Description
Cowboy Queso combines hearty Tex-Mex flavors with creamy, spicy cheese dip. Melted cheddar, ground beef, and jalapeños create a crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ll crave at game day gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) Velveeta cheese, cubed
- ½ pound (0.23 kilograms) ground beef
- ½ pound (0.23 kilograms) spicy pork sausage
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- 1 can (10 oz / 283 g) diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as Rotel), undrained
- 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup diced onion
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno, diced (optional, for extra spice)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Brown ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, methodically breaking down meat into fine crumbles. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Aromatic Infusion: Introduce diced onions, minced garlic, and jalapeños into the skillet, sautéing until onions become translucent and release their enticing fragrance, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Flavor Building: Incorporate diced tomatoes with green chiles and black beans, stirring to create a harmonious, robust mixture that develops deep, layered flavors.
- Cheese Fusion: Reduce heat to low, gently fold in cubed Velveeta, shredded pepper jack, and milk. Continuously stir until cheeses melt into a creamy, luxurious consistency, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Final Seasoning: Elevate the queso’s depth by stirring in fresh cilantro, then season with salt and pepper to balance and enhance the overall taste profile.
- Serving Strategy: Transfer the molten queso to a warm serving dish or slow cooker set on low. Accompany with crisp tortilla chips, fresh vegetable crudités, or warm tortillas for optimal dipping experience.
Notes
- Manage Meat Moisture: Drain excess grease thoroughly to prevent a greasy, heavy texture and ensure a cleaner, more appetizing queso.
- Balance Spice Levels: Adjust jalapeño quantity based on heat preference, removing seeds for milder flavor or adding more for extra kick.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Stir continuously and maintain low heat to create a smooth, velvety consistency without cheese breaking or becoming grainy.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap ground beef and sausage with plant-based alternatives for vegetarian version, or use lean meats for healthier option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 368
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 788 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg