Homemade Velveeta Cheese Sauce Recipe

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Who doesn’t love a good queso dip? That creamy, velvety cheese dip that tastes good with EVERYTHING.

Homemade queso with real ingredients is here! Also known as homemade Velveeta Cheese Sauce. Grab the recipe below use it as you normally would!

While we all love the convenience of melted velveeta cheese, unfortunately, it’s also made of processed, mystery ingredients that leave us all feeling guilty with every bite. Seriously, the velveeta ingredients are a little bit on the scary side!

But, I have finally made the PERFECT real, cheese dip that has the same velvety, delicious quality of the fake cheese, but made with real ingredients! The best velveeta substitute around!

Homemade queso with real ingredients is here! Also known as homemade Velveeta cheese. Grab the recipe and use it as you normally would!

Of course, there is nothing wrong with munching on fruits and veggies but why not add a new, healthier alternative to the party? A cheesy, better ingredient alternative!

Test after test, 21 tries later, I am glad to introduce you to MOMveeta! Made with real cheese, milk, and spices this recipe can be made in your microwave or slow cooker.

It goes to show you that real food can be fun and delicious! For more family favorite recipes and snack ideas, check out our family meal plans.

This cheese sauce is the perfect recipe to keep on hand for lunches and dinners, to give your picky eaters a dip they love, to partner with new foods.

I often pack a container of this cheese dip for lunch for my middle son (my pickiest eater), because it helps him get the rest of his lunch finished, since it’s served with his favorite dip.

How to Pack Sauce for Lunch

If your wondering how I get this sauce in the lunchbox without making everything soggy, it’s easy. I use these mini dippers!

These are pack-it fast containers and my official go-to when adding dips and sauces to lunchboxes.

Prior to the mini dippers, you used to have to separate the large compartment by using silicone muffin cups, and dips or sauces had to be sealed separately. That is no longer the case!

Thanks to my favorite mini dippers, packing great dips and sauces just got easier!

These small storage containers have leak-resistant lids, making them great for dressings, yogurts, BBQ sauce, hummus, dips, or even your favorite trail mix. They’re also dishwasher- and freezer-safe.

Okay, so now you know how to pack it, but what is IN this cheese dip all my kids are raving about?

Healthier Velveeta Cheese Sauce Ingredients

Since the main idea behind making my own velveeta alternative was healthier ingredients that what you’d find in the traditional block cheese, let’s talk about what goes into this healthier dip!

It’s just four simple ingredients, but the flavor is everything you’re kids have been begging for, and more!

  • All Natural American Cheese
  • Sharp Cheddar Cheese
  • Milk
  • Cumin

And that’s it! Those four ingredients come together for the perfect, dippable, spreadable cheese sauce!

A few notes on the cheeses used. This recipe has been on MOMables for a long time, and I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the best types of cheese to use for it over the years.

We know that not all white American cheeses are made equal. A simple test to be sure you’re getting the good stuff – Check the ingredients.

You don’t have to read everything on the list, but some American Cheeses don’t really expire. YIKES. In that case, take a pass and move on to the next option.

Another hint that you should find a new cheese is if it says “cheese product” on the packaging. If you see that phrase, it’s probably not real.

I used Land O’Lakes brand in our test. Yes, I know, it’s not the best, but many of you asked for it.

After 21 tests and more than $300 in cheese, there is just no way to get around it. Get the best quality you can find and afford.

For both recipes, I purchased the cheese from the deli counter in a big chunk; don’t use sliced cheese.

Homemade queso with real ingredients is here! Also known as homemade Velveeta cheese.

How to Make Velveeta Sauce in the Microwave

While both methods of making your own Velveeta are easy, the microwave method is by far the quickest.

This microwaveable cheese sauce is what I pull out when guests are on the way over and I realize I’m serving veggies with no sauce, that their kids might not like. Or I need a quick and easy appetizer like chips and dip.

Honestly, who doesn’t want to be the mom on the block that all the kids love because “auntie Laura serves her broccoli with DIP”. Whatever it takes, right? Even for those picky eaters!

Making this cheese sauce in the microwave is crazy-easy. Simply put all the ingredients in a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 5 minutes

Make sure that you’re stopping the microwave and giving it all a good stir every 1 or 2 minutes.

It might seem a bit runny at first with all that milk in there, but don’t worry. As more of the cheese melts it will all blend together into a gorgeous dip. YUM.

Homemade Make Velveeta in the Slow Cooker

The crockpot method for homemade cheese sauce is just as easy as the microwave method, but will allow you to be in and out of the kitchen a little bit more.

To make Velveeta Sauce in the crockpot place all the ingredients in the pot and turn it on high for 2 and a half hours.

Don’t wander too far from the kitchen though, even when using the crockpot you’ll still want to stir the sauce every hour so that it doesn’t start to stick to the edges of your bowl.

Trust me, cleaning up crusty cheese from a crockpot bowl is not something you’re going to want to do.

When the cheese has reached it’s melty perfection, reduce the crockpot heat to the lowest setting possible and get ready to serve!

This is a great method to keep the cheese warm for a party or event, so you don’t have to keep running back ot the microwave to heat it up.

How Long Does Homemade Velveeta Last

If you like to make extra dip so you can send it along in lunchboxes or have it as a companion for dinner veggies throughout the week, you’re not alone.

I knew I needed a solution that wouldn’t require me making another batch of cheese dip every single night.

I know, it only takes 5 minutes, but when my picky eater was in a cheese-on-everything phase, we needed it to be handy for virtually every meal.

To save your homemade Velveeta for another day, you can cool it in a loaf pan and refrigerate for a week to use as you would use traditional Velveeta.

You can also cool and refrigerate or freeze in 1-cup portions if you want smaller servings of the sauce to last you all week. Reheat every 30 seconds until creamy and hot.

Velveeta Queso Recipe

So now that we’ve perfected the ultimate velveeta cheese substitute, let’s move on to the queso really quick.

Yep, you can make amazing velveeta queso using this homemade recipe! This is one I pull out for taco night at my house a lot!

Simply add 1 10-ounce can of diced tomatoes and green chilies (drained) to the mix before cooking. You’ll also want to drop the milk amount down by about half a cup to make sure that the consistency stays just right.

And that’s it! You’ll have the perfect kid-friendly Velveeta Queso Dip for your next family taco night!

Whether it’s for queso or using the pure, traditional dip, this homemade Velveeta Cheese Sauce is the perfect partner for chips, pretzels, veggies or anything else you love to dip in cheese.

So if it’s game day or your best friends’ daughter’s birthday, this is the perfect, super yummy party food!

Print Recipe|

Homemade Velveeta Cheese Sauce

Homemade queso with real ingredients is here! Also known as homemade Velveeta cheese. Grab the recipe and use it as you normally would!

★★★★★

4.9 from 12 reviews

Looking for a healthier version of the boxed cheese? This Homemade Velveeta Cheese Recipe performs like the real thing and tastes delicious!

  • Author: MOMables – Laura Fuentes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 cups 1x
  • Cuisine: Snacks
Scale

Ingredients

For the Traditional Velveeta Sauce

  • 16 ounces natural American cheese
  • 8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder

For the Velveeta Queso use this instead 

  • 16 ounces natural American cheese
  • 8 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 10-ounce can diced tomatoes & green chilies, drained

Instructions

Microwave directions:

  1. Place all the ingredients inside a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 5 minutes, stopping to stir every 1 to 2 minutes. The mixture might seem watery during the first few stirs, but it should come together as a nice runny dip after all the cheese is melted.
  2. Serve immediately as a dip with tortilla chips. 

Slow cooker directions:

  1. Place all the ingredients in a small slow cooker (that will fit at least 4 cups of liquid). Turn it on high for 2 1/2 hours. Mix the ingredients every hour to prevent the cheese from sticking to the walls and possibly burning. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, and enjoy!

Equipment

Notes

  • Nutrition facts are based off the original Velveeta Cheese Dip. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/4 cup
  • Calories: 200
  • Sugar: 2.4g
  • Sodium: 355.6mg
  • Fat: 14g
  • Saturated Fat: 8.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 4.1g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 14.3g
  • Cholesterol: 47.5mg

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About MOMables - Laura

Mom to 3 kids, obsessed with coffee, meal planning, and helping you cook fresh meals for your family fast!

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