Jordan Myrick
Justine Sterling
Queso is kind of magical. You can eat it straight out of the fridge, warmed in the microwave, or poured over tortilla chips for quick and easy nachos. But there isn’t just one best queso that works for everyone.
Maybe you want spicy queso. Maybe you want queso blanco. Maybe you want queso that tastes like the nacho cheese you get at the movie theater. Lucky for you, in one of those rare instances of the world showing kindness, there are a lot of really great queso brands out there, available to purchase at your local grocery store. So you can have the best queso, in your hands, in less than an hour.
Over the course of four full taste tests, we tried more than 30 different brands and varieties of store bought queso. How did we narrow it down to just 15?
What we were looking for in the best store bought queso
- Cheesy flavor. Seems like it should go without saying that liquid cheese should taste like cheese, but let’s face it—a lot of store bought queso has real “cheese food product” vibes. As long as it has a satisfying cheesy flavor, we’re in—and that goes for the best vegan queso, too.
- A silky, dippable texture. Some of the quesos on this list are thick and easy to scoop up with a tortilla chip. Some of the quesos on this list—including our new #1 favorite—are liquidy and loose, like real Tex-Mex queso.Either way, they shouldn’t be clumpy or grainy or leave a nasty film in your mouth.
Here’s our updated list of the best queso dip to buy. Don’t limit yourself to just one.
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- Trader Joe’s Vegan Nacho Dip
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Even though this isn’t labeled as a queso, it’s still the best vegan queso we’ve tasted (in fact, there are a few oat milk queso brands you should DEFINITELY avoid). It has a real tangy, cheese-like flavor. And, when you heat it up, it gets super creamy and smooth and melty thanks to the coconut oil and tapioca starch. If dairy is a no-no, then this vegan queso is a yes-yes. It’s the best queso dip to buy for vegans or those who are vegan-curious. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
- Fritos Jalapeno Cheddar Flavored Cheese Dip
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The nostalgia factor is through the roof with this queso. Fritos Jalapeño Cheddar Flavored Cheese Dip tastes like movie theater nacho cheese (which we’ve also ranked separately). The kind that comes out of a big pump and is served with pickled jalapenos and slightly stale chips and is delicious for some reason. This cheese “flavored” dip tastes like it has jalapeno pickling juice mixed directly into it, setting it apart from all the other fresh pepper-based queso dips we tried. It certainly doesn’t taste homemade and that’s actually what earned it a spot on our list of the best store bought queso. It has that made-in-a-factory cheesy flavor that you’re in the mood for sometimes! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Tostitos Queso Blanco Dip
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If you’re hosting an event or party, Tostitos Queso Blanco is some of the best store bought queso blanco we tried. It scored points for durability: As it sat out during our taste test, it remained melty and perfectly creamy while some of the others started to congeal or form a less-than-pleasant film. You could enjoy this queso blanco over the course of a football game or movie marathon. It’s a little spicy, but won’t blow out your taste buds if you’re trying to enjoy other appetizers. That being said, you might not even want to eat any other apps when Tostitos Queso Blanco is on the table. It’s just too good. I could eat chip after chip dipped in this and never get tired of it. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Gordo’s Mild Cheese Dip
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Gordo’s queso has a diehard fan base—lots of people think it’s the best white queso and I understand why. It’s delicious. It’s unbelievably buttery, but the texture is what keeps it from ranking higher. Gordo’s queso is extremely thin, much thinner than any queso I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Additionally, the flavor is very mild. I think this is better suited to being used as a cheese sauce than as a dip. It will coat a frozen burrito or a plate of nachos like a dream, and the mildness won’t overpower other flavors. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Cacique Jalapeño DIp
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Cacique’s original white queso didn’t do it for us during our first taste test. But we tried Cacique Jalapeño in our latest best queso taste test and it definitely earned a spot on this list of the best queso. First of all, it’s super thick, which I love in queso. I want to be able to scoop up my queso. Secondly, it packs a ton of real jalapeño flavor. Specifically, it has roasted jalapeño flavor, with some good, spicy heat, too, and chunks of pepper in the mix. It also has a lot of cumin flavor, to the point where Jordan thought it verged on Indian-Mexican fusion. So, why not lean in? Top some nachos with butter chicken (Trader Joe’s makes a good frozen version) and then top it all with this queso blanco. Did we just invent a new hit dish? —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Great Value Salsa Con Queso Cheese Dip
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This is a very delicious, very affordable jarred queso. It contains big chunks of peppers, which give it a nice kick. It’s super creamy and thick. It has that nostalgic, bright-orange-queso color. I would happily serve this at a party, but I have a strong hunch this would also be really good mixed with a box of cooked elbow noodles for homemade spicy mac and cheese. It’s so cheap that, if it’s bad, it’s no big loss. Take risks! —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Walmart
- Velveeta Queso Con Salsa
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There’s no other way to describe this queso than by saying it is the best store bought queso if you love Velveeta. Velveeta is such a unique foodstuff. It’s a little bit like plastic, but in the best way possible. It’s so extremely creamy and gooey. And it has just the slightest hint of spice on the end. If you’ve been making “queso” by melting Velveeta in a bowl, then cut out the middleman (aka the microwave) and get this new Velveeta queso. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Velveeta
- Queso Mama White Queso with Diced Green Chilies
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So many of the mild queso brands we tried weren’t just mild in spice—they were mild in flavor. Queso Mama manages to keep the heat low while bringing tons of good, cheesy flavor. Notes of cumin and green chili fill your mouth when you bite into a chip drenched in Queso Mama’s queso, making it some of the best store bought queso blanco we tried and definitely the best grocery store queso if you can’t handle heat. I am now addicted to it and took the entire 32-ounce container to enjoy in the privacy of my own home. —Jordan Myrick
Credit: Merc / Target
- On the Border Spicy Jalapeno Queso
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You’re about to read a lot of On the Border queso. Essentially, if you find any On the Border Queso, go ahead and buy it. Because On the Border makes the best jarred queso, period. This one is the best queso dip to buy if you want some heat. It has a lot of really good, vegetal, fruity, peppery flavor that’s accompanied by just the right amount of heat. It won’t blow your tongue off, but it will get your mouth tingling. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- On the Border Monterey Jack Queso
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We included a few really great queso blanco brands on this list, but On the Border makes the best white queso around. It’s zesty and peppery and extremely rich and creamy. It’s slightly milder and less tangy than the classic On the Border queso, so if you’re looking for a more easy going dip, this is the best queso for you. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Tostito’s Salsa Con Queso Medium
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I have very vivid memories of going to a rich high school friend’s house where there was always a jar of Totito’s Salsa Con Queso in the pantry or fridge, and I began to associate it with wealth and luxury—can you tell I didn’t have a lot of money growing up?? Anyway, my personal positive associations aside, Totito’s Salsa Con Queso is a classic. It’s rich and creamy and it really does taste almost as good cold as it does hot. I make “I can afford queso” money now, but I can’t keep this around because I would never stop eating it. —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Casa Mamita Salsa con Queso
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We take a break from our On the Border love fest to tell you about an On the Border dupe we found at Aldi. Casa Mamita Salsa con Queso tastes almost exactly like the best shelf-stable queso on this list (see #2). It’s salty and very creamy and it even includes tasty chunks of pepper. It doesn’t have quite the same nuance of flavor as On the Border, but it’s cheaper and it’s nearly as good. Job well done, Aldi. —Justine Sterling
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- On the Border Salsa Con Queso
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This queso is so creamy and smooth, and it used to be our very favorite. I tried it again in our most recent taste test and it had a little bit of that jarred flavor that detracted from the overall cheesiness we’ve loved in the past. Don’t get me wrong: This is still good store bought queso. We love how the fruitiness from the jalapeño really shines. On the Border Salsa Con Queso would be great for chip dipping, burrito dunking, or taco salad drizzling. If you like the classic orange stuff in a jar, this is the best queso to buy. —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Marketside Queso Blanco
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In our many queso taste tests, somehow we’d never gotten around to trying this queso that’s sold in Walmart’s deli section. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting a lot, but I dunked a chip and took a bite, and was like, huh, this reminds me of something. I asked Justine to help jog my memory and she nailed it: This queso tastes pretty much exactly like the queso at Homestate, which is a small, popular Texas-style taco chain here in Los Angeles. It’s queso people wait in line for on Sunday afternoons. And I’m telling you that you can get something VERY similar for just a few bucks at any ol’ Walmart store in the U.S. If that’s not the best queso, I don’t know what is. —Gwynedd Stuart
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
Best Vegan Queso
Most Nostalgic
Best for a Party
Best Cheese Sauce
Best Jalapeno
Best Budget
Best Velveeta
Best Mild
Best Spicy
Best Blanco Queso
Best Classic
Best On the Border Dupe
Best of the Best
Best of the Best
Other queso dips we tried
Happy Farms Queso Blanco, Happy Farms Salsa Con Queso, 365 White Queso, Stonewall Kitchen Bacon Queso, Sprouts Queso Blanco, Good & Gather Queso Blanco, Desert Pepper Chili Con Queso, Trader Joe’s Queso, Taco Bell Salsa Con Queso, Fritos Mild Cheddar, Tostitos Salsa con Queso, Rico’s, Queso-Melt Jalapeno Cheese Dip, Gordo’s Original Cheese Dip, Great Value Queso Blanco, Queso Mama White Queso with Jalapenos, 505 Southwestern Green Chile Queso Blanco, Tostitos Spicy Queso, Herdez Queso Con Salsa, Pace Party Bowls Queso Blanco, Pace Party Bowls Jalapeno Popper Queso Dip, Credo Medium Oatmilk Queso, Marketside Southwest Queso
Griffin Parker
Jessica Block
