Description
A creamy, smoky, and spicy queso dip made with Velveeta, sharp cheddar, and Mexican chorizo, cooked in a smoker for deep flavor. Perfect for game day parties and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz box Velveeta, cubed
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 1 can (4 oz) green chiles, diced, drained slightly
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 12 oz raw Mexican-style chorizo
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Fresh jalapeños, sliced
- Optional: Fresh cilantro, chopped
- Optional: 1 can black beans, drained
Instructions
- Preheat smoker to 225°F (107°C) using hickory or mesquite pellets.
- In a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, cook the raw chorizo, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and crispy with fat rendered. Drain excess fat if too greasy, but leave some for flavor.
- In the same skillet, add a tablespoon of chorizo fat. Sauté diced onion for 2-3 minutes until soft, then add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- In a heat-safe serving dish, layer cubed Velveeta at the bottom, followed by grated cheddar and milk.
- Top with the cooked chorizo, sautéed onions and garlic, green chiles, cumin, and chili powder. Mix gently to distribute spices.
- Place the dish in the smoker and smoke for 15 minutes without opening the lid, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from smoker and stir vigorously until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency with milk if needed.
- Serve immediately with tortilla chips or transfer to a slow cooker to keep warm.
Notes
Do not use pre-shredded cheese as it contains anti-caking agents that cause graininess. Render the chorizo fat for best flavor. Keep smoker temperature low (225°F) to prevent cheese separation. This recipe is naturally gluten-free if chorizo is certified GF. Does not freeze well due to texture changes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/2 cup
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
Keywords: smoked queso, chorizo dip, game day snacks, party appetizer, smoker recipes, spicy cheese dip, easy appetizer