Poblano queso is a cheesy, flavorful, spicy dip that everyone will love. Roasted poblano peppers piled on top of a creamy queso recipe make the perfect appetizer!
Spicy Queso Recipe
This roasted poblano pepper queso is so creamy, cheesy, and delicious. It has just the right amount of spice and plenty of flavor.
Make this easy, spicy poblano cheese sauce as an appetizer anytime. Serve it with tacos on Taco Night, with margaritas at cocktail hour, or with more appetizers and dips on game day or Cinco de Mayo.
Why you’ll love this Poblano Queso Recipe recipe:
- CHEESY: This queso is (of course) super cheesy, with a smooth and creamy texture.
- EASY: It’s so easy to make this queso from scratch for any occasion.
- PERFECTLY SPICY: The roasted poblano peppers, chili and cumin make it perfectly spicy (without being overwhelming).
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How to make Poblano Queso
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- Brush the poblanos with olive oil, place them on a baking sheet, and roast the peppers until blistered.
- Let them cool, then remove the stems and seeds, and dice them. Set aside.
- Cook butter and flour together in a saucepan until the mixture thickens. Then add in the milk and let it continue to thicken.
- Reduce heat, then stir in the cheese until fully incorporated. Stir in the spices.
- Pour queso into a bowl or serving dish and top with the roasted poblano peppers. Enjoy!
Are poblano peppers spicy?
Poblanos are a little bit spicy, but relatively mild compared to some other peppers. That’s what makes them so great to cook with and add into queso. There’s some heat, but they won’t make you sweat.
How long does this queso last in the fridge?
Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
How do you make queso thicker?
For this recipe, we’re starting with a base of butter and flour. This mixture (a roux) sets us up for a nice thick queso recipe.
If it doesn’t seem to be thick enough for your liking, you can add in a bit more flour and mix until fully incorporated.
So Cheesy!
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Tips!
- Roasting the poblanos brings out their flavor so they’re extra delicious on top of the queso.
- You want to create the base of this queso and let that properly thicken BEFORE stirring in the cheese.
- To reheat leftovers, place it in the microwave at 30 second intervals, stirring regularly, until fully warmed through.
- Serve with tortilla chips, breads, crackers, or veggies.
This deliciously spicy poblano pepper queso will be gone before you know it! It’s so tasty and so addicting.
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Spicy Poblano Queso Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 poblano peppers
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (¼ stick)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup white American cheese shredded or diced
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 17-22 ounces tortilla chips for serving (1 bag)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Brush all the peppers with olive oil and place on a baking sheet.2 poblano peppers, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Bake until the skin becomes black and blistered– about 10 minutes per side.
- Remove from the heat and let cool completely.
- Remove the stem and seeds and dice the peppers.
- In a large saucepan set over medium heat, add the butter and allow it to melt. Add the flour and whisk to combine– the mixture will thicken and start to bubble. Allow it to cook for one minute.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- Add the milk and whisk until no lumps remain. Allow the mixture to thicken, stirring often, until it can coat the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes.1 cup whole milk
- Reduce the heat to low and add in the mozzarella and white cheddar cheese in small amounts until fully melted. Be sure to continuously stir at this step so the cheese melts smoothly.1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup white American cheese
- Stir in the garlic, chili, and cumin powders.¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Transfer to a serving dish and top with the chopped roasted poblano peppers. Enjoy while warm.17-22 ounces tortilla chips
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
Nutrition Information
Hi Kristie, we’re so sorry to hear you had trouble with this recipe. The poblanos are added to the top at the end (last step!).
American and cheddar are not the same cheese. American is a processed cheese that is essential to making creamy queso. Using only cheddar instead will not produce the desire results.
Thank you
Inthe ingredients it says white American cheese but in the recipe it
Says
White chedder. Which is it?
They’re more or less essentially the same!