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 homemade Velveeta cheese sauce, because we love that stuff! Using it in all sorts of recipes, on top of vegetables or on top of chips it’s great. Cheap and simple to throw together and make yourself. An easy side dish you too will find lots of uses for. (affiliate links present)
Homemade Velveeta Cheese Sauce
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.
for Broccoli
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.
for Pasta
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.
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 macaroni and cheese recipe that is sure to get thumbs up from your kiddos for sure.
Ingredient Tips
- 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
How to make this spicy
You can make this spicy 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.
Velveeta Cheese Sauce Recipe
Equipment
- 1 9×5 loaf pan
Ingredients
- 16 oz cheddar cheese, sharp, shredded
- 1 packet unflavored gelatin, 1/4 oz.
- 6 tbsp dry milk
- 1 c boiling water
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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?
Tips
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.
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 are melting a piece of the block later into a sauce, add milk to the bowl so it smooths out nicely again in the microwave.
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
I see it now says 1 Packet. That makes more sense. Thanks.
4 oz. of Knox gelatin would be 16 pouches or 4 boxes. Is this what you meant to say?