Cheesy Rotel Tomato Dip (Printable)

Creamy, zesty cheese dip with Rotel tomatoes, ready in 15 minutes for any gathering.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy & Cheese

01 - 16 oz processed cheese (such as Velveeta), cut into 1/2-inch cubes

→ Canned Goods

02 - 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies (Rotel), undrained

→ Meat (Optional)

03 - 1/2 lb ground beef or breakfast sausage

→ Seasonings (Optional)

04 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1/2 tsp onion powder

# Directions:

01 - If using meat, heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the ground beef or sausage until fully browned and no pink remains. Drain off excess fat and set aside.
02 - Place the cubed processed cheese and the entire can of diced tomatoes with green chilies (including the liquid) into a large saucepan or slow cooker.
03 - Stir in the cooked meat if using, along with the garlic powder and onion powder. Mix gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Heat over medium-low, stirring frequently, until the cheese is completely melted and the dip is smooth and creamy, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Avoid boiling.
05 - Transfer to a serving bowl and serve hot with tortilla chips, crackers, or fresh vegetable sticks. Keep warm in a slow cooker on the warm setting for extended serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat, which means you can start it when the first guests arrive and still beat the opening kickoff.
  • The combination of processed cheese and Rotel tomatoes creates a velvety texture that reheats beautifully the next day.
  • It is endlessly adaptable, working just as well with sausage, ground beef, or nothing but cheese and tomatoes.
02 -
  • Do not try to rush the melting with high heat, because processed cheese can scorch and develop a stubborn film on the bottom of the pan that ruins the entire batch.
  • If the dip sits out too long and thickens, a splash of milk stirred in over low heat brings it right back to a dippable consistency.
03 -
  • Cut the cheese into uniform half-inch cubes so everything melts at the same rate and you avoid lumps of cold cheese in the finished dip.
  • A slow cooker liner makes cleanup almost nonexistent, which matters more than you think when you are cleaning up after a party.

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