Description
Cowboy queso sizzles with Southwestern flair, blending bold Tex-Mex flavors into a creamy, spicy dip. Hearty ground beef and melted cheeses mingle with jalapeños, creating a crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ll crave at every gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 0.5 pound chorizo sausage
Cheese:
- 16 ounces (454 grams) Velveeta cheese (cubed)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
- 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 white onion (finely chopped)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 2 jalapeños (seeded and finely chopped)
- 1 10-ounce (283 grams) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sizzle ground beef and chorizo in a skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned and crispy, approximately 8 minutes, then carefully eliminate excess fat.
- Incorporate finely diced onion, vibrant red bell pepper, and fiery jalapeños into the meat mixture, allowing vegetables to soften and release their aromatic flavors for 5 minutes.
- Gently lower the skillet’s temperature and introduce a medley of cheeses, zesty diced tomatoes with green chiles, and creamy milk, stirring consistently until the cheese transforms into a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Enhance the queso’s depth by sprinkling in ground cumin, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Finish the dish by folding in freshly chopped cilantro moments before serving, which will provide a bright, herbaceous burst of freshness to the rich, spicy queso.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting jalapeño quantity or using milder peppers like poblano for a gentler spice profile.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, healthier alternative that maintains rich flavor.
- Create a gluten-free version by ensuring all ingredients, especially chorizo and spices, are certified gluten-free.
- Keep cheese melting smooth by using room temperature ingredients and stirring consistently to prevent separation or clumping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 366 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg