Your cheese fondue night just got a whole lot tastier with this homemade chili cheese dip recipe that's packed with tender ground beef, Velveeta cheese, beans, and tomatoes. It's the perfect dip for tortilla chips and breadsticks, and it takes less than 40 minutes to make, so you can easily whip it up before your guests arrive.
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
This chili cheese dip is the perfect combination of flavorful and cheesy, and it's super easy to prepare using minimal ingredients. It's comfort food at its best, and it's bound to be a hit with your guests, whether you're serving it at a party or game-day gathering.
The chili and cheese flavors blend together perfectly, and the diced tomatoes and black beans add a nice texture, while the salsa and cilantro give it a fresh and slightly spicy flavor.
Cheesy chili dip is always a crowd favorite, just like the forever-satisfying baked crab dip. It's great for sharing and perfect for any occasion.
What makes this recipe stand out is how simple it is to make. You don't need any special ingredients or equipment, just a little bit of time and patience to let the flavors meld together.
The end result is a chili cheese dip that's so good you'll want to make it again and again. So go ahead and give it a try. We promise you won't be disappointed.
🍽 Key Ingredients
The key to making this delicious chili cheese dip is to use quality ingredients. The list of ingredients is small, but the flavor is mighty!
Onions - The onions are sauteed in a bit of butter to start, and they give the dip a bit of sweetness and depth of flavor.
Ground beef - You'll need just 1 pound of ground beef for this recipe. We prefer to use ground chuck for its rich flavor, but feel free to use whatever ground beef you have on hand.
Taco seasoning - This is a key ingredient that gives the chili cheese dip its authentic flavor.
Diced tomatoes - The tomatoes give the chili a rich tomato flavor and make the consistency perfect for dipping.
Velveeta - Velveeta is our cheese of choice for this chili cheese dip recipe because it's creamy and melts perfectly.
Black beans - The black beans are a great source of protein, and they add a nice texture to the dip.
Salsa - The salsa adds a fresh and slightly spicy flavor to the chili cheese dip.
Cilantro - Chopped cilantro is mixed in at the end to give the creamy chili cheese dip a bright flavor.
Substitutions
Velveeta
Velveeta can be a hard cheese to find in some grocery stores, so if you don't have it on hand, you can use shredded cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese instead.
Taco seasoning
If you don't have taco seasoning, you can use a combination of 1 teaspoon of chili powder, cumin, and paprika to flavor the chili.
Black beans
Kidney beans or pinto beans can be used as a substitute for black beans.
Salsa
If you don't have salsa, you can use a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies instead.
🔪 How to make
To make this easy chili cheese dip, you'll need 40 minutes of your time and a large deep soup pot or paella skillet. Follow the simple steps below and enjoy this delicious dip with tortilla chips.
Preparations
- Open and drain the can of black beans and diced tomatoes.
- Dice the white onion into small cubes.
- Shred or chop the Velveeta cheese.
- Finely chop the fresh cilantro.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Set a deep bottom soup pot or paella skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté the chopped onions with a pinch of salt and pepper for 5 minutes until soft.
Step 2
Crumble the ground beef into the pot and cook until browned. Add the taco seasoning and diced tomatoes and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to combine.
Step 3
Add the chopped or shredded cheese and stir until the cheese melts before adding the drained beans, salsa, and cilantro.
Step 4
Turn the heat down to simmer and let it cook for another 10 minutes to let the flavors infuse. Stir the chili cheese dip often to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 5
Remove the dip from the heat and pour into a fondue pot for serving.
Step 6
Garnish with sliced green onions and serve with tortilla corn chips or breadsticks.
💭 Cooking tips
Consistency
This chili cheese dip should have a thick, creamy consistency that's perfect for dipping. If it's too thick, you can thin it out with a little milk or water.
Spiciness
The level of spiciness in this chili cheese dip will depend on the salsa you use. If you want the dip spicier, use salsa with more diced jalapenos or add in some cayenne pepper.
📖 Recipe Variations
This chili cheese dip recipe is delicious, but there are a few ways you can change it up to suit your taste.
Cream cheese chili dip
Add 8 ounces of cream cheese when you stir in the salsa for a richer flavor. The chili cream cheese dip will be less spicy with the cream cheese.
Spicy chili cheese dip
Add 1 tablespoon of hot sauce and dice 1 chipotle chili or jalapenos and mix it into the chili with the beans and salsa.
Chili cheese grits dip
For a fun twist, make this chili cheese dip into a grits dish by cooking 1 cup of grits according to the package instructions and then stirring in the chili cheese sauce. Serve with chopped green onions and sour cream on top.
🥗 What to serve with
If you're having a Mexican dinner party, there are plenty of tasty dishes you can combine with this chili dip to fill your table.
Texas roadhouse chili
This hearty Texas roadhouse chili is perfect for a cool night. It's packed with flavor and has a little bit of heat, which pairs well with the creaminess of the chili cheese dip.
Chicken taco soup
This soup is full of tender chicken, vegetables, and a delicious taco flavor. Chicken taco soup is perfect for dipping tortilla chips into, and it goes great with the chili cheese dip.
White chicken chili
This white chicken chili is a lighter take on the classic dish. It has a creamy base and is packed with chunks of chicken and white beans. This chili is delicious on its own or paired with the chili cheese dip.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Can I use canned chili to make chili cheese dip?
Yes, you can use canned chili to make chili cheese dip. If you're using canned chili, just mix it with the taco seasoning and Velveeta until it has melted, then add the salsa and cilantro.
Is this recipe good for cooking in a slow cooker?
Yes, this recipe is good for cooking in a slow cooker. Just brown the beef and onion in a pan, then add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
Why is my cheese not melting?
If your cheese is not melting, make sure you're cooking the chili on medium heat so it can melt. Another reason is that you might be using the wrong type of cheese. Velveeta is the best type of cheese for melting, but you can also use cheddar or pepper jack.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
Homemade chili cheese dip is perfect for storing and reheating once it has cooled.
Fridge - Transfer the leftover chili cheese dip to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer - You can also freeze this easy chili cheese dip for up to 3 months using a freezer bag or a freezer container.
Reheating - Reheat the leftover chili cheese dip in a saucepan for 8 minutes until hot. Cook for 15 minutes when reheating frozen, as the consistency will be thinner.
You can also reheat the chili in the microwave for 2-3 minutes on medium power, stirring every 30 seconds until hot.
👪 Serving size
This homemade chili cheese dip recipe makes about 4 cups of chili dip, which is enough to serve 8-10 people.
This easy chili dip is the perfect party food that is full of spicy and creamy flavors and can be made ahead of time. Plus, it's always a hit with guests. Whether you're serving it with tortilla chips, tacos, or just on its own, this chili cheese dip is sure to please.
📋 Recipe
Chili Queso Dip
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 white onion - chopped
- to taste salt and pepper
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoon taco seasoning
- 15 ounce diced tomatoes - drained
- 1 pound velveeta - cubed (or pepper jack)
- 15 ounce black beans - drained and rinsed
- 1 cup salsa
- ¼ cup cilantro - chopped
Instructions
Preparations
- Open and drain the can of black beans and diced tomatoes.
- Dice the white onion into small cubes.
- Shred or chop the Velveeta cheese.
- Finely chop the fresh cilantro.
Cooking instructions
- Set a deep bottom soup pot or paella skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of butter and sauté the chopped onions with a pinch of salt and pepper for 5 minutes until soft.
- Crumble the ground beef into the pot and cook until browned. Add the taco seasoning and diced tomatoes and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to combine.
- Add the chopped or shredded cheese and stir until the cheese melts before adding the drained beans, salsa, and cilantro.
- Turn the heat down to simmer and let it cook for another 10 minutes to let the flavors infuse. Stir the chili cheese dip often to incorporate the ingredients.
- Remove the dip from the heat and pour into a fondue pot for serving.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve with tortilla corn chips or breadsticks.
Leslie LaBranche
I was going to try your oh so good tuna casserole but there were no amounts for any of the Ingredients! Can you help me out?