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Love Taco Bell’s nacho cheese sauce and want to make the recipe at home? Whether you’re craving cheesy fiesta potatoes, nachos, or a cheesy burrito, this copycat recipe is super quick and easy and tastes so much like the fast food fave.
This Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce recipe may be totally different from my usual recipes, but with Taco Bell retiring so many of their beloved items (Mexican pizza! Cheesy fiesta potatoes!), I knew I had to whip up some copycats, stat. While this may not be the healthiest cheese dip recipe on my site, it will definitely curb that craving for fast food. It’s also really ridiculously easy to make (literally one step) and healthier than the powdered nacho cheese Taco Bell makes its dip with. (Just sayin’.)
What Makes This Recipe So Good
Cheeze Whiz cheese dip – I know, I know. This is not a normal ingredient here at 40 Aprons. However, if you want that real Taco Bell flavor, prepackaged cheese dip is the way to go.
Pickled jalapeño juice – Brine from a jar of pickled jalapeños gives this sauce a little heat and an extra burst of flavor.
Milk – Helps make the cheese sauce extra creamy.
Cayenne pepper – As much or as little as you like for a little peppery spice.
How To Make It
The full recipe & ingredients list are below, but here you’ll find a quick overview for making this recipe perfectly, along with useful tips and info!
Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl.
That’s it!
Chef’s Tips
- If you don’t have Cheeze Whiz, you can really use any kind of plain cheese dip.
- If you’d like your cheese sauce warm, microwave it in 15 second increments, stirring between each cook time.
- This cheese sauce is great on tacos, quesadillas, tortilla chips, or even with french fries!
More Delicious Copycat Recipes
- Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes
- Taco Bell Mexican Pizza Recipe
- Whole30 Panera Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken (Paleo, Dairy-Free)
- Healthy Chick Fil A Frosted Lemonade Recipe (Paleo, Vegan)
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
4.20 from 5 votes
Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe
Prep 5 minutes minutes
Total 5 minutes minutes
This copycat recipe tastes so much like the fast food fave and is so easy to make
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce jar Cheez Whiz cheese dip
- ½ cup milk
- 4-5 tablespoons brine from pickled jalapeños
- cayenne pepper to taste
Instructions
Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl.
- Cheeze Whiz sub: Use any type of plain cheese dip or Velveeta if you don’t have Cheeze Whiz.
- Warm sauce: Microwave in 15 second increments, stirring between each cook time.
- Serving suggestions: Tacos, quesadillas, tortilla chips, french fries, etc.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Calories: 182calProtein: 8gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 1003mgPotassium: 182mgTotal Carbs: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gNet Carbs: 6gVitamin A: 455IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 247mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
Did You Make This Recipe?
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Cheryl Malik
In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.
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Can you use the Velveeta cheese sauce in the pouch instead of the block?
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It should work! Be sure to let us know if you try it! 😊
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Not close to Taco Bell nacho cheese. Just warm cheez wiz
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SO sorry you had that experience, Ashley! We appreciate your feedback.
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Delicious Cheese Sauce!!!!!!!!
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It’s the BEST!! ♥
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Soooooo good, easy, tasty, busy-afternoon food. Served with tortilla chips and the avocado salad, huge hit (but like, obviously right? It’s cheese sauce!)!!!
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Thanks for sharing your experience!
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Very quick and enjoyable cheese sauce. Such a good idea to use the jalapeño pickling juice! We are using our leftovers to top off some Mexican pizzas for dinner. Thanks for the great recipes
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Who needs drive-thru when you can make it yourself?!
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Meet Cheryl
Passionate foodie, certified health coach, serial entrepreneur, and mom of 3.
I've been developing and sharing delicious, approachable recipes on 40 Aprons for more than a decade. My goal is simple: take the chore out of mealtime by creating recipes that anyone can cook and that never skimp on flavor.
Meet my Team
