Easy Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels

This easy cheddar beer cheese dip, made in just 20 minutes, pairs perfectly with warm, soft pretzels. Grating cheddar cheese straight from the block is the secret that makes this beer cheese dip super melty and dangerously addictive. Sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next tailgate, Superbowl party, or movie night, this beer cheese dip tastes great with any number of your favorite, dippable snacks.

Best Beers for This Cheese Dip Recipe

Here are some of the best options for the cheddar beer cheese dip:

• German beer – Try a mild Pilsner
• Lager beer – Pretty standard
• IPA beer – Using IPA beer for beer cheese will add a strong beer flavor, so you should also add 2 tbsp of sugar to offset the bitter hoppy flavor.

Ingredients for Beer Cheese Dip

You will need to decide what type of beer you’re using for your cheese dip first — either IPA, lager or a German beer.

Then, of course, you need plenty of freshly grated cheddar cheese! In addition to these two key ingredients, you’ll need butter, flour, garlic powder, parsley, salt and pepper to finish off your delicious cheddar beer cheese dip.

Finally, all you need to prep your pretzels is a batch of store-bought or homemade soft pretzels with butter and salt.

How to Make Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip

It’s ridiculously easy to make cheddar beer cheese dip from scratch!

Step 1. First, grate a fresh block of cheddar cheese. If you prefer a short cut, you can thinly slice the cheddar cheese instead.

Step 2. Next, set a large pot on a burner at medium heat, and add in the butter and flour. Stir the mixture for about 30 seconds to form a roux.

NOTE: A roux is a thick paste-like mixture of butter and flour. It’s “done” when the mixture is lightly browned and it sticks to the back of the spoon.

Step 3. Once the roux is ready, add in garlic powder, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir the seasonings for about 2 minutes.

Step 4. Slowly pour the beer into the roux mixture and whisk until it thickens. After about 5 minutes of whisking, add in the grated cheddar cheese.

Step 5. Continue to whisk the mixture until the cheese melts completely, then remove the cheddar beer cheese dip from heat — if you do not remove from heat, the dip will continue to thicken.

FAQs

What is the best type of cheddar to use for this dip?

This recipe used a yellow sharp cheddar cheese from Tillamook. Grating fresh cheddar cheese is preferred for this recipe because it melts better, but in a rush, using already shredded cheddar cheese will work. You can also use a white cheddar for beer cheese with a more mild flavor.

What extra seasonings can I use?

Add more flavor to cheddar beer cheese with a little dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, Cajun spice blends, or diced jalapeños. I always keep frozen jalapeños in the freezer to use on the fly in recipes like this.

What if the beer cheese dip is too thin?

If the cheddar beer cheese is too thin, you can thicken the beer cheese with an extra tablespoon of flour or cornstarch. Mix the flour or cornstarch in a separate bowl with 1/4 cup of the thin beer cheese sauce. Slowly add the new thick sauce back in to the beer cheese recipe. The beer cheese will also thicken as it sits.

Check out these other crowd pleasing party foods.

Soft Pretzels and Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip – A Perfect Duo

Bacon, jalapeños, and fresh herbs, like the parsley used in this recipe, are great choices for toppings when serving beer cheese for a party.

How to heat soft pretzels for beer cheese

Soft pretzels can be found in the frozen section of most grocery stores. In my local store, I found fresh baked soft pretzels. To reheat soft pretzels, coat them with butter and salt and bake in the oven for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Looking for another crowd pleasing appetizer? Check out this Mexican salad. It’s a great make-ahead salad you can also use as a dip.

Tasty Tips

• Perfect Pairings: This recipe can be used to dip more than just soft pretzels. Make beer cheese sauce for brats, hard pretzels, loaded fries, potatoes, and for dipping thick crusty bread.
• Soft Pretzels: Find soft pretzels in the bakery section or frozen food section of the grocery store. You can also make your own pretzels, fast, with this mix.
• All the Cheese: Grate cheddar cheese from a block, instead of using shredded cheese, because it will melt better and create a super smooth texture.
• Make Ahead: This easy cheddar beer cheese dip can be made a day ahead and keeps in the fridge for a couple of days. But, if you’re anything like me, hubs and our friends, this delicious beer cheese dip won’t last longer than a football game at your house.

For a different spin on a cheese dip, try this Mexican cheese dip by food blogger Jen Around The World.

Are you a foodie, too?

Let me know when you make this cheddar beer cheese dip. Be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe. It means so much to hear from Sip Bite Go readers and I love seeing photos of your food! Don’t forget to tag me @sipbitego on Instagram so I can see how the recipe turned out. And sign up for the Sip Bite Go newsletter.

Find me on Instagram to let me know what you think about this recipe @sipbitego. And if you love the idea of eating restaurant-style food at home – subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel.

Looking for new ways to enjoy your favorite food with sous vide cooking? Get inspired with my new book – The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

More recipes with cheese you might like…

• How to make pizza at home with store bought dough
• 50+ gourmet grilled cheese ideas
• Sous vide chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing
• Make ahead Mexican salad

Print

Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip Recipe (Sip Bite Go)

Forget store-bought! This easy cheddar beer cheese dip for pretzels is a popular app that can be made with a lager, German beer, or as an IPA beer cheese dip.

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 207 kcal

Author Jenna Passaro

Ingredients

Cheese dip

• 2 tbsp butter unsalted
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp parsley fresh
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 cup beer IPA, lager, or German
• 1 cup cheddar cheese grated

Pretzels

• soft pretzels
• butter melted
• salt

Instructions

1. Put a large pot on a burner set to medium heat, and add butter and flour. Stir for 30 seconds to form a roux. For newbies to cooking: a roux is a thick paste-like mixture of butter and flour. It's "done" when the mixture is lightly browned and it sticks to the back of the spoon. Once the roux is ready, add in garlic powder, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir seasonings for two minutes.

2. Slowly pour the beer into the roux mixture. Whisk until it thickens, about five minutes, then add grated cheese. Whisk until cheese melts completely. Remove from heat or it will continue to thicken.

3. To heat soft pretzels, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat soft pretzels with melted butter and salt. Bake for ~10 minutes.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

• This recipe can be used to dip more than just soft pretzels. Make beer cheese sauce for brats, hard pretzels, loaded fries, potatoes, and for dipping thick crusty bread.
• Find soft pretzels in the bakery section or frozen food section of the grocery store. 
• Grate cheddar cheese from a block, instead of using shredded cheese, because it will melt better and create a super smooth texture. 
• Make your own pretzels, fast, with this mix.
• This easy cheddar beer cheese dip can be made a day ahead and keeps in the fridge for a couple of days. But, if you’re anything like me, hubs and our friends, this delicious beer cheese dip won’t last longer than a football game at your house.

Nutrition Facts

Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip Recipe (Sip Bite Go)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 207 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 9g56%

Cholesterol 44mg15%

Sodium 520mg23%

Potassium 52mg1%

Carbohydrates 6g2%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 540IU11%

Vitamin C 1.2mg1%

Calcium 204mg20%

Iron 0.4mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.