Did you grow up eating cheese sauce as a dip for everything in your childhood? Today I have a recipe incredibly dedicated for you: jalapeno cheese sauce, a delicious point where your all-time favorite meets your spicy cravings.
Learn how to make this spicy cheese sauce using fresh and pickled jalapenos. It is rich and creamy and requires less than 5 minutes to whip up using a single skillet.
Incredibly delicious to serve up with jalapeno poppers or jalapeno nachos.
This creamy, luscious jalapeno cream cheese sauce melts in every bite and enhances the main dish. In simple words, it is nothing but that bowl of deliciousness.
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Why You'll Love This Jalapeno Cheese Sauce Recipe?
I love this spicy cheese sauce recipe for various reasons,
- It's my ideal cheese sauce, which I would rely on to serve my family on special occasions(and also this creamy jalapeno cilantro sauce).
- We love enjoying this addictive creamy sauce for everything. It would be perfect to have this jalapeno cheese sauce for burgers, fries, pretzels, or nachos; we love enjoying this addictive jalapeno cheese sauce.
- The jalapeno cheese sauce is also great to make in advance.
- There are no additives or preservatives but with the depth of flavors and taste.
- It is great to customize to suit your requirements.
The Ingredients
- Butter. What else can we consider making it a clean, creamy sauce without butter? The ultimate choice, however, may be to substitute with coconut oil.
- All-purpose flour. Make the cheese sauce rich and velvety. However, choose arrowroot powder or tapioca flour as an alternative.
- Fresh & pickled jalapeno. Adding both these gives an intense flavor and provides a peppery smack. The combination of new and pickled jalapenos packs the flavors and creates a delicious base for the cheese sauce.
- Garlic powder. A teaspoon of garlic powder infuses the sauce and creates an excellent dimension. As a substitute, garlic powder can be replaced with fresh garlic clove.
- Whole milk. A critical element in this jalapeno cheese sauce. Feel free to substitute with low-fat milk or vegan milk.
- Paprika. Adds an appetitive orangish color, bridging the jalapeno’s heat and the creamy cheese. To increase the heat, add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder.
- Cheddar cheese. Sharp cheddar gives a depth of flavor. However, mild cheddar or pepper jack cheese would also be equally good.
- Lemon juice/wine/pickled juice. This adds a touch of freshness and prevents the sauce from becoming stringy.
How To Make Jalapeno Cheese Sauce?
Melt the butter. Place a saucepan over medium heat, add butter, and let it melt.
Add in flour and whisk vigorously until it blends with the butter. Make sure the flour does not get burnt.
Add minced fresh jalapeno, garlic powder, milk, cheese, paprika, and salt.
Simmer the heat and stir continuously until the sauce thickens. This stirring process is done quickly and takes about 3 minutes. Switch off the heat.
And finally, stir in minced pickled jalapeno.
Cook until the cheese sauce gets into a slightly thicker consistency that covers the back of the spoon(as in this picture).
and transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy with burgers, chips, or nachos.
How To Use?
- Spicy dishes. Serve with the hot and spicy appetizers like jalapeno poppers.
- As a base sauce. Use as a base sauce for making mac and cheese.
- Nacho. Serve over a bed of crispy nachos and make a quick and delicious game-day snack in a flash of a second.
- Burger. Add up as a layer in your burger and feel the punch.
- Others. Also excellent when served with French fries, pretzels, garlic knots, and hot dogs.
Other Similar Recipes
Printable Recipe Card
Jalapeno Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon jalapeno minced
- 2 tablespoon pickled jalapeno
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ salt
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Over low to medium heat melt butter in a pan.
- Add in flour and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in minced jalapeno, garlic powder, whole milk, paprika, cheese, and salt.
- Whisk continously and bring the sauce to low heat.
- Cook by stirring regularly until the sauce thickens for about 4 minutes.
Notes
- To Store: The leftover jalapeno cheese sauce is good for up to 3 days when refrigerated in an air-sealed container.
- To Freeze: Store up to 3 months in the freezer.
- To Thaw: Thaw it by placing it overnight in the refrigerator.
Cara Campbell says
YES! I love jalapeno, and this recipe was perfect. We had it as a dipping sauce with our fries and it was so delicious!
pepperbowl says
Hi Cara! Love it! Thanks for sharing!
TAYLER ROSS says
I used this cheese sauce on nachos I made last night and OMG was it delicious! Perfectly spicy and cheesy!
pepperbowl says
Hi TAYLER! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
dana says
Ugh, yes. Just a big fat YES. This has become my favorite cheese sauce. I love the flavor of jalapeño and it comes through so beautifully in this.
pepperbowl says
Great to hear! Thank you dana!