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Home » Recipes » Snack Recipes

Easy Velveeta Queso

Published: Jul 16, 2021 Last Updated: Aug 26, 2021 by Marye 1171 words. | About 6 minutes to read this article.

This classic Velveeta queso dip recipe is made with just two ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes! Instant gratification! It's an essential part of Cinco de Mayo, tailgating, and game day!
Total time 15 minutes
Jump to Recipe
Overhead view of queso in a bowl with text overlay for Pinterest.

Next time try my caramelized onion dip or this easy pumpkin shaped cheese ball!

Overhead view of queso in a bowl with title text overlay.
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love it
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 📖 Variations
  • 🥄 Equipment
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Tips
  • 👩‍🍳 FAQs
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

  • make it in the microwave or crock pot
  • just two ingredients
  • game day essential

Although Velveeta queso is most often thought of as a dip it's actually a great sauce for tons of different dishes! It's so quick and easy that you can have it ready in minutes!

It's a great addition to Cinco de Mayo, game day, tailgating parties, or Tuesday Taco Night!

🧾 Ingredients

This super easy dip is made with just two simple ingredients!

Ingredients for homemade queso dip.

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • Velveeta cheese
  • Ro*Tel

🔪 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.

Collage showing steps for making queso.
  1. Cube the Velveeta and put it in a medium bowl that's microwaveable. Add the Ro*Tel.
  2. Microwave 2 minutes and stir. Continue to microwave the Rotel dip, stirring at 30 second intervals, until smooth.

Seriously - that's it!

📖 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.

🥄 Equipment

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • microwave
  • medium microwaveable bowl

🥫 Storage

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.

Decorative image. Bowl of queso on a table with chips behind it.

💭 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.
  • 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

How do you keep Velveeta Cheese Dip from hardening?

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.

How do I make Velveeta Queso better?

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.

How do you melt Velveeta for Queso?

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.

A tortilla chip being dipped into the queso.

📚 Related recipes

  • Southern Tuna Salad
  • Panera Pickled Onions
  • Deviled Ham Salad
  • Taco Crescent Roll Pizza

📞 The last word

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!

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

Overhead view of queso sprinkled with cilantro on top for recipe card image.
4.62 from 44 votes

Velveeta Queso Dip

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This classic Velveeta queso dip recipe is made with just two ingredients and takes less than 10 minutes! Instant gratification! It's an essential part of Cinco de Mayo, tailgating, and game day!
Course Appetizer/Snack
Cuisine Game Day Food
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings:8
Calories:132
Author:Marye Audet-White
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces Velveeta cheese
  • 10 ounces RoTel tomatoes, or favorite canned diced tomatoes and chiles

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

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 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

Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 903mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 598IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 336mg | Iron: 1mg

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    About Marye

    With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. linda ledesma soto

      November 26, 2021 at 4:40 pm

      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...

      Reply
    2. Pam

      July 17, 2021 at 9:20 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Marye

        July 17, 2021 at 9:34 am

        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.

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