Qdoba Queso (Copycat Recipe)

Bring the taste of Qdoba into your own home with this Qdoba queso copycat recipe! It’s cheesy, delicious, and way cheaper than takeout!

Served hot, this cheesy delight is an amazing alternative to a simple jar of something from the store. 

Served with chips, veggies, or crusty bread, queso dip is rich, creamy, and irresistible.  

So, bust out those tortilla chips, and let’s take a look at this fantastic Qdoba queso recipe!

Qdoba Queso

Qdoba queso takes all the guesswork out and leaves you with the perfect combination of Monterey Jack, Cheddar, and American cheeses.

Using roasted poblanos adds a wonderful depth of flavor that compliments the chopped tomatoes perfectly. 

Everything gets thrown into a slow cooker, so the cheeses can melt and slowly mix with the cream, ground garlic, and salt. 

The slow cook ensures everything mixes just right, avoiding any issues with the cream splitting. Once you have this base down, you’ll be switching it up like a pro in no time. 

Making this in a slow cooker makes it pretty hands-off, and you can use a portable version if you need to take it to a party. 

Ingredients

Qdoba cheese dip is all about the cheese! Here’s everything you need to whip up the best cheese dip in town.

• Monterey Jack cheese. This cheese is mild, slightly sweet, and melts perfectly. You will often see it included in Mexican-style dishes.

• American cheddar cheese. To keep this dish that gorgeous pale color, try to find white American cheddar. 

• Cheddar cheese. Cheddar cheese has such a wonderful flavor that will really stand out without being too overpowering.

• Poblano peppers. As a relatively mild chili, it will add an undertone of heat without being over the top.

• Tomatoes. When finely chopped, the tomatoes will scatter throughout to give an almost salsa-like flavor to the dip.

• Heavy cream. Given that this is a dip made of melted cheese, now isn’t the time to cut back on calories. Use full-fat cream for the best dip!

• Ground garlic. As much as I love minced, fresh garlic, powdered garlic has a less intense flavor and will dissolve into the creamy cheese much better than fresh would.

• Salt. Add this right at the end to flavor the dip. You may find that you don’t need it at all.

Tips for Making Queso Dip

It may sound like all you’re doing is melting cheese, but there are a few things that can go wrong.

For the best results every single time, try these handy tips!

• Use freshly shredded cheese. Pre-shredded cheese may be quick, but it doesn’t melt well. And may even become grainy. For the best flavor and consistency, buy cheese on the block and shred it yourself. 

• Cook low and slow. Don’t try cooking on high to save time. The cheese will likely clump together if heated too quickly.

• Try different cheeses. For a more smokey flavor profile, try using smoked cheese. Smoked gouda or cheddar are wonderful options. 

• Make it silky-smooth. For a super silky version, try adding cream cheese to the mix. This will help the dip stay fluid for longer.

• Or, make it ultra-thick. If you want to thicken the dip, use cornstarch so that you don’t taste any flour. Make a slurry with equal parts water and cornstarch first, then add it to the dip. 

• Use sauteed onions. For something a little more flavorful, try sauteing onions with garlic and jalapenos and adding them to the melted cheese mix. 

• Try roasted tomatoes. For even more depth of flavor, Roast the tomatoes along with the peppers. It’s a small step that makes a big difference!

What Goes Well With Qdoba Queso?

Whether bringing this hot dip along to the in-laws or laying out a game-day spread, having a few different options to go along with it is essential!

Need some inspiration? I have you covered:

• Homemade pretzels. Warm, out-of-the-oven soft pretzels are always a crowd favorite. And when paired with this creamy dip, it’s a match made in heaven. 

• Spicy additions. Spicy dippers are a great way to bring on the heat. Why not put out a side of jalapeno poppers for the heat-freaks?

• Tortilla chips. A simple bag of tortilla chips is the perfect partner. But I would go for the scoops so you get more bang for your buck.

• Empanadas. For something more than just chips and dip, put out a plate of spicy beef empanadas. The spice from the empanadas works so well with this creamy dip!

• Pigs in a blanket. Since everything tastes better dipped in cheese, these pigs in a blanket would be next level as a side dish.

• Fresh veggies. Move over, ranch dressing! Let this hot cheesy wonder coat your veggie platter for a little cool crunch with smooth cheesy goodness.