Lord, help us all! Our son found a love for processed cheese, but I made this Real Cheese Queso Dip that he also fell in love with! If you’re looking for a queso dip, but not the regular Velveeta cheese dip, this is one of my favorite easy appetizers for you!
Real Cheese Queso Dip
I have a problem … care to listen for a hot second? My son (he’s ten) … Well, he’s officially hooked on Velveeta Rotel dip… you know, the kind with literally two ingredients that you get the heeby jeebys when you wonder just how a food product can stay “good” for that long on the shelf or in the fridge? YES! It’s that one!
So, I set out to make the very best queso recipe that I could that contained real cheese – you know, a white queso with real cheese from the cheese counter.
And, I did it! Push the Velveeta cheese dip to the side, folks, there’s a new favorite in town! This real cheese queso dip is the real deal and it is a winner, winner chicken dinner in the Sorensen household and I am so excited to share the recipe with you!
For starters, you can either cook this cheese dip in the crockpot or on the stovetop. If you decide to make this on the stovetop, you’ll definitely want to cook it very low and slow and keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn. And, then after it’s all ooey-gooey and melted, then consider transferring it to a crock pot. I love my 2 quart crock pot – it’s the perfect size for entertaining! I have given this size of crockpot as gifts many a time as they’re also perfect for keeping taco meat warm for tacos, getting a small amount of pulled pork ready for dinner and more.
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Anyhow, this really is a dump and go recipe, so here’s what you’ll need:
Real Cheese Queso Dip
Preparation tip: in a medium size saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir often while this is heating up. Then, transfer to a 2 quart crock pot once heated. Keep on warm to keep the dip “dipable” and enjoy!
If you are looking for appetizers, you might also like these grape jelly meatballs that are always a hit, this spinach artichoke dip applebees recipe copycat or this salsa that tasted just like the kind that you’d get at a restaurant!
Real Cheese Queso Dip Appetizer Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Pepperjack Cheese - cubed
- 1/2 lb American Cheese (White) - cubed
- 1 cup whole milk (maybe more for thinning the dip out later)
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup regular sour cream
- 1 can Rotel
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp chili powder
Instructions
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Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring every so often.
Or, in a medium size saucepan, combine all ingredients and stir often while this is heating up. Then, transfer to a 2 quart crock pot once heated. Keep on warm to keep the dip "dipable" and enjoy!
American cheese? Like Kraft singles?
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I would not use Kraft single. I just got Monterey Jack Black Cheese
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Kraft singles are not real cheese. They are an oil base. Use the block or the UNWRAPPED slices. That is real cheese. I never buy the wraps.
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It looks like a cut up block of white american cheese.
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Hi Heather, I get mine from the meat counter. I hope that helps.
-Kate
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Nope! Use white cheddar block cheese.
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That’s what I’m using right now- not a fan of American cheese!!
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I couldn’t find a block if white American so I used a block of Monterey Jack
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Was the dip good?
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I use Land O Lakes white American melting cheese. It comes in a block and it tastes just like the Mexican restaurant.
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LAND O LAKES IN A CHUNK SOLD IN THE DELI COUNTER
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White American cheese is white velveeta. That being said, I think the dip looks good. But it is still made with white processed cheese.
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White American cheese out of the deli is nothing like Velveeta. You must have gotten the wrong stuff before.
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White American cheese is not white velvetta, it is real cheese just no coloring added to it. You buy it in blocks at the deli or in pkg where the yellow American cheddar is sold
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White American cheese is not real cheese… it’s a processed cheese, the same as yellow American cheese
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How people can say that White American Cheese is not the same as velvetta is either mind boggling or ignorant.
“American cheese is a type of processed cheese. It can be orange, yellow, or white in color, is mild, salty, and faintly sweet in flavor, has a medium-firm consistency, and has a very low melting point.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cheese
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White American cheese actually has less cheese in it than Velveeta! (I worked for Kraft in R&D.)
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Gaby,
There is American cheese food which like Velveeta is not real cheese and real American cheese that is actually cheese not the processed fake stuff.
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Sounds great. Looking forward to trying this. Do you drain the Rotel tomatoes? Thanks…
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Made it in an insta pot tonight. It had a bit of texture to it, but I think it was from the fact that I used the Talbert sharp white American cheese, and store brand pepper jack. Otherwise everyone in the family liked it.
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Made this yesterday…it is so so….nothing to brag about…Will probably not make it again. The chili powder taints the white color…
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I made it this exactly as the recipe said and it was disgusting!! Gritty from the cream cheese I assume. How do I fix this? Otherwise I’m going to have throw it out as well. Waste of money!
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If the cream cheese made it “gritty” then you used too high of heat and it got boiled to some extent. Use the lowest heat of the 2 qt. crock pot and follow the instructions on the recipe. I would never use a regular pan to do anything but heat the milk to where it barely steams, not bubble or boil. That can cause problems of this sort.
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Lol, the CHILI POWDER tainted the color? What? Did you find white rotel or something? LMAO!! This stuff is AWESOME!! I use two blocks pepperjack instead of one pepperjack n one American. Added hot rotel instead of original. It’s almost spicy enough.
If it’s gritty you either used preshredded cheese or heated it too quickly. I’ve made this twice and it wasn’t gritty either time. Oh, and both times it was somewhat PINK not white.
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Did you know all cheese is white when it is done. I love this dip and you must of not made it right. I did not put any of the spices in it. but did and bell peppers and mushrooms. Yum First I saute the bell peppers and mushrooms.
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Not for me. I live in Southeast Texas so salsa and queso are pretty much my life. I use cream cheese and sour cream in a lot of things but IMO they don’t belong in queso. The cream cheese left a gritty feel and queso should be smooth. Great ingredients by themselves just not so much together.
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Pepper jack and American are cheese food products also.
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Your right you can’t heat cheese too fast. Cream cheese wouldn’t make it gritty. Mexican melting cheese would be good in this. I laughed when someone stated that white American cheese is like Velveeta . You’ve version would be way too Spicy for me . But it sounds yummy.
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Very bland-will not make again
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Have you ever looked at the ingredients of american cheese, all chemicals just like velveeta. Might just as well let him eat velveeta.
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American cheese is processed cheese. Just like velveeta.
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Just wondering what state you live in. Each Walmart is different and in my store cream cheese and pimento cheese not near deli but in dairy area.
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have made this and it was good: as you say most mess up melting the cheese : I am Spanish also:: and most sold here in the states is pasteurized ; the queso is not ; and some times mixed with goats milk : I don’t care for goats milk ; and using pasteurized does not change the flavor : and like I say what you buy in stores is pasteurized . and white cheese and pepper jack give it the heat as most don’t like it to hot: if you do then add more heat : that is a good way to make it:
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What is Mexican melting cheese? Is that what the resterants use for their queso?
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Terrible recipe as I was making it for a housewarming party! Well, it warmed up my trash can. Do not make this!
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Hi Crystal, I am so sorry that you didn’t like it. 🙁
We’re big fans of cream cheese, so maybe that’s why I like the creaminess of it? Not sure.
Kate
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We loved this dip. I doubled it and it was a real hit. Got the cheese from the Deli counter. I added breakfast pork sausage. Awesome!
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Please help me!! I made this recipe tonight and it has a delicious flavor; however, the cheeses and/or sauce want to separate. What could I possibly have done wrong while making it???
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what cheeses did you use? cheddars and such tend to separate and be oily
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The cheeses are in the recipe, but off the top of my head, I get pepperjack and American from the butcher counter.
Kate
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I am from Canada isn’t American cheese processed?
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Don’t like to use processed cheese. f
For that reason I would not make it.
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All cheese is processed in some way. Heating, curdling, aging…are all processes. And all cheeses are man-made..it is not a natural substance.
https://www.seriouseats.com/2016/07/whats-really-in-american-cheese.html
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I fixed this for a pre-4th pool party. OMG! You would have thought I had brought everyone $1M tax free dollars! No kidding. I doubled the recipe. I couldn’t figure out what “white American cheese” was, so I used Colby. Because of the way it’s packaged, I used 3 blocks of Colby to 2 blocks of PepperJack. It was a good thing I doubled the recipe, because even with all the ribs, sausage and brisket, THIS was the hit of the party. No more of the yellow stuff for me! Thank you.
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There is a ‘real’ cheese that is ‘American.’ Not processed cheese food, like Velveeta. It comes in white or yellow, like many cheeses.
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???????????????? There is no such thing as real cheese that is American! American is processed cheese. Read the ingredient label.
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I have been making a similar recipe for years. I use white American from the deli (at any grocery store with a deli) pepper jack milk and sour cream. Never tried the cream cheese in it. Add jalapenos or which ever spicy stuff you like. I have done this for years since a “friend” working in an authentic Mexican restaurant told me the main cheese they use is white American. Can also use chipotle and adobe sauce marinated beef as a add in. Always turns out wonderful.
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Yum1 You’re making me want to make this again STAT Dawn! Thanks for stopping by!
Kate
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Very licious…
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There are other white cheeses you can substitute for the American if you want. Look at the ingredients in a pre-grated mixed cheese, sometimes marked Mexican cheese in Texas at least.
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Looking forward to making this for many occasions . Thank you.
Sandra Story
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I clicked on this recipe because it said that it was made with real cheese. Pepper jack cheese yes, American cheese is not real cheese people! if you actually read the label you will see it is a “cheese like” product. There’s no difference between white American cheese and yellow, it’s just artificial food coloring. Either way it’s still fake cheese and highly processed! No thank you, I will be skipping this recipe.
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I made this exactly as above, flavor was great but it was so grainy…what’s the fix for this???
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Hi April, I know people have added more cream cheese – we loved as is, but that might help?
Kate
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Mine seems to be runny… is there a way to thicken it up?
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We loved this recipe. Had no problem with grittiness. Only change was left out chili powder but might try adding it next time. Some of the reviews were bad, but we really liked it.
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Ok…not what I was hoping for. Not a lot of flavor. Mine was gritty and I cooked it slowly so I don’t know what happened. Wish it had more flavor.
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This queso is delicious ???? I didn’t measure seasonings but probably used more than recipe, yum yum yum. Was a hit at work.
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Glad you liked it!
Kate
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You went to an awful lot of trouble to make Vellveta when you could buy it. Americain cheese is real cheese and milk. The only thing that’s not are dollar store slices that won’t say cheese anywhere on the label. Technically that’s vegan cheese(made from vegtable oil). All American cheeses contain emulsifiers, simple salts that help it stay creamy. The ones that say food or product have less fat and moisture but they are all have real cheese as there main ingredient.
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I made this and the only change I made is that I used monteray jack cheese (didn’t have any american) I live in Minnesota and we had a snow/ice storm in April so couldn’t go to store. Anyway, mine too ended up “gritty”. Had a good flavor but the couldn’t get over the texture so I added some ingredients and turned it into a CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP and that turned out AMAZING. I guess sometimes mistakes turn into a new GREAT invention.
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I don’t understand how so many mess this up or say they had to throw it out.
This is similar to a dip made first week of culinary classes to learn heat control.
This is a favorite at our house.
Grab a block of the good pepper jack and white cheddar from the meat shop.
Grab a block of neufchâtel, can of rotel with cilantro and lime, and grind a quarter of a guajillo chili up for fresh dark chili powder.
Keep the heat low, start with the milk (I add a splash of heavy cream to stabilize everything), let it only steam, not boil, it should never boil. Cube the neufchâtel cheese small, stir to melt.
Then the white cheddar, then the pepper jack, then the rotel and others.
Might crumble some queso fresco if I’m feeling fancy.
Then let the flavors come together.
(It tends to be thin when hot, we let it cool slightly to thicken)
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What is Rotel ? tomatoes ?
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Hi there! Rotel is: https://amzn.to/2ZPPoe7
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I would say just use velveeta yellow or white and rotel. That would save you much time going through all the comments that intensely disliked this recipe. Love my velveeta and rotel. Have not come across and cheese dip “ queso” just as tasty. IMO.
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How long will the Quesno dip last in refrigerator, can it be frozen? If gift giving what do I need to say for instructions?
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It’s white american cheese. You buy it at a deli by the slice or pound.
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Is it keto friendly!
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This was a horrible recipe!! It’s grainy and not like the photo at all. It must be a google photo. The chili powder also makes it with a red tint instead of white cheese.
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