One of our favorite dips is queso. I mean, how can you go wrong with creamy, melted cheese and a touch of spice? Instead of reaching for the jarred stuff, I now just make my own air fryer queso and let me tell you, you’ll never go back.
A lot of folks have the misconception that you can’t put cheese in an air fryer. You definitely can, though maybe not the same way you’d throw it in an oven.
This air fryer queso is the perfect testament to your favorite appliance’s ability to create delicious, creamy cheese dip. Much like a lot of Mexican-inspired cuisine, you can adjust it to your tastes in terms of heat level, making it perfect for a variety of preferences!
Add meat (like chorizo), beans, tomatoes, or anything else you like to customize your perfect version of queso!
Shopping List: Ingredients to Grab
8 ounces American cheese slices (white)
8 ounces pepper jack cheese (shredded or sliced)
4 ounce can diced green chiles, undrained
12 ounce can evaporated milk
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp salt
Special Equipment Note: You’ll need some form of oven-safe dish that fits in your air fryer basket. I’m using two small rectangular casserole dishes that fit in a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. However, you can use any casserole, cake pan, foil pan, or similar that fits in your air fryer’s basket or on the rack if you have a toaster oven style.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
You can swap in yellow American cheese or Velveeta if preferred for the white American cheese (but you want something that melts really well)
If you don’t want the heat of pepper jack, swap in Colby or Monterey jack cheese instead
The diced green chiles can be swapped for fresh or pickled jalapeno peppers, if preferred
Evaporated milk can be substituted by heavy cream or even regular milk. I find that evaporated gives a much better flavor overall
Seasonings can be adjusted to taste, but this is a good starting point. Feel free to add Cajun, Mexican, or any other seasonings you’d like as well!
Meat Variation: Add cooked, crumbled ground beef, chorizo, or bacon to the top of the cooked queso dip (pictured is about 4 ounces of chorizo)
Vegetable variations: You can add beans, canned diced tomatoes or Ro-tel, or chipotle peppers in to create different flavor combos
How to Make Queso Cheese Dip in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
Break cheese slices into quarters, or shred if you have a block. Place the cheese in the bottom of an oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer basket
On top of the cheese slices, add the green chilies and all the spices
Pour the evaporated milk over the top, making sure that the cheese is fully covered by liquid (push down with a fork if necessary)
Place the pan into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 10 minutes at 350°F, pausing to stir halfway
Serve with additional toppings as desired, and tortilla chips for dipping (pictured topped with chorizo and chopped cilantro)
What to Serve With Queso
Ground beef
Chorizo
Chicken
Beans
Jalapeno slices
Cilantro
Tortilla chips
Corn chips
Pita chips
Waffle fries
Baked potato
Soft pretzels
Tacos
Burritos
Quesadillas
Elote
Vegetable sticks
Salsa
There are many great foods to serve with queso. Whether you’re dipping in or piling on, cheese makes everything better!
Yes, you can heat up queso in the air fryer. Place it in an oven-safe dish that fits in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes at 350°F. Stir once halfway to promote even heating.
This method works for both homemade, jarred, and leftover restaurant queso.
How Do You Get Queso to Melt?
To get queso to melt, it’s important to use a cheese that melts easily, such as American, Velveeta, Havarti, or Jack cheese as the base. Additionally, using a dairy-based liquid such as cream or milk helps to heat the cheese and aid in melting.
Whether you’re cooking it in the air fryer, crock pot, oven, or stove, it’s the combination of the cheese, liquid, and heat application that makes queso melt.
How Do You Make Queso Liquidy?
For a more liquidy queso, simply add more liquid such as milk or evaporated milk.
Half and half or heavy cream work as well, but do not thin as much as a lower fat alternative.
How Do You Melt Queso Without Burning It?
The key to melting queso without burning it is a low heat, consistent stirring, and ample liquid.
The air fryer tends to be easier than the stove top, since it requires less stirring and won’t burn as long as you add enough liquid to it.
Recipe Pro Tips
I’m using two small rectangular casserole dishes because I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Feel free to use one larger square or round dish instead if you have a single basket or toaster oven style air fryer
It’s important to cover the cheese with the milk before cooking, as this prevents the cheese from overbrowning in the air fryer. Use a fork to push your cheese down a bit if necessary to achieve this
If, after 10 minutes, you still see some unmelted cheese, you can keep stirring for a minute or two and it should smooth out. If not, place it back in the air fryer for an additional minute or two
This easy air fryer queso gets you creamy, cheesy hot dip in only about 10 minutes of cooking time! It’s perfect for an appetizer or snack, and we love it for Mexican night. Use the leftovers to make delicious tacos, burritos, rice bowls, and more!
Queso is easily adjustable to suit a variety of tastes and spice levels. As written, it’s vegetarian, and low carb too! So, you’ll be able to meet several different dietary needs as well with this crowd-pleasing dip.
8Ouncespepper jack cheese(sliced or shredded preferred)
4Ouncecan diced green chiles(undrained)
12Ouncecan evaporated milk
1Tspgarlic powder
1Tsponion powder
½Tspchili powder
½Tspcumin
½Tspblack pepper
½Tsp salt
Instructions
Preheat your air fryer to 350°F
Break cheese slices into quarters, or shred if you have a block. Place the cheese in the bottom of an oven-safe pan that fits in your air fryer basket
8 Ounces white American cheese, 8 Ounces pepper jack cheese
On top of the cheese slices, add the green chilies and all the spices
4 Ounce can diced green chiles, 1 Tsp garlic powder, 1 Tsp onion powder, ½ Tsp chili powder, ½ Tsp cumin, ½ Tsp black pepper, ½ Tsp salt
Pour the evaporated milk over the top, making sure that the cheese is fully covered by liquid (push down with a fork or spoon if necessary)
12 Ounce can evaporated milk
Place the pan into the preheated air fryer basket
Cook on the air fry setting for 10 minutes at 350°F, pausing to stir with a spoon halfway
Serve with additional toppings as desired, and tortilla chips for dipping (pictured topped with chorizo and chopped cilantro)
Notes
I’m using two small rectangular casserole dishes because I have a Ninja Dual Zone air fryer. Feel free to use one larger square or round dish instead if you have a single basket or toaster oven style air fryer
It’s important to cover the cheese with the milk before cooking, as this prevents the cheese from overbrowning in the air fryer. Use a fork to push your cheese down a bit if necessary to achieve this
If, after 10 minutes, you still see some unmelted cheese, you can keep stirring for a minute or two and it should smooth out. If not, place it back in the air fryer for an additional minute or two
You can swap in yellow American cheese or Velveeta if preferred for the white American cheese (but it won’t be ‘blanco’ anymore)
If you don’t like pepper jack cheese, swap in Colby or Monterey jack cheese instead
The diced green chiles can be swapped for fresh or pickled jalapeno peppers, if preferred
Evaporated milk can be substituted by heavy cream or even regular milk. However, I find that evaporated gives a much better flavor and consistency overall
Seasonings can be adjusted to taste, but this is a good starting point. Feel free to add Cajun, Mexican, or any other seasonings you’d like as well!
Meat Variation: Add cooked, crumbled ground beef, chorizo, or bacon to the top of the cooked queso dip (pictured is about 4 ounces of chorizo)
Vegetable variations: You can add beans, canned diced tomatoes or Ro-tel, or chipotle peppers in to create different flavor combos
Exact nutritional values will vary based on brand of ingredients, any additions or substitutions, and quantity consumed, so please consider this a guideline only
Keyword air fryer cheese dip, air fryer dip recipes, air fryer queso, air fryer queso blanco, air fryer queso dip, cheese dip, cheese in air fryer, queso, queso cheese dip, queso dip
I enjoy trying new recipes, creating my own, and dabbling with new techniques all the time. My husband loves to protest when I make him my guinea pig, but it’s all for the love of food!
My cooking philosophy is that great tasting food doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming to make. I'm a home cook with over 20 years of experience feeding myself and others. I've learned from a variety of different people, things I've learned online, and some trial and error as well.
I enjoy cooking a variety of foods, from convenience to comfort foods, as well as international cuisine. You can rest assured that all of my recipes have been actually made, thoroughly tested, and most importantly: tasted! I want you to enjoy my food as much as I do!
