Queso Dip: How To Make Easiest + Healthier Cheesy Hamburger Dip

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It’s never too early to start dreaming about cooler fall weather, yummy dips, and college football. AmIright? I’ve experimented with different variations of a cheesy hamburger dip, what most call Velveeta queso or Chile con Queso. Today, I’m sharing secrets of what I found to be a slightly healthier but just-as-tasty, easy queso dip recipe to please even the pickiest snackers.

WHY CHEESE DIP WITHOUT VELVEETA?

Let me set a couple of things straight here…

#1 – I’ve made my “hamburger dip” on game days with Velveeta cheese for years. Throw in some Rotel, ground meat and chips with Velveeta and you’ve got a football appetizer in five.

I don’t want you to think that I’m getting all snobbish about junk food – nope, just trying to improve. I will probably still make the original version of Velveeta dip on those days I’m being super lazy.

#2 – I’m not saying that this dip without Velveeta is necessarily healthy. It’s just a more whole foods approach to football food. 🙂

Easiest Homemade Hamburger Helper

You can’t make every one happy, you’re not queso!

INGREDIENTS AT A GLANCE

  • cream cheese
  • shredded or block cheese
  • salsa
  • ground meat
  • homemade taco seasoning
  • optional jalepenos

CHEESE DIP FAQS

What is queso?

Technically, queso means cheese in Spanish. But if you’ve ever eaten at a good Mexican restaurant, you know that there is much more than cheese in those yummy bowls they bring you with those warm tortilla chips!

Did you know that most authentic Mexican restaurants serve what’s technically known as Chile con Queso? The name has been shortened to queso normally mixes a variety of white American cheese, queso fresco, blanco, chiles, and/or jalapenos?!

What’s the difference between Queso Fresco and Queso Blanco cheeses?

Both are Mexican cheeses but queso fresco is known as fresh cheese and made with rennet and culture, very creamy, doesn’t melt well, but crumbles easily like feta. Queso Blanco is also creamy, doesn’t melt well, and does better sliced.

HOW TO MAKE RECIPE STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Soften cream cheese for 30 minutes at room temperature or place in microwave for 10 seconds.
  2. Spray inside of crockpot with cooking spray.
  3. Place all ingredients in crockpot.
  4. Set crockpot to medium/high setting for 20 minutes.
  5. After 15 minutes, stir ingredients until creamy.
  6. Turn down the setting to low and enjoy!
  7. Stir frequently so it doesn’t stick to sides or burn.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 pounds cooked ground meat
  • Large jar of salsa
  • 1 block of cream cheese
  • 1/2 block cheddar cheese or bag of shredded cheese
  • 1 dash each of salt and pepper
  • 2 dashes of garlic powder and chili powder

DIP VARIATIONS

Here’s the break-down of what healthier alternatives are replaced from the original dip with Velveeta recipe.

  • Velveeta is replaced with cream cheese or Greek yogurt cream cheese and high-quality shredded or block cheese.
  • The can of Rotel is replaced with a jar of high-quality salsa.
  • Ground meat is either high-quality lean ground beef, turkey, or venison.
  • A packet of taco seasoning is replaced with a homemade taco seasoning version of garlic powder, salt, pepper, and chili seasoning.

Now go and enjoy that game (or whatever else you like to watch) with your people!!

Related:

What do You like to watch while enjoying queso dip at home?

Image of queso dip and tortilla chips
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Shan

Published on HuffPost, Okefenokee Living Magazine, and more, Shan is a Family Travel Journalist with a passion for helping women lose the overwhelm of planning family-friendly trips in the south. She shares travel reviews & insider secrets that Women REALLY want to know about Georgia, Florida, & the Carolinas vacations.

☕️ It’s THE REAL DEAL around here ☕️

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22 Comments

  1. Melanie
    August 2, 2019 / 2:11 pm

    Yum! This looks so good Shan! Will have to do this next time we have people over!

  2. Shayla Marie
    August 2, 2019 / 11:14 pm

    This is an excellent recipe for cheese dip!! So good!! My family loves it!

    • Shan
      Author
      August 8, 2019 / 12:51 pm

      Thanks, Shayla. Hope y’all enjoy it!

      shan

  3. Lori Riddle
    August 3, 2019 / 8:21 am

    This is perfect especially with football season just around the corner! Who doesn’t love a good queso dip!?

    • Shan
      Author
      August 8, 2019 / 12:50 pm

      Right, Lori?! Those were my thoughts!

      shan

  4. Julie Hoag
    August 3, 2019 / 4:51 pm

    I’m a glutton for this kind of dip. Looks so very yummy. I’d eat the whole thing…

    • Shan
      Author
      August 8, 2019 / 12:50 pm

      It’s hard to stop, that’s for sure. So you aren’t alone, Julie! haha

      shan

  5. Christa
    August 3, 2019 / 8:39 pm

    Chips and quest is the perfect snack. I haven’t tried making it at home in ages. Looks like I know what I’m doing tomorrow!

    • Shan
      Author
      August 8, 2019 / 12:49 pm

      I’m ready for some too. I may have to pretend it’s already football season and make some this weekend!

      shan

  6. Paula I'm Busy Being Awesome
    August 8, 2019 / 11:28 am

    It looks delicious, I’ll have to try it at home!

    • Shan
      Author
      August 8, 2019 / 12:49 pm

      Yay! Let me know what you think, Paula!

      shan

  7. Yanna
    August 8, 2019 / 11:33 am

    Omg, this looks delicious! I love a good cheese dip. Thank you for this simple recipe. I will have to pin this for later.

    • Shan
      Author
      August 8, 2019 / 12:48 pm

      You are certainly welcome, Yanna!! We love cheese around here too! 🙂

      shan

  8. Lori Riddle
    August 9, 2019 / 7:35 am

    I could live off of a good cheese dip! I can’t wait to try this! How does it work with low-fat or fat-free cheese?

  9. Shayla Marie
    August 9, 2019 / 10:14 am

    I recently went gluten free and I was thinking I should make something like this for myself and the family. This looks so good!

  10. Jordan | Read. Eat. Repeat.
    August 9, 2019 / 10:53 am

    THANK YOU for this recipe. I love queso but Velveeta grosses me out. Hoping to try this recipe out this weekend!

  11. Shan
    Author
    August 19, 2019 / 9:31 am

    Thanks, Amanda. Hope you have a great week!

    shan

  12. Michelle
    September 11, 2019 / 7:51 am

    Yummy!!! One of my favorite dips! Came on to the blog to give my friend some love and support! ❤️

  13. SCV
    July 4, 2020 / 4:50 pm

    Hi, Shan, I had a dip something like this at friend’s party, so I was happy to come across your recipe, but I have one question what do consider a large jar of salsa, there are so many different sizes out there.

    • Shan
      Author
      July 6, 2020 / 11:38 am

      Hey there! That’s a great question. I use a 32 oz. jar of salsa. You can choose mild or spicy and smooth or chunky depending on your preference. Enjoy!

      -shan

  14. SCV
    July 8, 2020 / 12:22 am

    Hi Shan do you cook your hamburger before you through it into the crockpot?

    • Shan
      Author
      July 8, 2020 / 9:06 am

      Hey there and thanks for your question! You DO add “cooked and drained” hamburger meat into the crockpot. I am noticing that I said “cooked” meat within the ingredients but I need to make that more clear throughout the rest of the post. Thanks so much and ENJOY!!

      -shan

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