Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce – Easy Copycat Recipe

Transform your homemade nachos from ordinary to extraordinary with this spot-on copycat of Taco Bell’s legendary nacho cheese sauce. This creamy, perfectly spiced sauce captures the exact flavor that has made Taco Bell a fast-food icon, and it comes together in just minutes using four simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. Skip the processed store-bought versions and create restaurant-quality cheese sauce infinitely more delicious and versatile than anything from a jar.

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Why this recipe works 

Don’t disgrace your nachos with store-bought cheese sauce when you can make them great with this easy homemade Taco Bell Nacho Cheese sauce recipe. Inspired by the chain’s nacho cheese sauce, this copycat recipe features the same signature creaminess with just the right amount of spice that will have you and your guests coming back for more!

The sauce comes together in minutes with just four ingredients; you can use it on almost anything. Spooning the cheese sauce over tortilla chips or using it as a dip is just the beginning of the possibilities. Check out the “How to use this sauce” section below for more creative and delicious options. 

Taco Bell Nacho Cheese sauce ingredients and their role

To prepare this Taco Nacho Cheese sauce recipe, you’ll need:

• American cheese – a block from the deli counter is the essential ingredient in this recipe, and it gives the sauce a rich and creamy texture without too strong a flavor. Cutting or grating the cheese yourself helps ensure the cheese melts evenly since some brands of pre-shredded cheese contain additives to prevent clumping, which can also affect how the cheese melts. 
• Salted butter – adds a rich creaminess to the Taco Nacho Cheese Sauce. Since you use salted butter in this recipe, there is no need to add any additional salt. 
• Whole milk – helps to thin out the American cheese and dissolve the other ingredients to prevent the sauce from getting too thick. Using whole milk adds a small amount of fat to the sauce without making it too rich. 
• Tabasco Jalapeno Sauce or the juice from a jar of pickled jalapeno slices – gives the Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce recipe a bit of heat, flavor, and some extra zing. 

How to make Taco Bell Nacho Cheese

To prepare the cheese sauce:

1. Cut the block of American cheese into small cubes or finely shred it. 
2. Put the salted butter, whole milk, and either Tabasco Jalapeno Sauce or the juice from a jar of pickled sliced jalapenos into a medium saucepan and place it over low heat.
3. Whisk until the salted butter melts, then add the cheese to the saucepan a little at a time. Whisk after each addition and wait until the cheese melts to add more cheese. 
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and cover it to keep the sauce warm until you use it. 

How to use this sauce 

Of course, you can happily use this cheese sauce just as a topping for your nachos or dipping tortilla chips, but if you stop there, you’re missing out on many more delicious culinary opportunities. Here are a few more creative ways that you can use this cheese sauce recipe as an ingredient in other dishes: 

Taco Bell Quesarito. Imagine how good a burrito stuffed with seasoned ground beef, Mexican-style rice, tangy sour cream, and smoky chipotle sauce would taste. Now imagine how much better it would be if, instead of being wrapped in a plain tortilla, it were wrapped in a quesadilla filled with shredded cheddar cheese and Taco Bell Nacho Cheese! That is what you get with this hearty and delicious Taco Bell Quesarito recipe. It is a tasty variation on a classic that is so easy to customize. 

Taco Bell Fiesta Potatoes. Mexican cuisine may not be known for potato dishes, but the Fiesta Potatoes from Taco Bell are a-maz-ing! Cubed potatoes are tossed in flour seasoned with south-of-the-border spices to get them ready for frying. After the potatoes are golden brown and crispy, portion them, and then top with sour cream, Taco Bell Nacho Cheese, guacamole, chopped tomatoes, or whatever else you want. Have some leftovers? You can easily turn Fiesta Potatoes into Spicy Potato Tacos. 

Taco Bell Mexican Pizza. This unique dish is a cross between beef and bean quesadilla and pizza, making an excellent snack or quick meal. To prepare a Taco Bell Mexican Pizza, spread refried beans and taco meat between two deep-fried tortillas. The crisp quesadilla is then topped with your favorite Taco Bell sauce, shredded Mexican cheese blend, and tomatoes before spending a minute under the broiler. But subbing hot Taco Bell Nacho Cheese for the shredded cheese is a great option, so you don’t need to turn on the oven. 

Storage and reheating instructions 

• Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 20 minutes to prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheating Method: Reheat gently on stovetop over low heat, whisking in 1 tablespoon milk to restore consistency. Stir frequently to prevent burning. Microwave in 20-second intervals if necessary.
• Freezing: Not recommended, as dairy-based sauces separate when frozen and do not reheat well.

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