The best cheese dip can really turn things around. Has the state of the world left you feeling cold, empty, and alone? Grab some tortilla chips and the best queso, and we bet you’ll feel better in no time. Need something to remind you that life’s worth living? A tub of pimento cheese should do the trick. Truly, there are few (if any) problems that dippable, spreadable cheese can’t solve—at least temporarily. We all have our coping mechanisms, and you could do a lot worse than molten cheese!
From the best nacho cheese to a cheese spread you should always have in the fridge, here are the best cheese dips we’ve found in our taste tests.
- El Mexicano Nacho Cheese Sauce
-
Movie theater nachos are good, but movie theater nachos at home (where the nacho cheese isn’t rationed, so you can eat way more of it with your fingers without worrying you’ll run out) are better. El Mexicano nacho cheese is pretty much perfect—creamy, buttery, and just a little bit spicy. Bonus: You can get this stuff in a gargantuan 6 lb can if you really don’t want to risk running out before the movie ends.
Read the full ranking of the best nacho cheese
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- On the Border Salsa Con Queso
-
Having a liquid cheese emergency? One of our favorite things about On the Border Salsa Con Queso is that it truly tastes good even if you don’t heat it up. Grab it out of the pantry or fridge and just start dunking. It’s rich and creamy and it has an excellent, straight-forward cheesy flavor with just a touch of fruitiness from the jalapeños in the mix. There are certainly more authentic takes on queso at the grocery store (we ranked some of those, too), but if you want pure turn-your-brain-off molten cheese, this is the way to go.
Read the full ranking of the best queso
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Trader Joe’s Vegan Nacho Dip
-
If you don’t eat cheese, don’t worry—queso isn’t off the menu. Trader Joe’s dairy-free nacho cheese dip is so good, even if you aren’t vegan or lactose intolerant. It’s tangy, incredibly smooth, and actually tastes like cheddar cheese even though it’s made from cashews and coconut oil. This would be so good mixed with Ro-Tel for a classic party dip everyone will love.
Read the full ranking of the best vegan queso
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Trader Joe’s Syrah Soaked Toscano Cheese Spread & Dip
-
This is one of those products we’re always quietly hoping won’t be discontinued by the Trader Joe’s powers that be. TJ’s Syrah Soaked Toscano Cheese Spread & Dip is creamy, rich, and has a cheesy tang that makes your mouth water. This is the best tub of cheese to toss on a nice charcuterie board to mix things up a little, but it’s also the best cheese dip for pretzels if you want something a little fancier than regular ol’ nacho cheese.
Read the full ranking of the best spreadable cheeses
Credit: Merc / Trader Joe’s
- Cabot Pimento Cheese Spread
-
Yes, this is technically a cheese “spread,” but it’s also one of the best cheese dips if you buy sturdy enough crackers (actually, go ahead and pick up pita chips for this one). Cabot Pimento Cheese really tastes like it was made in a Southern granny’s home kitchen. It has an excellent cheesy bite, and a little bit of sweetness from the pimentos to counteract the creamy, salty base. Use it as a dip or heap it onto squishy white bread for a mouthwatering sandwich, and tell us your day didn’t just get way better.
Read the full ranking of the best spreadable cheeses
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Social Media