Copycat Applebee's Queso Blanco

There is nothing better on game day than this Copycat Applebee's Queso Blanco dip. Who doesn't like hot melted cheese? Ready in 30 minutes!

When it comes to appetizers, specifically dips, this Copycat Applebee's Queso Blanco is my favorite. Delicious white melted cheese with just a hint of spiciness.

I usually use a can of petite diced tomatoes when I make this recipe. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to chop veggies. If you do take the can route as I do, make sure you thoroughly drain the juices before adding them to the cheese mixture. I like to let the tomatoes sit in a colander over paper towels for a good 15 to 20 minutes.

🌶 How to Handle Hot Peppers

The capsaicin in hot peppers is what makes peppers hot. If you handle hot peppers gloveless, it’s a guarantee that you’re in for a nasty case of chili burn, both on your fingers and anywhere you rub. Like your face. Ouch!

Even if you wear disposable gloves, be careful about what you touch. The gloves are going to protect your fingers, but touching any part of your body with the gloves after you’ve handled hot peppers can lead to severe chili burn. Resist the temptation to rub your eyes. Wait until you’ve removed your gloves and washed your hands thoroughly with soap.

The Scoville Scale is the measurement that tells you the spiciness of a given type of pepper.

Pepper Type	Scoville Rating (Heat)
Bell Pepper	0-0
Banana Pepper	0-500
Poblano Pepper	1000-1500
Jalapeño Pepper	2500-8000
Serrano Peppers	10,000-25,000
Manzano Pepper	12,000-30,000
Tabasco & Cayenne	30,000-50,000
Habanero Pepper	100,000-300,000
Ghost Pepper	855,000-1,000,000
Carolina Reaper	1,500,000-2,300,000

Applebee's is a Grill + Bar restaurant chain focused on casual dining, with mainstream American dishes such as salads, chicken, pasta and burgers. All Applebee's restaurants feature a bar area.

I like to use shredded cheese when I can as it tends to melt faster and a little more evenly but it may be hard to find. If you buy your cheese in a block, make sure you chop it up into cubes before adding them to the saucepan. Also, stir often and keep the heat in check. It's very easy to burn the cheese in the bottom of the pan!

⭐ Copycat Rating

Since the goal of a Copycat Recipe is for it to taste exactly like the original, it's only natural to rate this recipe against the original. This Copycat recipe rates a solid 10 out of 10 in my opinion.

For more great recipes with White Cheddar, I suggest you check these recipes out:

📋 What ingredients do I need

You will need the following ingredients to make this Copycat Queso Blanco recipe from Applebee's (see recipe card for quantities): Vegetable Oil, Jalapeños, White Onion, White Cheddar Cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, Half & Half, Diced Tomatoes and Fresh Cilantro.

🥣 How to make copycat Applebee's Queso Blanco

In a medium-sized pot over low - medium heat add vegetable oil, 1 ½ tablespoons chopped the jalapeño and white onion. Saute onions and peppers until the onion becomes translucent.
Add all cheeses and half and half. Reduce heat to low and stir the cheese until it melts.
When the cheese has melted, stir in the tomatoes and half of the cilantro. Mix to combine.
Garnish with the remaining cilantro and chopped jalapeños.