Queso, a.k.a. best cheese dip ever, is a very special gift to mankind.
To the first person who said ‘hey, let’s melt some cheese!’ – the world has benefited from your ingenuity, so thank you thank you thank you. Because life certainly got yummier since then.
The bet part is…queso is stupid easy to make. Like, 15-minute, pantry-friendly kinda easy.
What is queso
Technically short for chili con queso, queso is a common appetizer in Tex-Mex cuisine (fusion of Texan and Mexican cuisine).
It is a bowl of warm, melted cheese with seasonings and ingredients such as tomatoes and chili peppers, served with warm tortilla chips.
But you know what’s even better than queso with chips? Queso with guacamole and salsa.
Those three are the holy trip of Mexican food…
My husband is a lover of all quesos. Queso is always present when we have Mexican food.
We are always trying out new quesos. We make our own queso. You get the picture. We are avid queso eaters…and creators 🙂
You need to thank my husband for this recipe. He came up with this recipe and has been making it since high school. We have tweaked it slightly since then, but this is a tried and true recipe from my hubs.
It is such a good (and easy) one I knew I had to include it in the blog.
Good things are meant to be shared. 🧡
How to make queso
It is super easy, only six ingredients (yes, SIX!) and takes less than 15 minutes to make.
Here’s what you need:
- Velveeta cheese
- Rotel tomatoes – tomatoes and chili peppers
- Chicken broth
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
Bring chicken bone broth and Rotel to a boil in a pot, then add Velveeta cheese (cubed into smaller pieces so it is easier to melt), garlic powder, chili powder and paprika.
Cook until queso is smooth, and at your desired consistency. Feel free to add more chicken broth at anytime if you want to make queso less thick.
Variations
If you would like to add more ingredients to make a more complex version of a queso, here are some other yummy ingredients to add:
- Tabasco – this will provide a spicier and more sour spin. A little goes a long way.
- Cayenne – if you like spicy, this is a good add! Be warned that a little bit does go a long way as well!
- Garnish with cilantro! Cilantro gives it a fresh burst of flavor when you bite into it.
- Other garnishes – cubed tomatoes, more smoked paprika etc.
Grab some chips and DIP IN.
Tips and Tricks
- Cook under medium low heat and stir continuously when cooking queso in the pot to avoid it sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Add more chicken broth at any time during cooking to dilute the queso if needed.
How to reheat queso
To reheat queso, add a teaspoon or two of chicken broth or water, then microwave at 30 seconds increment.
Every 30 seconds, remove from microwave and stir queso.
Keeping doing that until queso is warm and smooth.
Perfect for game day, Cinco de Mayo, parties, gatherings, or as a side for your favorite Mexican meal any day!
Warning: it is very, very hard to stop at one bite.
Proceed with caution. ❤️
More Mexican Recipes
- Homemade Chunky Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo Stuffed Avocado
- Chipotle Chicken Tostadas
- Instant Pot Chicken Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker Taco al Pastor (by my friend Tania at Cooking for my Soul!)
Love this recipe? Comment below and give us a 5-star rating! Also, take a picture of your creation and tag me on Instagram, because I WANNA SEE!!
Quick 15-Minute Queso (Cheese Dip)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Chicken broth more if needed
- 10 oz Rotel tomatoes
- 1 lbs Velveeta cheese cubed
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- cilantro chopped, optional
Instructions
- Add chicken broth, Rotel tomatoes to a pot. Bring to a boil. Then add cubed Velveeta cheese, garlic powder, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Lower to medium low heat and stir continuously.
- Add more chicken broth at anytime to dilute it if it becomes too thick.
- Once queso is smooth, cheese is dissolved, and queso reaches desired consistency, remove from heat.
- Serve immediately with chips. Optional: Garnish with cilantro. Enjoy!
Cinco de Mayo perfection ! Thank you !
Yes!! You are so right!! 🙂
Made this for a girls’ night, and everyone loved it! Several of my friends wanted the recipe. I loved the smoked paprika. I had never even heard of that before. I’m not even a big cheese dip fan usually, but I couldn’t stop eating this. Thanks for another good recipe.
Thank you for trying it Allie! I am so glad you and your friends love the recipe. I definitely like the smoked paprika in there too, it gives it a nice, deep smoky flavor. You are now making me crave for cheese dip…might have to make it this weekend! ?
I made this yesterday and it was a hit. I kept it on the back burner while my boyfriend and I made tortillas for taco night and he devoured it as he stood at the stove flipping tortillas. I also put some inside my tacos for the ultimate cheesy taco experience. Yum!
Thanks so much for the feedback and review, Rikki! This is also a favorite in our household. Whenever we make it we cannot stop eating it as well! Haha. Quite addictive I must say. 🙂 I am so happy you and your boyfriend like it!
MMMM so delicious and I just love how this comes together in only 15-minutes!
Thank you so much! 🙂
SO YUMMY!!
So glad you like it! 🙂
Super easy to make – Deliciousness to last days and multiple meals. Drizzling it all over our chips and burritos, and hopefully enough to last us another round of tacos and snacks!
That sounds amazing!!!