If you’re a fan of bold flavors and creamy, dreamy cheese dips, then making Torchy’s queso at home is an absolute must. Forget the generic, pre-packaged options and elevate your snacking experience with this mouthwatering, restaurant-quality dip. Whether you’re hosting a game day party or just craving a tasty treat, this homemade Torchy’s queso will have everyone coming back for more.
The Secret to Perfect Queso: Quality Ingredients
The first step to making the best queso is using high-quality ingredients. Say goodbye to processed cheese like Velveeta and embrace the rich, creamy goodness of Boar’s Head yellow American and white American cheese. Head to the deli section of your grocery store and get these cheeses sliced fresh. The combination of these two types of cheese ensures a perfect melt and a smooth, velvety texture.
The Perfect Blend of Creaminess
To achieve that signature creamy and liquidy consistency, you’ll need a mixture of veggie broth and milk. This blend not only adds depth of flavor but also ensures your queso remains smooth and dippable. The balance of these liquids is key to avoiding a too-thick or too-runny dip.
Spice It Up with the Right Seasonings
What sets this queso apart is the robust seasoning blend. You’ll need garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. These spices come together to create a depth of flavor that will tantalize your taste buds with every bite.
Charred Veggies for Added Flavor
One of the standout features of Torchy’s queso is the addition of charred veggies. Under the broiler, char Anaheim peppers, jalapeños, tomatoes, and cloves of garlic until they have a nice, smoky char. This process enhances their natural flavors and adds a smoky dimension to your queso.
The Secret Ingredient: Salsa Verde
To elevate your queso even further, add a secret ingredient—salsa verde. This tangy, zesty addition brings a unique brightness to the dip and complements the smoky, spicy flavors perfectly. It’s the secret touch that takes your homemade queso from good to unforgettable. I love using store bought because sometimes tomatillo’s aren’t in season and you just don’t know if you’ll get a really tangy/sour flavor from it. I use the salsa verde from the brand Late July, it can be found at whole foods or any grocery store near you.
Bringing It All Together
Now that you have all your ingredients ready, it’s time to bring everything together. Start by melting some butter in a saucepan and adding your charred veggies along with the spices. Pour in the veggie broth and milk mixture, and let it come to a gentle simmer. Slowly whisk in the sliced cheeses until everything is perfectly melted and smooth.
Serving Suggestions
Torchy’s queso is versatile and pairs well with various snacks. For an extra treat, serve it over a bed of guacamole. The combination of creamy guacamole and the rich, cheesy dip is a match made in heaven. It’s also perfect for dipping tortilla chips, pouring over nachos, or drizzling on tacos and burritos.
Onto a baking sheet add the garlic cloves, tomato, jalapeños and Anaheim peppers. Broil for 5-7 minutes until the skin is starting to blister.
Peel the skin off the peppers and finely chop everything.
Into a sauce pan, melt the butter and add the finely chopped tomatoes, garlic and peppers. Cook for 2-3 mins and add all the seasonings along with the salsa verde.
Next add the veggie broth and milk. Bring to a low simmer and start whisking in all the sliced cheeses. Whisk and stir until everything is fully combined and cheese is melted.
Into a bowl, add a dollop of guacamole in the middle and ladle in the queso on top. Add all the garnishes and enjoy with chips!
Notes
Please read the blog post carefully to see which brand of salsa verde and sliced cheese I used from the deli before making this recipe. If you can’t find Boars head cheese at the deli section of your grocery store, simply ask them to slice you up white American and yellow American cheese. Do not use Valletta or Kraft cheese.
Prep Time:10
Cook Time:20
Category:Appetizer
Keywords: torches queso, dine in dupes, texas queso
Just an East/West coast girl living the southern life. I love sharing all my tested and perfected recipes here, along with some travel guides and a little bit of my lifestyle
