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Snack

Stovetop Queso Dip

Silky, scoopable cheese dip from real cheese: evaporated milk and a little cornstarch keep it smooth, and tomatoes with green chiles give it a little kick.

โฑ 22 min (10 min prep, 12 min cooking) ๐Ÿฝ Serves 10 ยท about ยผ cup (makes about 2ยฝ cups) quickkid friendly vegetariangluten free

In our collection Big game day: menu and shopping list โ†’

๐Ÿ“… Add to my plan

ContainsMilk. Check the labels on what you buy; brands differ.

Ingredients

Make 10 servings
  • 8 oz Cheddar cheese (block), shredded
  • 8 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
  • 1 can Evaporated milk, 12 oz
  • 1 can Diced tomatoes with green chiles, 10 oz, drained
  • ยฝ tsp Ground cumin
  • ยผ tsp Garlic powder
  • 1 Jalapeรฑo pepper, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 8 oz Tortilla chips, for serving

Nutrition

Nutrition coming: the USDA numbers for these ingredients are being added.

Steps

Youโ€™ll need: medium saucepan, whisk, box grater, slow cooker or small pot for keeping warm (optional).

  1. Toss the shredded cheeses with the cornstarch in a bowl. Shred your own; bagged cheese has an anti-caking coating that can make the dip grainy.
  2. Warm the evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat until steaming, not boiling.
  3. Add the cheese a handful at a time, whisking until each addition melts before adding more. Keep the heat low; high heat makes cheese stringy.
  4. Stir in the drained tomatoes and chiles, cumin, garlic powder and jalapeรฑo. If itโ€™s too thick, whisk in a splash of milk.
  5. Serve warm with chips. To keep it hot through the game, hold it in a slow cooker on warm or low, at 140ยฐF or above (USDA). Stir now and then, and add a splash of milk if it thickens.
Make aheadMake up to 2 days ahead and reheat gently on the stove or in the slow cooker, stirring, with a splash of milk, until hot (165ยฐF).
โ†บ LeftoversRefrigerate within 2 hours; keeps 3 to 4 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk.
๐Ÿง’ With kidsKids can shred cheese with a grown-up watching and add handfuls while a grown-up whisks.
Beefy swapStir in ยฝ lb browned, drained ground beef or chorizo (cooked to 160ยฐF).
Mild swapUse plain diced tomatoes and skip the jalapeรฑo.

Goes well with

๐Ÿง€ Loaded Sheet-Pan Nachos๐ŸŒฎ Baked Homemade Tortilla Chips

An original Teddy Rook Book recipe, written for our Big game day party collection; safety steps follow USDA. Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central and changes with brands and portions.