Damn Good Torchy’s Queso Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links.

torchys queso dip with hot sauce

About This Torchy’s Queso Recipe

People, there is absolutely nothing that I love more than a delicious dip. Especially when I can accompany it with a nice, cold beer.  And lots of good friends. And preferably on game day. 

So when Torchy’s Tacos opened here in Denver, I was thrilled to try their queso. It’s basically the best I’ve ever had. So I HAD to replicate one of my favorite restaurant recipes at home for those times when no one wants to go out to eat but me. 

If you aren’t familiar with Torchy’s Tacos yet- let me tell you a bit about the restaurant. Their slogan is “Damn Good Tacos”- and I’d say that about sums it up. It’s an Austin, Texas-based Mexican restaurant chain that is starting to spring up all over the Southwest.

Torchy’s is a modern taco joint with a full bar and a full menu of tacos. The tacos have creative names- like The Barnburner or the Tipsy Chick. They also have super creative ingredient combinations like Jamaican Jerk chicken inside a taco.

I love that you can choose a corn or flour tortilla with every taco too- so you don’t just have to stick with the same type of tortilla every time. You can also choose a different salsa with each taco that you order, which is a super fun touch.

EVERYONE loves Torchy’s queso dip. Seriously. It so so so so SO good. It’s like regular green chile queso dip on steroids. There is a combination of processed cheese and “real cheese” that gives the dip a fun kick and a lot of texture. Then a bit of Torchy Diablo sauce is drizzled on top and a ball of guacamole is dropped right into the middle.

I use evaporated milk in this easy recipe to cut down on the saturated fat, and it makes the cheese sauce so smooth and creamy.  The dip is popular on the Keto diet, and it’s one of the easiest copycat recipes on the planet.

The cheese is perfectly smooth- and not as cheesy are just regular nacho cheese dip like you get at sporting events. It’s garnished with hot sauce, chopped onions and cilantro, and some queso fresco. Hot sauce is drizzled on top to give a nice kick- but the dip itself isn’t too spicy so most kids still love it. Here’s the recipe. 

torchys queso dip with homemade tortilla chip

Torchy’s Queso Recipe

Ingredients: 

  • 8 oz Velveeta cheese
  • 4 oz evaporated milk
  • 2 oz canned green chilis
  • 1 tablespoon minced white onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons queso fresco (optional garnish)
  • Hot sauce for drizzling
  • Tortilla chips for dipping
  • Guacamole (optional)

Instructions:

Combine Velveeta, evaporated milk, and green chiles in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on half power, one minute at a time, stirring frequently until completely melted and combined.

You can also make this on the stovetop, heating on medium heat and stirring until the cheese is melted.

Transfer into a dipping bowl. Drizzle hot sauce over it. Garnish with onion, cilantro, and crumbled queso fresco. 

If you are adding the guacamole, you can either scoop it into a ball and put it in the bottom of the dipping bowl and pour the queso dip on top. Or, you can drop it in from the top and then garnish afterward.

This recipe doubles, triples, quadruples… very nicely. No adjustments are needed!

torchys tacos queso with cilantro and queso fresco

Substitutions/Variations

You could definitely make this queso dip recipe with shredded cheeses like pepper jack and cheddar cheese, but I think that it tastes more like a homemade queso dip when I use Velveeta, so that’s what I did! 

And- at the restaurant, you can upgrade the dip by adding a ball of guacamole dropped right into the center of the dip. It’s damn delicious.

You can substitute the evaporated milk for heavy cream. 

Some people add lime juice to the mixture. 

Serving Suggestions

So I love to serve this dip as an appetizer before a taco night, or as part of a fun dip bar like for a New Year’s Party. It pairs super well with beer, wine, and margaritas…

FAQ

Is Torchy’s queso gluten-free?

It is! So if you eat it with corn tortilla chips it makes a great gluten-free appetizer. It’s vegetarian too!

How do I reheat Torchy’s queso?

You can reheat in the microwave- I like to do it at half power for about 2 minutes. You can also do stovetop- reheat until bubbling. I don’t know how why a person would need to reheat it though- I’ve never had leftovers!  

Printable Recipe

Yield: 1 cup dip

Torchy's Queso Dip Recipe

Torchys queso dip with homemade tortilla chip.

Torchy's queso dip recipe is one of the best copycat recipes! Delicious cheese dip with hot sauce, guacamole, and queso fresco- "damn good!"

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Velveeta cheese
  • 4 oz evaporated milk
  • 2 oz canned green chiles
  • 1 tablespoon minced white onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced cilantro
  • Hot sauce for drizzling
  • Tortilla chips for dipping
  • Guacamole (optional)

Instructions

Combine Velveeta, evaporated milk and green chiles in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on half power, one minute at a time, stirring after each minute, until completely melted and combined.

You can also make this on the stovetop, heating on medium heat and stirring until cheese is melted.

Transfer into a dipping bowl, and garnish with onion, cilantro, and hot sauce. 

If you are adding the guacamole, you can either scoop it into a ball and put it in the bottom the dipping bowl and pour the queso dip on top. Or, you can drop it in from the top and then garnish afterward.

This recipe doubles, triples, quadruples... very nicely.

Notes

You can also add salsa to this recipe- either from a can or homemade. I would add it when you add the green chilies.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

PIN IT!

Christa profile image

Christa Jimenez

Welcome! I’m Christa, a Spanish teacher married to a handsome Costa Rican and mother of two bilingual daughters. We’ve spent over 25 years living in and traveling to Costa Rica with our daughters, and this website is my love letter to all things Costa Rica- and to bilingual parenting too. You can read my full story here. Thanks for stopping by!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

12 Comments

  1. This dip looks divine! I am a sucker for a good queso, and I have all these ingredients. I’m intrigued to use evaporated milk with the Velveeta especially. Delicious!

    1. I just found out that most quesos don’t use evaporated milk! Who knew- so yes, I think it makes the dip extra creamy. Thanks for stopping by! ~Christa

  2. I’m gonna try and be nice, but I have to be honest, this queso is not good. I worked at torchys for 2 years, and to call this a copycat is nothing short of blasphemy. If you’re going to follow this recipe I highly recommend adding more green chiles, some salsa roja, and a pinch of salt.

  3. As Texas native, and regular Torchy’s Tacos customer: this is no way a proper representation of their product. Everyone knows that Velveta is a cornerstone of good queso, but it should not be the primary flavor.

  4. Nothing against this recipe, just please note that it has nothing to do with Costa Rica. It doesn’t go with all of the other Tico recipes.

  5. Sorry, this is not like torchy’s cheese dip
    Does not taste like it
    They use roasted green chile and different ingredients.

  6. You are on the right track, but as someone who previously managed a Torchy’s, this is not accurate. You would need to add fresh red salsa or a salsa Verde to the mix for a more accurate taste comparison. Also, Velveeta is NOT used in the recipe, but rather, freshly shredded cheddar cheese and whipping cream.

    I signed an agreement when working there or I else I would share the recipe.