How To Make Velveeta Cheese Sauce - The Typical Mom

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How to Make Velveeta Cheese Sauce

By Justine

5 from 1 vote

Updated Jul 25, 2025

Published Jan 02, 2024

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Jump to Recipe homemade cheese sauce

How to make copycat Velveeta cheese sauce recipe for broccoli, nachos or baked potatoes. Easy with only 3 ingredients and tastes just like store bought.

This is how to make your favorite block of cheese that sits on the store shelf, because we love that stuff! Using it in all sorts of recipes, on top of vegetables or on top of chips it’s great but it is cheap to throw together and make yourself. An easy side dish you too will find lots of uses for.

Throw in some diced up leftover chicken to add protein and voila you have dinner in a flash. Have picky eaters who need some cheese for vegetables all the time or they won’t touch it? I get it, I have 3 girls and we were there once. I’d use this early on, add less and less as the years went on and it was a way to get kids to eat vegetables.

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Ingredient Notes

You want to start with a bunch of pre shredded cheddar cheese, sharp cheddar is best for the most authentic flavor.

Non fat dry milk powder can be found at the store, shelf stable and you will add as is, not diluted with water

Powdered gelatine unflavored mix will allow the mixture to solidify but stay a bit jiggly like Jello

Boiling water can be done in the microwave or in a pot over medium heat. You do want it rather hot so it becomes a smooth mixture when combined and mixed.

How to make this spicy

You can make this spicy air fryer nachos cheese if you want to add some heat or just keep it mild like we did here. There are a few ways to add heat, my favorites would be to add a squeeze of Sriracha, diced fresh roasted jalapenos or some cayenne pepper.

Blended cheese sauce mixture, reminiscent of a delectable Velveeta cheese sauce, swirled in a food processor bowl.

You will want a food processor to blend this all together. If you don’t have one just use a blender instead, that will work. If you are not really going to bother making it a solid block because you just need it to make Velveeta Hamburger Helper or something then you can skip those steps.

Tips for Success

You want to make sure the liquid you add is very hot and boiling. That way the dry milk will dissolve and cheese will melt smooth and won’t be grainy. Adding some soft cheeses into the mix like fontina, Gouda, Gruyere or Havarti will make it extra creamy as well.

Want to make it heartier, similar to our sausage gravy that is killer on top of all the things too? Add some precooked sausage or ground beef into the shredded cheese melted mixture too. A tbsp. of garlic powder and/or onion powder can be a yummy add in too.

If you are just keeping it liquified and don’t want to harden it like a copycat Velveeta recipe of sorts then that is all you need. To make it into a “log” you’ll do this by pouring it into a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so it lifts out easily. This is better when making queso dip with meat.

A spoon dipped in a bowl of creamy orange cheese sauce showcases the perfect velveeta blend, demonstrating how to make velveeta cheese sauce effortlessly delicious.

5 from 1 vote

Velveeta Cheese Sauce Recipe

By Justine How to make Velveeta cheese sauce for broccoli, nachos or baked potatoes. Easy with only 3 ingredients and tastes just like store bought. Prep: 15 minutes Cook: 6 minutes Servings: 12 Save RecipeSaved! Pin Recipe Comment Print Recipe

Equipment

1 food processor
1 9×5 loaf pan

Ingredients 1x2x3x

▢ 16 oz cheddar cheese, sharp, shredded
▢ 1 packet unflavored gelatin, 1/4 oz.
▢ 6 tbsp dry milk
▢ 1 c boiling water

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Instructions

In a food processor pulse together gelatin and dry milk. Carefully add boiling water into machine and pulse again a few times.
Add shredded cheese and blend until it has melted and mixture is creamy.
Line a loaf pan with plastic wrap or parchment paper so all sides are covered so you can lift it out once hardened. (not necessary if using as a cheese sauce only)
Pour into loaf pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place into your fridge overnight to solidify. (if you want it as a solid block)

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1oz, Calories: 171kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 43mg, Sodium: 249mg, Potassium: 87mg, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 414IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 307mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, SnackCuisine: American Tried this recipe?Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

What to Make with Velveeta

On top of our Air fryer broccoli is our favorite way because it gives the edges just a little crisp. You can opt for this steamed broccoli with cheese if you aren’t big on kitchen countertop appliance cooking.

If you want something really easy for an after school snack, you can totally make some pasta and just toss this right in. Sort of a cheater Ninja Foodi macaroni and cheese recipe that is sure to get thumbs up from your kiddos for sure.

My girls actually like this as a chicken nuggets dipping sauce too. Like I said, they love cheesy all the things so why not on chicken too right?

Now jump to recipe below and use it in one of our Velveeta recipes like our pressure cooker chicken spaghetti which is cheesy and can be made with this. Easy Instant Pot fondue is a fun one to be melted like a double boiler using this too. Or make some shrimp rotel dip with it

How to save leftovers

You can serve it right away if you’re making Velveeta mac and cheese after it is melted and nicely smooth. Or make into a block like you commonly see it at the store packaged up. If you don’t use it all wrap tightly with plastic wrap and sit inside a freezer bag stored in the fridge for up to a week.

How to Reheat

If you want to rewarm leftovers, add a tbsp of milk to a bowl with small cut blocks so it smooths out nicely in the microwave cooked in 30 second intervals stirred each time until smooth and hot.

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About Justine

Justine is the creative mind behind The Typical Mom and The Typical Family on YouTube. She began blogging about easy recipes, budget friendly activities for kids, and fun family travel destinations in September 2012.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

2 Comments

I see it now says 1 Packet. That makes more sense. Thanks.
Reply
4 oz. of Knox gelatin would be 16 pouches or 4 boxes. Is this what you meant to say?
Reply

Hi, I'm Justine!

Welcome to The Typical Mom blog where we share easy Instant Pot recipes, use our Ninja Foodi, Crockpot and air fryer daily, and share fun family travel destinations!

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