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Easy Cheesy Ground Beef Queso Dip: Best Game Day Appetizer

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This easy cheesy ground beef queso dip is the MVP of the snack table. It’s quick, simple, and perfect for game day, made with seasoned ground beef and melty Velveeta cheese for a creamy, crowd-pleasing dip.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (10-ounce) can Ro*Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles, undrained
  • 1 (32-ounce) block Velveeta, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely diced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Let it cook undisturbed for about 3 minutes to get a nice sear, then stir and break into crumbles. Cook for 5-7 minutes total until browned and no longer pink.
  2. Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Drain off excess grease from the beef mixture, leaving a little for flavor. You can use a colander set over a bowl to drain, then return the mixture to the skillet.
  4. Pour the entire can of Ro*Tel (undrained) into the skillet with the beef. Stir and let simmer for 2 minutes.
  5. Transfer the beef mixture to a medium saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the cubed Velveeta and milk. Turn heat to low and stir constantly for 5-7 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the dip is smooth and creamy. Do not use high heat.
  6. Adjust consistency: if too thick, add a splash more milk; if too thin, let simmer on low for 1-2 minutes. The dip should coat the back of a spoon but drip off easily.
  7. If using fresh jalapeño, stir it in right before serving. Pour queso into a serving bowl, garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve immediately with tortilla chips, pretzel bites, or sliced baguette.

Notes

For game day, transfer finished dip to a small slow cooker set to ‘warm’ to keep it melty for hours. Stir every 30 minutes. The dip tastes even better the next day after flavors meld. For a less processed option, swap half the Velveeta for shredded sharp cheddar, but keep heat low to avoid graininess.

Nutrition

Keywords: queso dip, ground beef queso, game day appetizer, easy queso, cheesy dip, Velveeta dip, beef queso

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/easy-cheesy-ground-beef-queso-dip-best-game-day-appetizer/