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You’ll love this creamy, savory, and hearty slow cooker queso dip recipe. This 4-ingredient Crockpot queso is a win for tailgates, holidays, parties, and taco Tuesdays.

With so many foods to dip, you might want to double this recipe for your next gathering. If you’re putting together an appetizer spread, try serving Rotel cheese dip in Crockpot alongside my pico de Gallo or buffalo chicken dip.  Guests will love sampling these savory dips with tortilla chips, celery, and crackers.

Stirring the slow cooker queso in the pot of the slow cooker.

Table of contents

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Queso Dip Recipe

  • Simple prep. This 4-ingredient slow cooker queso dip comes together quickly with one pan and your crockpot.
  • Perfect for extended grazing. Who doesn’t love to go back for more at half-time?  Easily keep slow cooker queso hot for the whole game by using the warm setting of your Crockpot.
  • Budget-friendly. With just a few ingredients that often go on sale, crockpot queso dip packs in flavor without much cost.
  • Kid-friendly. Rotel has just the right amount of green chili to give flavor, but not too much heat, making this great for families.
All of the ingredients for the slow cooker queso: ground beef, rotel, velveeta, taco seasoning mix, and tostitos.

Ingredients

You’ll need just a few easy ingredients for this beef queso dip in the Crockpot:

  • Cheese: Cubed Velveeta cheese is best for this crockpot nacho cheese dip. 
  • Rotel: Diced tomatoes with green chilies are a must for this recipe! 
  • Ground Beef: Browned ground beef is what makes this dip so good.
  • Taco Seasoning: For some added flavor, cheese dip with ground beef is cooked with taco seasoning.
All of the how-to steps for the slow cooker queso: making the ground beef, adding the ingredients to the pot of the slow cooker, and the cooked queso in the slow cooker pot.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Ground Meat: If you want to make this cheese dip recipe with meat, but don’t prefer ground beef, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or pork.
  • Cheddar Cheese: Not a Velveeta fan? No problem. Simply swap it out with your favorite block cheese and you’re good to go! I recommend cubing a soft to semi-soft cheese or even going for American cheese.  An additional splash of milk or half and half will help this nacho cheese recipe for the crockpot stay creamy.
  • Pico or Salsa? You can trade out the Rotel for pico de gallo or salsa.

How to Make the Best Slow Cooker Queso Dip

  1. Prep. Start by spraying the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray or use a crockpot liner.
  2. Brown. Brown the ground beef over medium heat until meat is cooked through; drain. 
  3. Season. Add taco seasoning and water according to the package directions. Cook until all liquid has evaporated and remove the pan from heat.
  4. Cook. Add the meat, cheese, and Rotel to the slow cooker. Stir well and cook on low until the cheese is completely melted (about an hour – hour and 30 minutes). 
  5. Enjoy. Serve with tortilla chips or your favorite veggies.
An overhead shot of a crockpot full of the slow cooker crockpot ingredients.

Expert Tips

  • Make Ahead. You can store slow cooker nacho cheese in the fridge for a day or two until ready to serve.  Brown and season the meat and store it in a zip-top bag or the bowl of the slow cooker in the refrigerator. One and a half hours before serving, put the queso dip in the Crockpot and you are ready to heat and serve.
  • Keep it Warm. Set the slow cooker to the warm setting to serve during your party and the queso will be perfectly dippable and creamy.
  • Skip the Shreds. If you opt for a cheese that’s not Velveeta, make sure to cube your own cheese from a block.  Shredded cheese may be coated in cornstarch which could make your queso too thick.
A white dish of the slow cooker queso with a tortilla chip in front of the Crockpot.

Recipe Variations and Mix-ins

Slow cooker queso dip is perfect with just 4 ingredients, but change things up with one of these mix-ins:

  • Jalapenos: To kick up the heat, add fresh or jarred jalapenos that are diced, sliced, or whole.  Add ½ cup for some heat, and up to 2 cups for extra spicy.  You can include the liquid in jarred or canned jalapenos for even more heat to slow cooker cheese dip!
  • Bacon:  ½ cup of bacon bits add extra savory and salty flavor.  
  • White or Green Onion:  Toss in ½ cup diced onions for some extra fun in this Velveeta cheese and rotel dip in the Crockpot. 
  • Corn: One can of corn, drained, adds color and crunch but keeps this a no-fuss easy recipe with no chopping.

Serving Suggestions

Tortilla chips are a go-to when serving Crockpot cheese dip and if you’re looking for a quick appetizer, just grab a bag of chips, and a Crockpot of queso, and you’re ready!  But, this queso is yummy and served with so much more than just chips!  

Try queso dip with ground beef with crackers, pretzels, or toasted bread. I love buttery Ritz crackers or beer bread drizzled with crockpot nacho cheese.  Or serve with fresh veggies like celery and carrot sticks along with my favorite air fryer tater tots, perfect for dipping.

Ground beef queso dip can also be used as a sauce to top Mexican lasagna, taco pizza, or taquitos!

Scooping the slow cooker queso with a tortilla chip.

Storing

  • Store.  Leftover queso dip can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
  • Freeze. Dip can be frozen for up to 6 months in a freezer-safe container. Just be sure to thaw completely before reheating!
  • Reheat. Reheat leftover dip in the crockpot on low, stirring every 20 minutes. Keep in mind that the consistency may change so you may need to add a splash of milk or half and half when reheating the dip.

Recipe FAQ

What’s the difference between queso and cheese dip?

Queso, the Spanish word for “cheese” is typically known as a flavorful cheese dip or sauce used for dipping, topping, or smothering Mexican dishes.  Queso is usually cheese, chilis, and seasoning and may or may not include meat. Hamburger cheese dip in the Crockpot is a super easy queso option!

What can I add to queso to make it taste better?

Step up your crockpot cheese dip with meat and Rotel.  Adding some meat, preferably seasoned, will help queso taste amazing!  Rotel adds both tomatoes and green chilis to queso which gives a little heat, lots of texture, and some fun colors!

Is queso just melted cheese?

Queso is most commonly melted cheese with chilis and seasoning added to make a creamy dip or sauce.  This Velveeta queso dip in the Crockpot is perfect for dipping your favorite savory chip or snack and so much more than just cheese!

Queso may have ground beef, jalapenos, tomatoes, or other chilis or peppers added for flavor and texture.  Melted cheese is the main ingredient in queso, but more ingredients are added to make queso a delicious dip.

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A ladle of the slow cooker queso over the slow cooker pot.
4.76 from 77 ratings
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Servings: 10 servings

The Best Slow Cooker Queso Dip

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
This slow cooker queso dip recipe is hands down the best you’ll ever try! Very creamy, hearty, and perfect for serving to a large crowd.
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Ingredients
 

  • 16 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained, 10 ounces each
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 packet taco seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Start by spraying the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Brown the ground beef over medium heat until meat is cooked through; drain.
  • Add taco seasoning and water according to package directions. Cook until all liquid has been evaporated and remove from heat.
  • Add the meat, cheese, and canned diced tomatoes with green chiles to the slow cooker.
  • Stir well and cook on low until cheese is completely melted (about an hour – an hour and 30 minutes).
  • Keep the slow cooker set to warm to serve during your party and serve with tortilla chips. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make Ahead. You can store slow cooker nacho cheese in the fridge for a day or two until ready to serve.  Brown and season the meat and store it in a zip-top bag or the bowl of the slow cooker in the refrigerator. One and a half hours before serving, put the queso dip in the Crockpot and you are ready to heat and serve.
  • Keep it Warm. Set the slow cooker to the warm setting to serve during your party and the queso will be perfectly dippable and creamy.
  • Skip the Shreds. If you opt for a cheese that’s not Velveeta, make sure to cube your own cheese from a block.  Shredded cheese may be coated in cornstarch which could make your queso too thick.
  • Store.  Leftover queso dip can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3-4 days.
  • Freeze. Dip can be frozen for up to 6 months in a freezer-safe container. Just be sure to thaw completely before reheating!
  • Reheat. Reheat leftover dip in the crockpot on low, stirring every 20 minutes. Keep in mind that the consistency may change so you may need to add a splash of milk or half and half when reheating the dip.
Calories: 219kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 50mg, Sodium: 1040mg, Potassium: 445mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 870IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 293mg, Iron: 2mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Author: Jennifer
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