Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- So easy to make with just 2 ingredients!
- It's a great addition to Cinco de Mayo, game day, tailgating parties, or Tuesday Taco Night!
- (techniques they'll learn or some other informative fact from the post)
Although Velveeta queso is most often thought of as a dip it's actually a great sauce for tons of different dishes! I use it on my taco stuffed shells.
Next time try my caramelized onion dip or this easy Halloween cheese ball!
🧾 Ingredients
This super easy dip is made with just two simple ingredients!
📖 Variations
- Add cooked bulk sausage - either spicy sausage or regular. Maple flavored doesn't work well - I tried. Ick.
- Stir in cooked, shredded bbq beef brisket.
- Sprinkle in chopped cilantro.
- Add cooked taco meat.
- Use Velveeta Blanco instead of regular Velveeta for a white queso dip recipe (queso blanco).
- If you like it spicy use the hot Rotel tomatoes.
- Stir in 1 cup of beer for a yummy beer cheese dip.
- Add a small can of green chiles.
- Drain a can of black beans, rinse, and add them to the Velveeta dip.
- Sprinkle chopped red onions on top.
- Spoon over warm tortilla chips for nachos.
- Add to a baked potato.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Cube the Velveeta and put it in a medium bowl that's microwaveable. Add the Ro*Tel.
- Microwave 2 minutes and stir. Continue to microwave the Rotel dip, stirring at 30-second intervals, until smooth.
Seriously - that's it!
🥫How to store leftovers
Store this classic Velveeta queso in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator. It will be fine for at least 4 days.
You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Let it cool to room temperature, spoon it into an airtight container, and pop in the freezer - it's that easy.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: If you can't find Velveeta you can use 1 pound of regular or white American cheese instead.
- If you use a slow cooker for this queso cheese dip you'll need about a 3 quart crock-pot.
- Serve this with a bowl of chips and this fiesta chicken - then get ready for the best nachos of your life.
- This recipe is easy to double.
- Queso is a delicious cheese sauce over broccoli or cauliflower.
- Depending on the type of Rotel you use this is a spicy dip. If you don't like any chiles at all you can use plain, diced canned tomatoes.
- Yes, this Velveeta queso recipe is delicious with tortilla chips... but try dipping pretzels, warm flour tortillas, warm corn tortillas, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and other fresh vegetables!
- Got leftovers? Try using them with these cheesy taco stuffed shells!
- You can use the white Velveeta to make Velveeta queso blanco dip.
👩🍳 FAQs
You'll want to keep Velveeta queso warm in a crockpot for serving, which will keep it at a stage of melty perfection. You can also add about ¼ cup evaporated milk, whole milk, or heavy cream while heating up the cheese and Ro*Tel and that will keep is soft even when it cools off.
Plain queso not your thing? Add cooked sausage, cooked ground beef, or chipotle in adobo. You'll find more great ideas in the variations section of this post.
I like to cube it and melt it in the microwave right but you can also toss it in a slow cooker or carefully melt it on top of the stove.
📚 Related recipes
🥄 Equipment
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📞 The last word
One more thing. How do you spell ROTEL? I mean, they have a little star in the name. Ro⭐Tel. Ro*Tel? RoTel? Ro^Tel?
Sigh. First world problems.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Velveeta Queso Dip
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 16 ounces Velveeta cheese
- 10 ounces RoTel tomatoes, or favorite canned diced tomatoes and chiles
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
Microwave
- Cube the Velveta and put it in a microwave safe bowl
- Open the can of Rotel and pour it in - no need to drain.
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes.
- Stir.
- Return to the microwave and cook 2 to 3 minutes more.
- Stir. If it's not all the way melted microwave it for a few seconds more.
- Add to a slow cooker and keep on the warm setting.
Crock-Pot
- Cube the Velveeta.
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add the Velveeta to the slow cooker.
- Dump in the ROTEL.
- Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, or until the cheese is melted.
- Stir.
- Keep on warm setting.
Notes
- If you use a slow cooker for this Rotel queso cheese dip you'll need about a 3 quart crock-pot.
- This recipe is easy to double.
- Queso is a delicious cheese sauce over broccoli or cauliflower.
- Depending on the type of Rotel you use this is a spicy dip. If you don't like any chiles at all you can use plain, diced canned tomatoes.
- Yes, this Velveeta queso recipe is delicious with tortilla chips... but try dipping pretzels, warm flour tortillas, warm corn tortillas, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and other fresh vegetables!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published July 16, 2021. Last updated August 20, 2023 for editorial corrections.
✍🏻 A note from Marye...
I know y'all don't always like the stories bloggers tell so when I have one I try to put it at the very bottom so you can read or skip as you like.
There was a time when the mere thought of Velveeta in my home would have made me cringe. I was young and opinionated and had way more time than I have now.
Here's the thing - the things that allow the easy storage (and shelf-stable nature) of Velveeta cheese also allows you to let it simmer in the slow cooker for hours without separating, getting a weird texture or gumming up.
All of that stuff that makes us cringe also allows us the ease of keeping it on the pantry shelf for weeks and getting a smooth and creamy texture without a lot of work.
I don't know how it is in other parts of the country but the Mexican restaurants around here use Velveeta or something similar. This tastes just like the one from my favorite Mexican restaurant.
The fact that it stays creamy and delicious for a long period of time makes this the perfect appetizer!
Camden
Velveeta queso is guaranteed to be at our "finger food" gatherings. It's such an easy crowd pleaser!
Kristen
I love that you only need to keep 2 ingredients stocked to be able to make velveeta queso dip for any impromptu guests! This is perfect, especially as we head into the holiday season!
Ann
Family so enjoys !
Alyssa
I love velveeta queso dip. It is so quick and easy to make!
Cynthia
Velveeta queso dip is a must when we have friends visiting. It's so easy to throw together and everyone likes it.
Brittany
Velveeta queso is a staple at our parties! Everyone loves it!
Julie Evink
We had my daughter's softball team over for a party and I made this velveeta queso recipe. Everyone loved it!
Alyssa
I absolutely love velveeta cheese dip! This is perfect appetizer for those Sunday football games!
Camden Rusincovitch
Velveeta cheese dip is definitely making an appearance at my next girl's night! Perfect for movie night, too.
Kristen Yard
I am going to make a point of keeping all of the ingredients for this Velveeta queso recipe stocked in my fridge and pantry--it doesn't get any easier than having a 10 minute option for my teen's friends when they want a snack, or any other last-minute guests!
Marye
That's what I do! LOL!
Brittany
Velveeta cheese dip is a staple for football game parties, or any kind of finger food style gatherings. It's so easy and delicious!
Cynthia Rusincovitch
Is it even taco night if there is no Velveeta cheese dip? We make it a lot on game night too. It is one of those super easy things everyone likes!
Christine
First, the recipe is just “ok”.
Second though, you shouldn’t be taking credit for a recipe that’s PRINTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE VELVEETA BOX!!! As are the suggestions for additions. It’s unethical to credit yourself for a recipe that you did not create.
Marye
First, thank you for your kind words. Second, I did not credit myself- there are hundreds of thousands of copies of that exact recipe all over the Internet. Sharing is not taking credit. I call it out as Velveeta queso numerous times. In fact ...it's in the title.
Furthermore, I don't know where you come from (although I have my suspicions...) but around here Velveeta isn't necessarily an item that everyone has in their pantry. So, unless they had a recipe they wouldn't know how easy it is to make...
And, in conclusion, I don't believe any of my readers are ignorant enough to believe I created Velveeta cheese. In fact, they are pretty amazing. Enjoy your day and watch out for low bridges.
linda ledesma soto
Mary, let me just say....I'm so glad I found your Site...LOVE IT!! What a beautiful family too! You know, my sister & I have made this queso since the early 60's!!! It is a great dip to use with anything. The only drawback FOR ME...WAY TOO many tomatoes in the RoTel!!! That's just ME...I had the idea to strain the can of tomatoes in a sieve before adding to the cheese so I could get the flavor & some veggies but not SO MANY TOMATOES!!! I know, what self respecting Mexican doesn't like tomatoes..LOLOL OH but it doesn't stop there...be aware ladies, as we grow older...sometimes our stomach's don't go along!!! I can't eat onions or garlic either...I KNOW RIGHT!!! Sometimes I just bite the bullet & take one for the team!!! And on top of that...I make one killer salsa...Merry Christmas & have an outstanding New Year...
Pam
Thank you for reminding me of this classic! I have extra velveeta in my pantry that I need to use and I wondered if anyone has ever big batched this and frozen queso for snacking later. I’m imagining my big crock pot filled and then lining up pint containers to freeze.
Marye
Pam - it does freeze well so you go right ahead and batch cook! You might need to add a little evaporated milk after you thaw it out but it should be fine.