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Tasty Beefy Hot Cheese

Featured in: Homemade Spreads for Any Occasion

Cook beef with taco seasoning, drain well. Mix in meltable cheese and tomatoes, constantly stir until blended. Maintain warmth and keep stirring for best dipping results. Only needs twenty minutes to create a warm cheesy dip everyone will grab seconds of. Offer with chips while still melty and hot.

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A woman in a kitchen with a stove and oven.
Updated on Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:35:39 GMT
A bowl of creamy beef queso dip topped with diced tomatoes and cilantro, surrounded by tortilla chips. Pin it
A bowl of creamy beef queso dip topped with diced tomatoes and cilantro, surrounded by tortilla chips. | cookingkitchn.com

Need a show-stopping party dip? This beef and cheese mix turns simple ingredients into something truly wonderful. You'll have it ready in under 20 minutes, and your friends won't stop asking how you made it. Perfect for watching sports or just hanging out, this rich queso will quickly become your favorite standby.

What Makes This Queso Stand Out

This rich beef queso combines all the best stuff: stretchy melted cheese, flavorful seasoned meat, and the perfect amount of heat. It's fast enough to whip up when unexpected visitors arrive but tastes like you've been cooking all day. Everyone always crowds around, saying they'll take just a tiny bit more, then coming back again and again.

Ingredients List

  • Ground Beef: 1 pound lean beef - adds substance and fills you up
  • Taco Seasoning: 1 packet or 2 tablespoons if you make your own
  • Velveeta: 1 pound, cut into cubes - creates that incredibly silky texture
  • Cheddar: 1 cup sharp, freshly shredded - brings that authentic cheese flavor
  • Tomatoes & Chiles: 1 can (10 oz) diced, such as Ro-tel
  • Milk: 1/4 cup to achieve the ideal dippable texture

Cooking Instructions

Cook the Beef
Heat your skillet over medium-high flame. Crumble the ground beef while cooking until it's completely browned, around 7-8 minutes. Pour off excess grease for a cleaner flavor.
Add Flavor
Toss in the taco seasoning and mix it through. This starts building those amazing tastes.
Melt Your Cheeses
Turn heat down to medium-low. Add Velveeta cubes and shredded cheddar. Stir now and then as they melt - don't rush this part!
Mix In Extras
Strain the liquid from your tomatoes and then mix them in with the milk. Keep stirring until you've got a uniform, hot mixture.
Final Touches
Sample it and tweak the flavors. If it's too thick, pour in a bit more milk. Need more spice? Toss in extra chiles.

The Crowd-Pleasing Factor

There's nothing like steaming, melty cheese to get a group excited. This queso hits that sweet spot between creamy cheese and savory beef that makes everyone dip again and again. And since it's so quick to make, you'll actually join the party instead of spending all your time cooking!

Foolproof Success Strategies

Want your queso to turn out amazing every time? Here's what works: buy blocks of cheese and grate them yourself for better melting, keep your burner on medium-low so nothing burns, and don't forget to stir often. These simple tricks really do matter!

Pairing Suggestions

Tortilla chips work great, but why stop there? Try dunking warm soft pretzels, fresh veggies, or even pouring it over baked potatoes. This queso sticks nicely to whatever you're dipping but still flows smoothly enough for topping nachos.

A creamy soup with ground beef, diced tomatoes, and herbs is being stirred with a wooden spoon in a black bowl. Pin it
A creamy soup with ground beef, diced tomatoes, and herbs is being stirred with a wooden spoon in a black bowl. | cookingkitchn.com

Customize Your Creation

Don't be afraid to switch things up! Try ground turkey instead of beef, mix in different cheese types, or add fresh jalapeños for extra kick. You can even fix it beforehand - just warm it slowly and add a splash of milk to get that smooth texture back.

How To Serve

Keep your queso hot and melty in a slow cooker on low, or gently warm it on the stove with a bit of milk if needed. For a fun twist, put out small bowls with diced tomatoes, jalapeños, and fresh cilantro so everyone can fix their dip exactly how they like it.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Making it early?

Works perfectly fine. Heat up gradually. Mix while heating. Add tiny bit of milk. Stays good for days.

→ Need different cheese?

Try cream cheese too. Any cheese that melts works. Combining types is tasty. Freshly grated gets better results. Watch as it turns creamy.

→ Keeping leftovers?

Store in airtight container. Lasts three days refrigerated. Warm up gradually. Mix frequently while heating. Flavor stays nice.

→ Want more spicy?

Toss in spicy peppers. Hot sauce does the trick. Extra black pepper too. Go easy at first. You can't remove spiciness once added.

→ What goes with it?

Tortilla chips are perfect. Drizzle over nachos. Good on meats too. Just keep it hot. Dip quickly before it cools.

→ Getting too thick?

Add milk bit by bit. Keep mixing thoroughly. Monitor temperature closely. Simple quick solution. Don't let it scorch.

→ Taking it places?

A crockpot works wonders. Keeps temperature right. Bring extra milk. Stir occasionally. Totally worth carrying.

→ Need it faster?

Prepare meat ahead. Melt cheese quickly. Single pot method works. Still needs stirring time. The brief wait pays off.

→ Making big batch?

Doubling ingredients works. You'll need larger cookware. More stirring required. Watch temperature carefully. Stays warm nicely.

→ Want more kick?

More taco seasoning helps. Fresh minced garlic works. Try a dash of hot sauce. Chopped peppers are good too. Start with small amounts.

→ Not melting right?

Turn down the heat. Stir more frequently. Use fresher cheese. Watch carefully. Patience gets better results.

→ Too runny maybe?

Simmer a bit more. Use less milk next time. Keep stirring regularly. Cheese will thicken up. Let it bubble slightly.

Conclusion

Enjoyed this? Next time try zesty sausage dip. Or whip up smooth cheese sauce. They're both crowd-pleasers at gatherings.

Beefy Hot Cheese Dip

My buddies suddenly messaged they'd drop by for the match. Grabbed some ground beef from my fridge, dug out cheese from the pantry, and within twenty minutes this warm dip became the night's hero.

Prep Time
5 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
20 Minutes
By: Sophia

Category: Simple Spreads

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Tex-Mex style

Yield: 8 Servings

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

01 1 lb ground beef.
02 2 tablespoons taco mix.
03 8 ounces Velveeta cheese.
04 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.
05 10 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chiles, liquid drained.
06 1/2 cup milk.

Instructions

Step 01

Brown the ground beef in a big skillet over medium-high heat till it's cooked through, then mix in the taco mix.

Step 02

Make sure you've dumped out all the liquid from your canned diced tomatoes with green chiles.

Step 03

Toss in your drained tomatoes, Velveeta, and cheddar to the pan. Keep stirring gently as the cheese begins to soften.

Step 04

Add your milk and keep mixing until everything's melted together into a nice smooth cheesy blend.

Step 05

If you want, throw on some extra toppings and eat it while it's hot.

Notes

  1. This cheesy dip works great with corn chips or drizzled over loaded nachos.
  2. Toss in some chopped jalapeños or onions if you want more punch.
  3. You can make this ahead and warm it up later when guests arrive.

Tools You'll Need

  • Big frying pan.
  • Mixing spoon.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Milk products.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 337
  • Total Fat: 24 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 6 g
  • Protein: 23 g