minute until you can smell the garlic.
- Pour in the heavy cream and continue stirring until the heavy cream reaches a simmer. Lower the heat.
- Sprinkle in a third of the shredded cheese mixture and stir until it melts. Continue adding the cheese in batches.
- Stir in the sour cream and serve the queso dip hot.
- If desired, garnish it with diced tomatoes, green chiles, or cilantro.
What to serve with Queso Blanco
Go beyond the dip with these main course meals starring this recipe:
- Quesadilla or Burrito: Make a quick, delicious meal by mixing cooked shredded chicken, ground beef, or chorizo with the Queso Blanco sauce and then as the filling a quesadilla, burrito, or tacos.
- Mexican Rarebit. Pour Chipotle Queso Blanco over toast for a South-of-the-Border version of a European classic.
- Macaroni and Queso Blanco. Upgrade your Mac ‘n Cheese game by making Macaroni and Queso Blanco. Just mix cooked elbow macaroni with hot Queso Blanco and serve.
How to store the leftovers
For safety reasons, throw away any dip that you served. Cool the unserved dip as quickly as you can and transfer it to an airtight container. Put the container in the fridge.
How long does it last?
Expect the dip to stay good for two or three days in the fridge. It can turn sour fast, so give it a quick sniff test before reheating.
What is the best way to reheat it?
If you are only warming up enough Queso Blanco for a single serving, the microwave works best. Put it in a microwavable bowl and nuke for 20-second intervals until hot. Stir after heating.
Go with stovetop reheating for larger portions. Heat the dip in a saucepan over a low flame while stirring frequently. Queso Blanco will be very thick when cold, but resist adding extra liquid since it will thin out after getting warm.
More copycat Chipotle recipes
Favorite dips
Check out more of my easy dip recipes and get the best restaurant copycat recipes right here on CopyKat.
Chipotle Queso Blanco
You can make creamy queso blanco like Chipotle Mexican Grill at home with this easy copycat recipe.
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Servings: 8
Calories: 371kcal
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped poblano pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped serrano pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon diced tomato
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground chipotle
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 8 ounces shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/4 cup sour cream
Instructions
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Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, poblano pepper, serrano pepper, and salt. Cook until softened about 2-3 minutes.
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Add garlic, tomato, cumin, and ground chipotle. Cook for about 1 minute, or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
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Stir in heavy cream. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly.
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Reduce heat to low and simmer.
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Sprinkle cornstarch over shredded cheese and toss so the cheese is coated.
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Begin to add cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese ⅓ of the cheese at a time. Stir until the cheese has melted, and add the next portion of cheese. When all of the cheese has melted, add sour cream.
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Serve immediately with tortilla chips or your favorite dippers.
Nutrition
Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 441mg | Potassium: 115mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1155IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 444mg | Iron: 0.4mg
