Description
Smoked queso is a rich and creamy cheese dip infused with smoky flavor, perfect for parties, game days, or family gatherings. This hearty dish combines melty cheese, savory spices, and flavorful add-ins like diced tomatoes, green chilies, and ground beef or sausage. It’s cooked on a smoker for that irresistible depth of flavor. Pair it with tortilla chips, veggies, or even drizzle it over nachos for a crowd-pleasing treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes and green chilies (like Rotel), undrained
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1 jalapeño, diced (optional, for extra heat)
- 1/2 lb ground beef or ground turkey, cooked and drained
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 cup milk (optional, for desired consistency)
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the Smoker:
- Set your smoker to 250°F and prepare it with your favorite wood chips (hickory, mesquite, or applewood work well).
- Prepare the Ingredients:
- In a large disposable aluminum pan, combine the Velveeta cheese, cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, diced tomatoes with green chilies, onion, bell pepper, jalapeño, and cooked ground meat.
- Add Seasoning:
- Sprinkle smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder over the mixture. Stir gently to combine.
- Smoke the Queso:
- Place the pan on the smoker grate. Close the lid and let the queso smoke for about 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring every 15–20 minutes to ensure even melting and to incorporate the smoky flavor.
- Adjust Consistency:
- If the queso becomes too thick, add milk a little at a time while stirring until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Serve:
- Remove the queso from the smoker, give it one final stir, and serve warm with tortilla chips or your favorite dipping items.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add black beans or diced zucchini.
- If you don’t have a smoker, you can bake the queso in the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, then add a dash of liquid smoke for flavor.
- This queso can also be customized with additional toppings like cilantro, diced tomatoes, or green onions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Smoked
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: smoked queso, cheese dip, party appetizer, Tex-Mex queso