Description
Cowboy Queso is a hearty, flavorful Tex-Mex cheese dip featuring a delicious blend of spicy hot sausage, ground beef, Velveeta, pepper jack cheese, and Rotel tomatoes with green chilies. Perfect as a party appetizer or game day snack, this creamy dip combines smoky spices and optional pickled jalapeños for that authentic southwestern kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1/2 lb hot breakfast sausage
- 1/2 lb ground beef
Cheese and Dairy
- 1 (16 oz) block Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
Vegetables and Canned Goods
- 1 (10 oz) can Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, chopped (optional)
Spices
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Garnish
- Chopped cilantro
- Diced tomatoes
Instructions
- Cook the Meats: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the hot breakfast sausage and ground beef together until browned and fully cooked, breaking up the meat as it cooks to ensure even browning. Once cooked, carefully drain excess grease from the skillet.
- Add Cheese and Seasonings: To the skillet with cooked meat, add the undrained can of Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, evaporated milk, cubed Velveeta cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, chili powder, ground cumin, and garlic powder. Stir continuously to combine all ingredients evenly and allow the cheese to melt smoothly.
- Melt and Combine: Continue stirring the mixture over medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese is completely melted and the dip is creamy and well blended throughout.
- Optional Heat Addition: If desired, stir in the chopped pickled jalapeños for an extra spicy kick and mix well to distribute the heat evenly.
- Keep Warm and Serve: Reduce heat to low to keep the queso warm until ready to serve. Before serving, garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and diced tomatoes for a colorful and fresh finish.
Notes
- For a smoky twist, add a dash of smoked paprika to the cheese mixture.
- Serve this queso warm with tortilla chips, pretzel bites, or poured over nachos for a delicious snack.
- Keep the queso warm in a slow cooker on low heat during parties to ensure it’s ready to serve at all times.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
