The best queso recipe for any party, made with Velveeta cheese and ground beef Rotel Dip. Get ready to dip your favorite chips into this tasty homemade dip made on the stovetop.
Why This Recipe is the Best
Rotel Dip is the ultimate party food-easy, cheesy, and endlessly customizable. Whether it's football season, New Year's Eve, or a casual get-together, this crowd-pleaser always hits the spot. We love how versatile it is: make it with ground beef or sausage, add extra spice with jalapeños, or stir in onions for a flavor boost. It comes together in minutes on the stovetop, but you can also keep it warm in a slow cooker during parties. This is the kind of recipe you'll come back to again and again for its bold flavor and ease.
Try our other tasty dips and sauces like Smoky Red Pepper Crema, our classic hummus recipe, and Wingstop Ranch Dressing.
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Key Ingredients
Below is a list of ingredients needed for this recipe. Follow our tips on each ingredient for best results.
- Ground Beef- Made with hamburger, we suggest getting a high-quality ground beef so there isn't as much fat. You can also use a ground sausage, or even ground turkey, for a leaner but tasty meat.
- Rotel- Rotel is full of flavorful spices. It makes making this dish easy because you don't have to add anything extra in. If Rotel is too spicy for you, look for off-brand or milder versions.
- Velveeta- We suggest getting the brand Velveeta. It has better melting qualities, making for a smoother, tastier dish. We recipe tested this with a variety of cheeses and found that Velveeta was the only one to give us the results we wanted. It makes for better consistency.
How to Make Rotel Dip
Use these process shots to help with making the recipe. It's always helpful to have a visual on how to make something.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. You want to make sure there is no pink in the middle.
- Once the hamburger is brown, drain the excess fat. You don't want that in your dip!
- Cut the Velveeta into squares and add it to the drained hamburger. Add the Rotel. Don't drain the Rotel!
- Cook on medium heat until the Velveeta is completely melted. Mix until all the ingredients are well incorporated.
Hint: Don't leave any pink in the hamburger while cooking. You don't want just the outside brown.
Helpful Hints
One of our favorite variations is making this with cream cheese and sausage. It adds so much flavor! Add 8 ounces of cream cheese and 8 ounces of Velveeta. Instead of browning ground beef, brown your favorite ground sausage.
Want this tasty dip milder? Use mild Rotel.
Want it spicier? Add 2 chopped jalapeños (medium/hot) or 2 chopped habaneros (very hot, always use gloves when handling habaneros) at the same time as the ground beef to allow the peppers to cook and soften with the beef.
Top tip
Cook until the Velveeta has completely melted. As you cook it, there will be little chunks of Velveeta left- be patient until they are completely melted for the best results.
Recipe
Rotel Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 16 ounce ground beef
- 16 ounce velveeta cheese
- 10 ounce Rotel
Instructions
- Heat ground beef in a skillet over medium high heat. While cooking, chop Velveeta into chunks. Cook beef through until no pink remains. Drain out any excess grease. Add velveeta and Rotel and heat on medium low until cheese is completely melted.
- Serve warm with chips or other dipping things such as pretzels. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- We made this in pan, but you can absolutely make it in a slow cooker. Brown the ground beef, then transfer it to a slow cooker/ crock pot along with the Rotel and Velveeta and cook on low until it's all melted. Stir before serving.
- For extra flavor use ground sausage instead of ground beef.
- For a tasty variation use 8 ounces of cream cheese, 8 ounces of velveeta and ground sausage.
- Serve leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stove or in a slow cooker until hot.
- Want to make it hot? Add jalapenos (medium/hot) or habaneros (very hot) at the same time as the ground beef.
Nutrition
Substitutions and Variations
Use these process shots to help get the results you want. The pictures can help with texture and be a visual guide for the best results.
- With cream cheese- Add 8 oz cream cheese and 8 oz Velveeta.
- Smoked- Set the smoker to 225°, make as directed, then smoke for 2 hours in an aluminum pan, stirring every 30 minutes.
- Without meat- You can make this vegetarian by eliminating the ground beef. To add more flavor, cook a diced onion instead of the beef.
- In oven-cook beef, then put all together in an aluminum pan, bake at 250° until everything is melted together, stirring every 20 minutes.
- Spinach- Add some green but adding 1-2 cups of chopped spinach when melting the cheese.
- Seafood Style- Make this a fun seafood variation by adding cooked mini shrimp instead of beef.
- Sausage- Instead of ground beef, cook ground sausage for more flavor.
- Corn- Add 1 cup of corn when melting the cheese.
- With ground turkey- I love ground turkey and use it instead of ground beef as much as possible. It has great flavor and is a leaner meat.
- vegan-Make this without Velveeta to make it a vegan dip. Here is a great recipe for vegan queso. Be sure not to use the hamburger as well, and add diced onion instead.
How To Serve
This dip is best served with your favorite tortilla chips. You could even serve it with Doritos. Try dipping pretzels or even vegetables in this easy recipe.
This is best served hot and makes a great addition to parties, get-togethers, Super Bowl parties, and New Year's Eve parties.
Storing Rotel Dip
Store prepared dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. When ready to serve again, reheat in the microwave or a crockpot/slow cooker. You can even reheat it on the stovetop again.
This recipe can be frozen in an airtight freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat.
Rotel Dip is an easy recipe to make. Begin by cooking the ground beef on the stovetop until it's fully cooked. Afterward, drain any excess fat. Then, add slices of Velveeta and a can of Rotel, making sure you don't drain the excess liquid. Proceed to cook over medium heat until the cheese has entirely melted. Serve the dip while it's warm and ready to enjoy.
Yes, you can freeze Velveeta and Rotel dip. Make sure to put the dip in a freezer-friendly, airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator and then heat in the microwave, stove top, or crockpot.
Rotel can last up to 5 days if stored properly. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Or freeze for up to 3 months.
If you don't like the consistency of your dip, you can make it thinner by adding a small amount of milk. Add the milk while stirring. Add only a little at a time until you get the consistency you are looking for.
Dip your favorite tortilla chips, Doritos, pretzels, and vegetables into this tasty recipe.
Andrea says
This rotel dip is so tasty, I made it with velveeta and used the sausage substitution. It made the perfect game day dip for a Saturday football party.
Eva says
This was SO simple and delicious! Loved it. Will definitely make again.