Rotel Dip
Published 12/23/2022 • Updated 3/4/2023
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This easy Rotel dip will be your new favorite cheesy dip! Made with a can of Rotel tomatoes, ground beef, and creamy Velveeta cheese. It’s cheesy, spicy, and an absolute crowd-pleaser.
Cheesy Velveeta Rotel Dip
We’re HUGE fans of cheesy dip here at The Cheese Knees (no kidding). But this Rotel dip is truly like no other, AND it’s so simple!
Who knew a handful of ingredients and 3 easy steps could make such a cheesy masterpiece? It’s the perfect appetizer for game day or any special occasion.
Not only does it taste phenomenal, but almost anything will taste delicious with this flavorful dip. Whether you dip it with chips, bread, meat, or veggies, slather it on a sandwich, or cook it with pasta, there are so many ways to experience its cheesy goodness.
why you’ll love it!
- It’s made with 6 simple ingredients that provide tons of flavor!
- You can easily swap out or add ingredients to make this recipe your own.
- There’s so much you can do with the leftovers!
- It’s SO CHEESY with the perfect amount of heat.
Rotel Dip Ingredients
- Avocado oil: avocado oil has a high smoke point, making it a better option for this high-heat recipe.
- Yellow onion: sautéing onion with the beef enhances the taste of the beef, making for a more flavorful dip.
- Ground beef: we prefer to use ground beef over sausage as we find it more flavorful, but sausage tastes just as great!
- Chili powder: chili powder adds a little heat to the Rotel dip that tastes amazing with the Velveeta cheese!
- Velveeta cheese: is there anything creamier and cheesier than Velveeta? This ingredient is single-handedly the star of the show.
- Rotel: we used Rotel original, but you can kick up the heat with the mild and hot versions. All of them have great flavor!
Try it!
Velveeta Cheese Sauce
Our Ultimate Velveeta Cheese Sauce is oh so creamy and flavorful and made with easy ingredients. Pair with your favorite pasta, and enjoy!
How to Make the Best Rotel Dip
COOK THE ONION + BEEF
Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Then add the yellow onion and ground beef, cooking until the beef is no longer pink (about 5 minutes). Once the beef is cooked, add the chili powder and stir.
ADD THE CHEESE + ROTEL
Next, reduce the heat to medium-low and add the Velveeta cheese cubes and the entire can of Rotel — juices included. Stir everything together until the cheese has fully melted.
SERVE + ENJOY
Now for the best part, serving and eating your cheesy Rotel dip!
Transfer the dip to a serving dish and serve immediately. Or, transfer to a slow cooker on the “warm” setting until ready to serve. Happy dipping!
Cheesy Rotel Dip Tips + Tricks
Ingredient Substitutions
One of the best things about this Rotel cheese dip recipe is that you can customize it to your liking. Here are some ideas for making it your own unique creation:
- Use ground turkey or chicken instead for a healthier alternative. Or go vegetarian and swap out the ground beef with black or pinto beans.
- Want more veggies? Bell peppers, onions, and chilis would be great add-ins. In this case, add another can of Rotel as well.
- Spice this recipe up by using chorizo instead of hamburger or adding hot sauce or jalapenos at the end of the cooking time for the hamburger.
Keep It Warm
You can easily transfer your dip to a slow cooker to keep it warm for a party or if you make it ahead of time.
Tasty Serving Suggestions
There are so many different foods you can enjoy dunked in this cheesy Rotel dip. Serve it with any of the ingredients below, or get creative!
- Tortilla chips
- Toasted bread
- Crackers
- Pita bread or pita chips
- Bagel chips
- Brown sausage
- Meatballs
- Fresh veggies
- French fries
Leftover Options
If you have leftovers of this Rotel dip, there are so many ways you can use it. Here are just a few:
- Spread it on a sandwich, burger, or wrap.
- Warm it up and toss it with warm pasta.
- Use it as a cheese topping for nachos.
- Mix it into chili or taco soup.
- Drizzle over French fries.
Serving this dip at a party?
If you plan to serve this Rotel dip at a party or have it out for a longer period of time, we recommend transferring it into a crock pot and keeping it on low so that it doesn’t get too thick.
Dip too thick?
This Rotel dip is meant to be thick. But, if it’s too thick for your liking, you can add a few tablespoons of whole milk to thin things out.
PS: as the dip sits out, it will continue to get thicker. So, you can always throw it back on the burner to loosen it up again.
Storage
Let the dip cool completely before storing it in an airtight container and placing it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
To reheat: transfer the dip into a small saucepan and add a few tablespoons of whole milk. Reheat over medium heat until melty and delicious.
Rotel Dip
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ large yellow onion, diced
- 1 lb. 85/15 ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 16 oz. Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 10 oz. can Rotel original, undrained
Instructions
- Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium/high heat. Add the onion and ground beef and cook until the beef is no longer pink. About 5 minutes. Add the chili powder and stir.
- Reduce the heat to low/medium heat and add the Velveeta cheese and the whole can of Rotel with the juices. Stir everything together until the cheese is melted.
- Transfer dip into a serving dish and serve immediately or into a slow cooker and turn the heat to warm.
Tips & Notes
- This recipe is great for a slow cooker during a party. Or make it ahead of time and keep it in the slow cooker.
- Make this vegetarian by swapping the ground beef with black or pinto beans.
- Want more veggies? Bell peppers, onions, and chilis would be great add-ins. In this case, add another can of Rotel as well.
- Spice this recipe up by using chorizo instead of hamburger or adding jalapeños at the end of the cooking time for the hamburger.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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