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dipEasyTex-Mex

Chili Con Queso

Tex-Mex melted cheese dip with spiced beef and green chiles - rich, meaty, and impossibly addictive.

⏱️ Prep: 10min🍳 Cook: 20min⏰ Total: 30min👥 Serves: 10🌡️ hot
✓ gluten-free
⚠️ Contains: 🥛 Dairy

Ingredients

  • 8 ozground beef
  • 16 ozVelveeta cheese(cubed)
  • 1 cupsharp cheddar(shredded)
  • 10 ozdiced tomatoes with green chiles(one can, undrained)
  • 1/4 cupwhole milk
  • 1/2 tspground cumin
  • 1/4 tspgarlic powder
  • 2 tbspfresh cilantro(for garnish)

📝 Make Ahead

Best served immediately. Can be gently reheated but may need additional milk to restore consistency.

Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef in a large saucepan over medium heat, breaking into small crumbles
  2. Drain excess fat
  3. Add diced tomatoes with chiles, cumin, and garlic powder, stir to combine
  4. Reduce heat to low and add Velveeta cubes
  5. Stir frequently until Velveeta is melted
  6. Add cheddar and milk, continue stirring until smooth
  7. Adjust consistency with more milk if needed
  8. Transfer to serving bowl, garnish with cilantro, serve immediately with warm chips

💡 Pro Tips

Velveeta creates the smoothest texture, but a mix with real cheddar adds better flavor. Keep heat low to prevent the cheese from breaking.

📜 History

Chili con queso has roots in northern Mexico and became a Tex-Mex staple in the early 20th century. It gained widespread popularity after Ro-Tel tomatoes were introduced in 1943.

Also pairs well with:

tequilamexican-beermargarita