Rotel dip is a classic appetizer that’s sure to please a crowd. This easy dip recipe is made with just a handful of simple ingredients: hamburger, Velveeta cheese, Rotel tomatoes, and chili powder, and seasoned with salt and pepper. This dish is creamy and flavorful and a crowd pleaser that is perfect for snacking on at your next party or while you watch the big game. Plus, it can be made in just minutes!

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💖 Why You’ll Like This Recipe
- Velveeta cheese and Ro-tel tomatoes create a velvety texture that makes it hard to resist. It’s a party food favorite.
- It’s incredibly easy to make – it’s made on the stove top and all you need is a skillet and four ingredients! That means you can get it on the table in no time, leaving plenty of time for socializing.
📝 Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 16 ounce block Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 10 ounce can of Rotel tomatoes, undrained
🥘 Equipment
Large skillet
👩🏻🍳 Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until there is no pink. Drain any excess grease.
Season the meat with chili powder, salt, and pepper, if desired, and stir to combine.
Reduce the heat to medium and then add cubed Velveeta cheese and Rotel tomatoes with the liquid.
Cook and stir for 5-10 minutes until the cheese has fully melted. Remove from the heat.
Serve fresh with a side of tortilla chips or fresh veggies.
✏️ Recipe Notes
- You can substitute Velveeta for a different cheese such as cheddar. You may have to add a little extra liquid if it comes out too thick. You can also mix it with cream cheese to make it creamier.
- You can make this dip with sausage or ground turkey instead of ground beef.
- There are also many different flavors of Rotel. You can use the Original, Mild, or Hot flavors to change the flavor profile.
- Be sure to place a trivet underneath the skillet or transfer the dip into a serving bowl.
- Enjoy Rotel dip with a side of chips or veggies, or use it as a topping for burgers and tacos.
- Feel free to garnish the dish with green onions, sliced jalapenos, freshly diced tomatoes, and sour cream.
♨️ Crockpot Directions
You can make this recipe in the Crockpot, too! Simply cook the ground beef in a skillet, drain the fat, and place the cooked ground beef and remaining ingredients in your slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour or LOW for 2 hours. Stir periodically to help melt the cheese and combine everything together. Once at the desired consistency, set the slow cooker to the WARM setting.
🫙 Storing
This dip is best eaten fresh. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days in an airtight container. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat until the cheese is melted again.
🤷🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
No. RoTel dip is usually made with Velveeta (a cheese product) and other ingredients like jalapeños or taco seasoning. Queso is traditionally a white cheese that is made with cow’s milk or a combination of cow and goat’s milk.
You can, but I don’t recommend it. It’s best served as an appetizer with tortilla chips, corn chips, or hardy veggies like bell peppers.
RO-TEL is a blend of tomatoes and green chilies. It adds flavor to dishes and is a t a popular ingredient in many Tex-Mex recipes.
📖 Recipe
Velveeta Rotel Dip
Equipment
- arge skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 16 ounces Velveeta cheese cubed
- 10 ounces Rotel tomatoes undrained
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until there is no pink. Drain any excess grease.
- Season the meat with chili powder, salt, and pepper, if desired, and stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to medium and then add cubed Velveeta cheese and Rotel tomatoes with the liquid. Cook and stir for 5-10 minutes until the cheese has fully melted. Remove from the heat.
- Serve fresh with a side of tortilla chips or fresh veggies.
Video
Notes
- You can substitute Velveeta for a different cheese such as cheddar. You may have to add a little extra liquid if it comes out too thick. You can also mix it with cream cheese to make it creamier.
- You can make this dip with sausage or ground turkey instead of ground beef. There are also many different flavors of Rotel. You can use the Original, Mild, or Hot flavors to change the flavor profile.
- Be sure to place a trivet underneath the skillet or transfer the dip into a serving bowl.
- Enjoy Rotel dip with a side of chips or veggies, or use it as a topping for burgers and tacos.
- Feel free to garnish the dish with green onions, sliced jalapenos, freshly diced tomatoes, sour cream.
Crockpot Directions
You can make this recipe in the Crockpot, too! Simply cook the ground beef in a skillet, drain the fat, and place the cooked ground beef and remaining ingredients in your slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 1 hour or LOW for 2 hours. Stir periodically to help melt the cheese and combine everything together. Once at the desired consistency, set the slow cooker to the WARM setting.Nutrition
Be sure to come back and tell us how your dip turned out!
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