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Home Blog Course Condiments & Sauces

Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

Cheryl Malik
Cheryl Malik Posted: 09/09/20 Updated: 01/16/22
4.20
/5
8 Comments
Jump to Recipe
GF Gluten Free

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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.

A triangular tortilla chip being dipped into a clear glass of Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce while surrounded by broken tortilla chips

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!

A white bowl filled with Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce and a whisk

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!
Overhead shot of a clear glass of Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce surrounded by a white napkin with a red line of embroidery and broken tortilla chips

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)

Hey – you’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook, too!

A triangular tortilla chip being dipped into a clear glass of Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce while surrounded by broken tortilla chips
4.20 from 5 votes

Taco Bell Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe

Prep:5 minutes
Total:5 minutes
This copycat recipe tastes so much like the fast food fave and is so easy to make
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4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 15-ounce jar Cheez Whiz cheese dip
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4-5 tablespoons brine from pickled jalapeños
  • cayenne pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl.
    A white bowl filled with Taco Bell nacho cheese sauce and a whisk

Notes

  • 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.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 182kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 47mg, Sodium: 1003mg, Potassium: 182mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 455IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 247mg, Iron: 1mg, Net Carbs: 6g

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.

© Author: Cheryl Malik

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Cheryl Malik

Meet Cheryl Malik

Cheryl Malik is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind the healthy, flavorful, family friendly recipes at 40 Aprons. She's been a blogger for 10+ years and is known for her delicious recipes and detailed recipe instructions. Cheryl is a mom of three who lives in Memphis, TN.

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  1. Ashley says

    Posted on 12/17/22 at 7:20 pm

    Not close to Taco Bell nacho cheese. Just warm cheez wiz1 star

    Reply
    • Molly | 40 Aprons TeamMolly | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 12/22/22 at 7:59 am

      SO sorry you had that experience, Ashley! We appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
  2. DAVID SCOTT JEFFREY says

    Posted on 7/28/22 at 5:35 pm

    Delicious Cheese Sauce!!!!!!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Grace | 40 Aprons TeamGrace | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 7/29/22 at 12:37 pm

      It’s the BEST!! ♥

      Reply
  3. RLMRQ says

    Posted on 11/7/20 at 5:05 pm

    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!)!!!5 stars

    Reply
    • Savannah | 40 Aprons Team says

      Posted on 11/9/20 at 9:38 am

      Thanks for sharing your experience!5 stars

      Reply
  4. Kara D says

    Posted on 9/20/20 at 7:12 pm

    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 recipes5 stars

    Reply
    • Amelia Camurati says

      Posted on 9/23/20 at 8:44 am

      Who needs drive-thru when you can make it yourself?!

      Reply

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