Next time try my caramelized onion dip or this easy pumpkin shaped cheese ball!
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❤️ 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!
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🔪 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!
📖 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
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
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🥫 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.
💭 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
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
📞 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
Velveeta Queso Dip
Print Pin Recipe SaveIngredients
- 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
- 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!
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.