Description
Rich cowboy queso blends spicy ground beef and melted cheeses for a hearty Texas-style dip. Creamy, zesty flavors merge with crisp tortilla chips, making game day snacking irresistible for hungry guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (0.5 kg) Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup pepper jack cheese, shredded
- ½ lb (227 g) ground beef
- ½ lb (227 g) spicy pork sausage
- 1 can (10 oz or 283 g) diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel), undrained
- 1 can (15 oz or 425 g) black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup cilantro, fresh, chopped
- 1 jalapeno, diced (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sizzle ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking into crumbly pieces and developing deep, caramelized flavors until fully cooked and golden brown.
- Vegetable Integration: Sauté diced onions, minced garlic, and chopped jalapeños within the meat mixture, allowing them to soften and release aromatic intensities that amplify the overall flavor profile.
- Liquid and Bean Infusion: Fold in diced tomatoes with green chiles and black beans, stirring carefully to distribute ingredients evenly and create a rich, textured foundation for the queso.
- Cheese Transformation: Gradually melt Velveeta and pepper jack cheeses into the skillet, slowly incorporating milk to achieve a velvety, creamy consistency while continuously stirring to prevent burning or sticking.
- Final Flourish: Sprinkle fresh cilantro, then season with salt and pepper, harmonizing the robust flavors and creating a balanced, zesty dip that tantalizes the palate.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer the molten queso to a serving dish or slow cooker, presenting a mouthwatering appetizer perfectly paired with tortilla chips, vegetable crudités, or warm tortillas.
Notes
- Sear Meat Carefully: Cook ground beef and sausage slowly to develop deep caramelization without burning, ensuring maximum flavor development and preventing tough meat texture.
- Balance Vegetable Heat: Adjust jalapeño quantity based on personal spice tolerance, allowing flexibility for mild or intense flavor preferences without overwhelming the dish.
- Prevent Cheese Separation: Melt cheeses gradually and stir constantly to maintain smooth consistency, avoiding clumping or grainy texture that can ruin the queso’s creamy appeal.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap ground meats with plant-based alternatives for vegetarian version, use low-fat cheese options for lighter preparation, or substitute beans for additional protein diversity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg