Easy Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce

Looking for the perfect companion for dipping chips, topping burgers or tacos, or making mac and cheese? Look no further. This Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce is the perfect blend of smooth, creamy cheese and fresh vegetables that will add a delicious kick to your favourite meals and snacks.

Originally posted in May 2023, this post was updated in April 2026.

Cheese is one of our favourite snacks. We almost always have some kind of queso or cheese dip in our fridge. And we have a lot of different recipes for using all kinds of cheese. This easy cheese sauce is our go-to for so many reasons.

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What is Velveeta Cheese?

Velveeta is a cheese product that melts easily. It has a smooth and creamy texture that makes it perfect for making queso and cheese sauces. And this recipe is no exception. Velveeta makes this sauce creamy and delicious.

It does contain cheese, but because it also contains other ingredients, it cannot be labelled as cheese, therefore, it is a cheese product. We do not normally use a lot of processed products, and Velveeta does fall under that category, but it is so good when melted that we cannot resist using it in many of our recipes.

Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce Has So Many Uses

There is a reason this sauce is our go-to cheese sauce. It has so many uses and is so quick and easy to make. In about 30 minutes, you have a sauce that can be used for so many recipes and dishes.

• Use as a sauce for Mac and Cheese. Pour over cooked macaroni and stir to make a quick and easy mac and cheese that is sure to please.
• Drizzle over nachos for added flavour. Or serve on the side for dipping.
• Make hot dogs better by topping them with chili and this cheese sauce. This also works for burgers.
• This sauce is perfect for pouring over broccoli, taking broccoli and cheese to a new level.
• Tacos, burritos, and enchiladas can all use this sauce drizzled on top or as a dip.

These are only a few ideas for using this sauce. Our kids like to use it on so many other foods, like dipping Doritos, corn dogs, and vegetables.

The great thing about this sauce is that it can be made outside on the BBQ or over a campfire. We keep the sauce warm outside by placing it on the griddle while we are cooking tacos and burritos.

The Ingredients For Making Easy Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce

To make this cheese sauce, you will need:

• Butter.
• Flour.
• Salt.
• Pepper.
• Garlic powder.
• Onion powder.
• Milk.
• Buttermilk. 
• Velveeta Cheese.
• Jalapeno peppers.
• Tomatoes.
• White onion.

Ingredient Short-Cut

While we love the crispness of fresh jalapenos, and the fresh flavour of tomatoes off the vine, many people enjoy using a can of Ro-Tel tomatoes and peppers. This is a good shortcut in a pinch, and works great in winter months when fresh is not in season.

To use a can of Ro-Tel, we recommend draining the excess liquid from the can before adding it so it doesn’t turn the cheese sauce into a soup. 

Variations For Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce

Add heat to this sauce by changing the peppers. Swap out jalapenos for habaneros or any other peppers of your choice. 

Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes to spice it up a bit.

Is Buttermilk Necessary?

The buttermilk in this recipe adds an acidic flavour that cuts through the richness of the Velveeta cheese. This balances out the flavour of the sauce. 

It can be replaced with milk or cream if you don’t have buttermilk on hand.

Buttermilk can also be made using a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice in 1/2 cup of milk or cream and letting it sit for a minute or two. 

Why Use A Roux For The Sauce?

A roux is used for the base of this sauce to thicken the sauce and help it keep its consistency. 

Using a roux for this recipe helps to keep the cheese sauce from separating and gives the sauce a velvety texture. 

What To Do If The Cheese Sauce Breaks?

If your sauce breaks, don’t worry, it can almost always be fixed with this one trick: warm milk.

Simply whisk in a tablespoon or two of warm milk and the sauce should come back together nicely. 

Can Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce Be Made Ahead?

It is best if this cheese sauce is served as soon as it is made, but it can be made ahead if you are using it the same day. We sometimes make this sauce in the morning and reheat it for dinner that night. Keeping it in the fridge for up to three days is possible if you want to use it a little at a time.

To reheat, place the sauce in a small pot over low heat. Stir often to avoid burning to the bottom of the pot. Add a tablespoon or two of milk while heating if the sauce is too thick. More milk may be needed if the sauce has been in the fridge for more than 12 hours.

Smoked Velveeta Nacho Cheese Sauce

If we are already smoking meat on the smoker, we will pour this sauce into a cast iron skillet and put it on the smoker for 15-20 minutes, away form the heat, to get that smoky flavour into the sauce.

This is a great way to add another level of flavour to the cheese sauce, especially when we are smoking a brisket. Then we use the brisket and the cheese sauce on tacos or as toppings for nachos. 

Simple Ways To Use Velveeta Cheese Nacho Sauce

This sauce can be used in so many ways. Here are a few ways we like to use it:

• Use this sauce as a dip for chips and pretzels.
• Top nachos, tacos, and burritos with this sauce.
• Pour over steamed broccoli or cauliflower.
• Serve on burgers to take them to another level. 
• Use this cheese sauce as a dip for Patty Melts.

Looking for more Velveeta recipes?

Velveeta is one of those versatile ingredients that can be used in so many ways. We use it for all kinds of cheesy dishes.

For more ideas for using Velveeta, check out our Cheese Dip For Burgers or Barbecue Queso Dip.

Have you made this recipe? We would love to hear what you think. Let us know by leaving a comment below or tagging us on Instagram.