Description
This Cheesy Rotel Queso is the ultimate crowd-pleasing dip, perfect for your next party or game day. Featuring a creamy blend of Velveeta, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and diced tomatoes with green chilies, this flavorful queso can be customized with sautéed onions, bell peppers, and a touch of cayenne pepper for a little kick. Serve warm with tortilla chips for an irresistible appetizer everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (10 oz) can of diced tomatoes and green chilies
- 1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Optional Vegetables and Garnish
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (optional)
- Fresh cilantro (optional)
For Serving
- Tortilla chips
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all your ingredients and lay them out on the counter for easy access, chopping the onion and bell pepper into small 1/4 inch pieces and cubing the Velveeta cheese into 1-inch pieces to ensure quick melting.
- Heat Vegetables: In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion and bell pepper for 3-5 minutes until they become soft and fragrant.
- Melt Cheeses: Reduce heat to low, add the cubed Velveeta and softened cream cheese to the saucepan, stirring continuously for 5-7 minutes until the cheeses are fully melted and combined.
- Add Milk: Pour in the milk gradually, stirring well to create a smooth texture. Add more milk if you prefer a thinner queso consistency.
- Combine Tomatoes and Seasonings: Stir in the diced tomatoes and green chilies, followed by garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Adjust the seasonings according to your taste.
- Simmer Queso: Allow the mixture to cook on low heat for an additional 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more milk as necessary to maintain a creamy texture.
- Finish with Cheddar Cheese: Remove the saucepan from heat and fold in the shredded cheddar cheese until it melts into the dip, creating a luscious and cheesy finish.
- Serve: Transfer the queso to a serving bowl, garnish with fresh cilantro if desired, and serve warm alongside tortilla chips for dipping.
- Enjoy: Dive into your delicious homemade Cheesy Rotel Queso and enjoy every flavorful bite at your next party or gathering!
Notes
- For a spicier queso, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add diced jalapeños.
- If you prefer a smoother dip, blend the tomatoes and chilies before adding to the queso.
- Keep the queso warm on low heat or in a slow cooker during serving to maintain the creamy texture.
- Substitute Velveeta with other processed cheese alternatives if unavailable, though texture might vary slightly.
- This recipe can be doubled or tripled easily for larger parties.
