Rotel Dip is a flavorful and delicious queso dip made with just 3 simple ingredients – Velveeta cheese, Rotel, and ground beef. Super easy to make on the stovetop or in the slow cooker, enjoy this delicious party appetizer with your favorite crunchy veggies and salty tortilla chips.
Rotel Cheese Dip
This crowd-pleasing Rotel dip recipe is similar to my popular Velveeta Cheese Dip (but is even easier to make!). Made with just three main ingredients, it takes just 20 minutes to make and is the perfect easy appetizer for game days, parties, and holiday celebrations. Creamy, cheesy, and completely irresistible.
Rotel Dip Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Velveeta cheese
- Rotel tomatoes
- Garlic powder (optional)
- Onion powder (optional)
What is Velveeta cheese? Velveeta cheese is a “pasteurized prepared cheese product” that was invented in 1918 to extend the shelf life of cheese. Made from a blend of different processed cheeses, other dairy products, and emulsifying salts that hold the product together and help with melting.
What is Ro-tel (Rotel)? Ro-Tel is simply the brand name for a specific line of canned diced tomatoes with green chilies. You will find several varieties with varying degrees of hotness (mild, medium, spicy).
How to Make Rotel Dip
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. As it cooks, break apart the meat into smaller pieces using a meat or potato masher.
- After the meat has finished cooking, drain any excess grease from the pan and season with garlic powder (optional), onion powder (optional), salt, and black pepper.
- Add the cubes of Velveeta cheese and the Rotel tomatoes to the skillet with the cooked ground beef.
- Cook over medium heat until the Velveeta is melted and all ingredients completely combine.
Crockpot Rotel Dip
Brown the ground beef on the stovetop as instructed, then transfer the cooked beef, Velveeta cheese, and Rotel to your Crockpot. Cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours. Set it to warm while serving.
Modifications and Substitutions
- In place of ground beef, try adding ground pork sausage, breakfast sausage, chorizo, taco meat, or ground turkey.
- Replace the Velveeta cheese with equal amounts of full-fat cream cheese.
- If you don’t have a can of Rotel tomatoes, add a can of diced tomatoes with a can of green chiles. Salsa is another great alternative.
- Season your ground meat with 1-2 tablespoons of taco seasoning.
- Other delicious additions include black beans, chili beans, full-fat sour cream, cheddar cheese, diced bell peppers, and green onions (to garnish).
Frequently Asked Questions
If your dip is too thick, add a little milk -about a tablespoon at a time – as you stir. You can also add more Rotel to thin it out.
If your dip is too thin, sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of cornstarch or flour. Start with one teaspoon and add a second if needed.
Yes. Prepare as outlined in the recipe card below and then transfer to an airtight container and keep stored in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, remove from the fridge and reheat on the stovetop, microwave, or slow cooker over low heat.
What to Serve with Rotel Dip
This easy dip is fantastic with fresh veggies like carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, but I typically serve it with tortilla chips, pita chips, or pretzels. You can also add it to your favorite Mexican recipes like burritos and quesadillas.
More Easy Dip Recipes
- The Best Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
- Velveeta Cheese Dip with Sausage
- Hot Crab Artichoke Dip Recipe
- Easy Black Bean Dip Recipe
- Garlic Aioli
If you try making this Rotel Dip Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know! I always love to hear your thoughts.
Rotel Dip
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder - optional
- ½ teaspoon onion powder - optional
- salt and black pepper - to taste
- 16 ounces Velveeta cheese - sliced into cubes
- 1 (10-ounce) can Rotel
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Using a meat masher or potato masher to break apart the meat into smaller pieces.
- Brown the ground beef until cooked through. Drain any excess grease. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, if desired.
- Chop the Velveeta cheese into small cubes. Add the Velveeta and the can of Rotel (no need to drain the liquid) to the skillet with the cooked ground beef.
- Stir thoroughly until the Velveeta has melted and all of the ingredients have completely combined. Serve it with tortilla chips or fresh veggies like carrots and broccoli.
Jessica’s Notes
- Instead of ground beef, you can use ground sausage, spicy sausage, breakfast sausage, taco meat, and even ground turkey.
- Leftovers: Keep leftovers stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Freezing: Transfer any leftover dip to an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thawing/Reheating: Thaw frozen Rotel dip in the refrigerator before reheating. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave at 30-second increments until heated through. If the dip is too thick, add a little milk, about one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Alternative to Velveeta cheese: Full-fat cream cheese.
Nutritional Information
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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