Description
This Spicy Cowboy Queso Dip combines savory spicy breakfast sausage, creamy Velveeta, and pepper jack cheese with a kick of jalapeño and seasoned tomatoes. It’s a perfect Tex-Mex appetizer to serve warm at gatherings, offering a rich, creamy, and flavorful dip ideal for tortilla chips or veggies.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound spicy breakfast sausage or chorizo
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
Dairy and Cheese
- 8 ounces Velveeta, cubed
- 4 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup whole milk
Other Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Chopped cilantro and sliced green onions, for garnish (optional)
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- Cook the sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add the spicy breakfast sausage or chorizo and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until the meat is browned and fully cooked, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess grease as necessary.
- Sauté the aromatics: Stir in the diced onion, seeded and finely chopped jalapeño, and minced garlic. Cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
- Add tomatoes: Incorporate the drained diced tomatoes with green chilies into the skillet and cook for another minute to blend flavors.
- Melt the cheeses: Reduce the heat to low and add the cubed Velveeta, shredded pepper jack cheese, and whole milk. Stir constantly until all the cheese is fully melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes.
- Season the dip: Stir in chili powder and smoked paprika. Season with salt and pepper to taste, mixing well to incorporate all the flavors.
- Serve and garnish: Transfer the queso dip to a serving bowl or a small slow cooker set to warm to keep it at serving temperature. Garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced green onions if desired. Serve hot with tortilla chips as a delicious appetizer.
Notes
- To keep the dip warm for parties, serve it in a mini crockpot on the “warm” setting.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute the meat with plant-based sausage or omit it entirely.
- Adjust the spiciness by leaving the jalapeño seeds in or adding a dash of hot sauce.
- The dip can also be made ahead and reheated gently on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
