Description

This Rotel Cheese Dip is a creamy, zesty, and flavorful appetizer featuring lean ground beef, a blend of spices, Rotel tomatoes and chilies, salsa verde, and a melty combination of cream cheese and mild cheddar. Perfect for parties or game day, this dip is served warm with tortilla chips and garnished with diced tomatoes, cilantro, and hot sauce for an irresistible snack.

Ingredients

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Main Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons flour
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
1 10 oz. can mild Rotel
1/2 cup mild salsa verde
1 1/4 cup milk (plus more as needed)
8 oz. full fat block cream cheese (cubed and very soft)
2 cups freshly shredded mild or medium cheddar cheese (NOT sharp)

To Serve

Tortilla chips
Diced tomatoes
Cilantro
Hot sauce to taste

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Instructions

Cook Beef: Brown the lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it’s almost cooked through. Then add flour and all the spices including chili powder, salt, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Cook over medium heat for one minute, making sure the ground beef is fully cooked and the spices are fragrant.
Add Ingredients and Simmer: Stir in the mild Rotel with its juices, the salsa verde, and 1 1/4 cups of milk. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, scraping the browned bits from the pan bottom to incorporate maximum flavor. Continue cooking over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Make it Cheesy: Reduce the heat to low and add the softened cream cheese cubes, stirring constantly until fully melted and smooth. Next, gradually add the shredded mild or medium cheddar cheese in handfuls, stirring each addition until melted to create a creamy, cheesy dip.
Adjust and Serve: Taste the dip and adjust seasoning by adding extra cayenne pepper or hot sauce and salt if needed. If the dip is too thick, thin it out with additional milk to reach your desired consistency. Serve warm with tortilla chips and garnish with diced tomatoes and fresh cilantro. For party convenience, keep the dip warm in a crockpot on the warm setting.

Notes

Use mild or medium cheddar cheese, not sharp, for the best creamy texture and optimal melt.
This dip is made without processed cheese, resulting in a fresher and more flavorful experience.
Keep the dip warm during serving by using a crockpot on the warm setting to maintain its melty texture.
Adjust the spiciness with more or less cayenne pepper and hot sauce based on your preference.
If the dip becomes too thick, simply thin it with a splash of milk to achieve the desired consistency.
Fresh garnishes like diced tomatoes and cilantro add color and brightness to the rich dip.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/10 recipe
Calories: 320 kcal
Sugar: 3 g
Sodium: 450 mg
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 12 g
Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
Trans Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 10 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 18 g
Cholesterol: 70 mg