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    Home » Recipes » Party food » Easy Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels

    Easy Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels

    Published: Jan 26, 2021 · Modified: Dec 20, 2021 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    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, game day, Superbowl party, or movie night, this beer cheese dip tastes great with any number of your favorite, dippable snacks.

    cheese dip being poured from pot into small white bowl on green leafed trivet

    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.
    block of grated cheddar cheese on a cutting board

    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 the beer and cheese, you’ll need butter, flour, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley 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.

    hand dipping soft pretzel in cheddar beer cheese made from scratch with real ingredients

    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.

    grating a block of cheddar cheese

    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.

    top shot of IPA beer mixed with roux and seasonings in a large pot on the stove

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

    top shot of whisk in roux

    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.

    top shot of cheddar cheese melting in roux with beer

    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.

    hand dipping a soft pretzel in cheese dip

    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 pre shredded cheeses 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. Add flour or cornstarch to a separate bowl and mix with ¼ 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.

    large soft pretzel on a baking sheet

    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.

    Another perfect pairing for this dip can be made in the air fryer. When you’re craving wings, but want to keep it healthy…. That’s when you need to try using your air fryer. My methods produce the most crispy air fryer wings ever, and there’s no oil in the recipe! I love this recipe because it is so easy to scale— If I’m making a meal for two adults and a toddler, it’ll be one pound, but if I plan to serve these as a party appetizer I’ll do two.

    Dipping a soft pretzel in dip party appetizer

    Tasty Tips

    • Perfect Pairings: This recipe can be used to dip more than just soft pretzels. Make beer cheese sauce for brats, hard pretzels, tortilla chips, 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. Mix it up and try using soft pretzel bites.
    • All the Cheese: Shred your own cheese from a block, instead of using pre shredded cheeses, 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.
    top shot of dip being poured into white bowl

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    Meat thermometer recommendations

    Every home chef needs a reliable meat thermometer to cook food perfectly. 

    On Sip Bite Go, you’ll often see me using:

    1. Meater thermometer – a fancy wireless thermometer that connects to a phone app – gifted to me from a Traeger partnership.
    2. ThermoPro digital thermometer – which has a wire that connects the thermometer to a display box outside the oven/grill. 

    It’s like being psychic! The great thing about either of the thermometers above is that I don’t have to take the food out of the oven to know the temperature. 

    How to use ‘em… What I do is stick the digital thermometer in steak, pork, chicken, whatever… Then put the food in the oven, on the smoker, or grill.

    While the meat cooks, it reads the temperature so I know exactly what temp meat is as it’s cooking. Without having to take it out and check. It’s really difficult to overcook food when you know exactly what temp it is inside!

    Are you a foodie, too?

    Let me know when you make this cheddar beer cheese dip. I also recommend this green onion dip.

    When you make it, find me @sipbitego on Instagram to share your dish. And don’t forget to subscribe to the Sip Bite Go channel.

    showing how to thicken Cheddar beer cheese dip for pretzels recipe_9087

    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.
    4.91 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Jenna Passaro

    Ingredients

    Cheese dip

    • 2 tbsp butter unsalted
    • 2 tbsp flour
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tbsp parsley fresh
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp pepper
    • 1 cup beer IPA, lager, or German
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese grated

    Pretzels

    • soft pretzels
    • butter melted
    • salt

    Instructions

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

    Video

    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

    Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 520mg | Potassium: 52mg | Vitamin A: 540IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 204mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @SipBiteGo or tag #sipbitego!
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    Comments

    1. Lawanda Gainforth says

      July 16, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      This blog about Easy Cheddar Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels has helped me a lot, is very well written. Kiss you All!5 stars

      Reply
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    jenna passaro food blogger from Portland Oregon

    Hey, I’m Jenna Passaro.

    I develop easy recipes that can transform your kitchen into a restaurant – and you into a true home chef.

      

    Where to start?

    Learn the secrets to smoking tasty Traeger recipes and making pizza at home. And cook amazing tri tip steak dinners.

    Or, fall in love with something new to cook with your air fryer, pellet smoker, BBQ grill, sous vide cooker, and more…

    You’ll notice, I kind of geek out over new cooking trends and tools!

    Instagram me @sipbitego & chef hubs @handmodelpatrick

    My story. Growing up, I didn’t learn to cook.

    (I was actually banned from cooking for years)

    And then in my 20’s I didn’t have to cook because my job as an event planner involved a lot of travel and it was easier to eat out. At the time, I was 100% positive that restaurant food would always taste better than cooking at home, and there was nothing I could do about it.

    Until I fell in love with a chef. He would come over and cook me delicious meals right in my own kitchen. My mind was blown.

    Since then, I’ve been on a mission to figure out easy ways to make restaurant style food at home and share it here on Sip Bite Go.

    Love to eat out and travel? I can totally relate. See my guide on where to eat in Portland, OR.

    jenna passaro the home chef's sous vide cookbook

    Never in a million years did I imagine I’d ditch the 9-5 lifestyle in my late 20’s, move across the country on a whim, start a new life, start a food blog, and write a book.

    But here I am!

    See my book on Amazon: The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook.

     

       

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