People are slamming Chipotle's queso - but the cheesy dip is actually good now if you order it correctly

Hollis Johnson

Chipotle is testing nachos with the new queso.

• After years of demands, customers hate Chipotle's queso.
• However, the chain quietly changed the recipe - and it's way better now.
• In general, Chipotle's queso is better as a topping than as a dip.

Hollis Johnson

Chipotle's queso roll-out has been a nightmare for the chain.

Since September, customers have slammed the the dip as a "crime against cheese," "expired Velveeta," and "dumpster juice."

The company confirmed that just 15% of orders include queso - less than half of the 40% that include guacamole. And, Cowen found that queso-related traffic died off after peaking the first week it was available.

I'll admit, I was among the many naysayers.

When I first tried Chipotle's queso, I found the flavors to be reasonably good and smokey - but the texture to be disgusting. Instead of the nice goopy texture that a lovely (artificial-ingredient-filled) bowl of queso contains, it instead was closer to a bizarre chowder. And, as the queso cooled, it only got grainier and grosser.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to order queso at Chipotle this week and discover a perfectly adequate dip. The queso was less grainy, and the flavor had a more even heat. All in all, it was a substantial upgrade.

Chipotle confirmed the changes to Business Insider.

Hollis Johnson

"Same commitment to ingredients (still all real ingredients with nothing artificial), but it's got a creamier texture and a really nice flavor," spokesperson Chris Arnold said in an email.

Chipotle's queso still isn't top-notch dipping material. It is, however, a great tool to have in your arsenal if you're ordering a burrito or bowl at Chipotle.

As a topping, any textural shortcomings of the queso are quickly forgotten. Instead, the savory sauce brings a smokey punch to the dish, imbuing it with a rich layer of flavor. Chipotle's cheese is, frankly, tasteless and not good. The queso is a necessary replacement that elevates the entire dish.

I'm not alone in my belief. While roughly half of Chipotle customers said that the chain's queso is better than the competition's offerings, 93% said they enjoy Chipotle's queso as a topping on burritos and bowls.

Is Chipotle's queso going to fulfill Tex-Mex lovers' deepest cravings? Probably not. But, it does have the opportunity to help turn business around at the company - as long as customers accept it as a cheesy burrito ingredient, and not the goopy classic many people expected.