The Best Ever Copycat Applebees Queso Blanco

Applebee’s Queso Blanco is a favorite appetizer of so many. This Southwestern cheese dip is smooth, creamy, and slightly spicy. Queso Blanco is simply a white cheese dip or sauce with Mexican flavors, and Applebee’s version is made with fresh jalapeños, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro. What makes this copycat recipe special is the use of fresh vegetables rather than canned ingredients, which gives the queso its distinctive flavor and authentic taste.

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Why This Recipe Works

The secret to perfect queso blanco lies in using white American cheese as the base, which melts beautifully and creates an incredibly smooth sauce. Many restaurant cheese sauces rely on American cheese for its superior melting properties and ability to maintain consistency without breaking. The combination of fresh vegetables adds authentic flavor and texture, while the Monterey Jack cheese contributes additional creaminess and mild flavor that complements the American cheese perfectly.

Queso Blanco Recipe Ingredients

For the Vegetable Base:

• Jalapeño pepper – Provides fresh heat and authentic Mexican flavor
• White onion – Adds aromatic sweetness and savory depth when sautéed
• Vegetable oil – Creates a cooking medium for vegetables and prevents sticking

For the Cheese Base:

• White American cheese – Forms a smooth, creamy foundation that melts perfectly
• Monterey Jack cheese – Adds mild flavor and extra creaminess
• Half and half – Creates proper consistency and richness

For Fresh Garnishes:

• Fresh cilantro – Provides herbaceous flavor and authentic Mexican taste
• Tomatoes – Contributes fresh acidity and bright color

About American Cheese for Dips and Sauces

Many of the cheese sauces you find in restaurants have American cheese as their base. Before you recoil in horror, consider that American cheese has its place. Quite honestly, it does a fantastic job of melting and making cheese sauces.

You may not have known it comes in the very familiar yellow variety, but it also comes in the white variety, and it is the base of this cheese sauce. A quick trip to the deli and you will be in the queso-making business.

How to Make Applebee’s Queso Blanco

1. Place vegetable oil, chopped jalapeno, and chopped onion in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Sauté onion and jalapeno until the onion becomes translucent.
3. Cut both cheeses into 1-inch cubes.
4. Add the cheeses and half and half to the pan. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is melted and the mixture is smooth.
5. Add chopped tomatoes and half of the cilantro.
6. Garnish the queso with cilantro and chopped jalapenos.

Recipe Notes and Tips

You may want to wear gloves when working with fresh jalapeno peppers because they can burn your fingers. Also, be careful not to touch your eyes.

If you like your queso hot you can add more chopped jalapenos. You could also not seed them and get a little more of that spice.

What to Serve with Queso Blanco

Serve this dip with corn chips, but honestly, I think this queso would taste great spooned over enchiladas, or even served over fresh chimichangas.

When serving queso at a party I like to put mine in a Fondue Pot. This way the queso stays nice and warm the whole time.

Looking for more Applebee’s copycat recipes? Try these!

• Bacon Quesadillas
• Bourbon Street Steak
• French Onion Soup
• Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing
• Oriental Grilled Chicken Salad
• Pico de Gallo
• Chocolate Lava Meltdown

More Tasty Dip Recipes

• Rotel Cheese Dip
• Roasted Red Pepper Dip
• Green Goddess Dip
• Chili’s Queso Dip

Take a look at even more of the best appetizer recipes and easy dips to make at home.

Applebee’s Queso Blanco Easy Copycat Recipe

Make Applebee's famous white queso at home! Smooth, creamy cheese dip with fresh jalapeños, onions, tomatoes, and cilantro.

5 from 5 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Applebees Recipes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Calories: 295kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/3 cup finely chopped white onion
• 2 tablespoons minced jalapeño pepper divided use (core and remove seeds if you prefer less heat)
• 1 pound white American cheese cubed
• 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese cubed
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped tomato
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro divided use
• tortilla chips to serve

Instructions

• Place the vegetable oil, onion, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of jalapeño in a medium-sized pot over medium-low heat. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
• Add the cheeses and half-and-half. Reduce the heat to low and stir until the cheese melts.
• When the cheese has melted, add the tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of cilantro. Mix well and remove from the heat.
• Garnish with the remaining cilantro and chopped jalapeños and serve with tortilla chips.

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Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 884mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 680IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 657mg | Iron: 0.5mg