Guacamole & Queso Duo Recipe

Prepare avocados

Halve the avocados, remove pits, and scoop flesh into a medium bowl.

Mash and season

Using a fork or a potato masher, mash the avocado to your desired texture (slightly chunky is recommended). Immediately stir in the fresh lime juice to slow browning.

Add aromatics and mix

Fold in the finely diced red onion, minced jalapeño, diced tomato, and chopped cilantro until evenly distributed.

Season to taste

Add kosher salt, black pepper, and ground cumin (if using). Taste and adjust seasoning — add more lime juice or salt as needed. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface to prevent browning and refrigerate until serving (at least 10 minutes).

Make roux

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Once foamy, sprinkle in the all-purpose flour and whisk constantly for 60–90 seconds until the mixture turns lightly golden (this cooks out the raw flour taste).

Add milk

Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Continue cooking and whisking for 2–3 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.

Melt cheeses

Reduce heat to low. Add the shredded white American cheese and shredded cheddar a handful at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition to melt before adding more to prevent graininess.

Season and finish

Once the cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth, stir in the drained diced green chiles, ground cumin, smoked paprika, hot sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning or heat level. If the queso becomes too thick, thin with additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency is reached.

Keep warm

Keep the queso over the lowest heat setting or transfer to a small slow cooker on warm to maintain a dip-friendly temperature until serving. Stir occasionally to prevent skin from forming.

Transfer the guacamole to a shallow serving bowl and the queso to a separate warmed bowl. Arrange tortilla chips on a platter and place lime wedges and cilantro leaves nearby.

Offer guests both dips side-by-side so they can dip chips into queso, scoop guacamole, or layer guac atop queso as desired. Rewarm the queso gently if it cools and thickens; stir in a splash of milk to loosen.