Description

A budget-friendly, smoky, and creamy queso dip made with spicy chorizo and sharp cheddar, perfect for game day or parties. This recipe uses a smoker for depth of flavor but can be made in a slow cooker.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound Mexican-style chorizo (soft, raw sausage)
16 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 can (4 ounces) diced green chiles, drained
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)

Instructions

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add crumbled chorizo and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and crispy. Remove with a slotted spoon, leaving fat in the pan.
In the same skillet, cook diced onion for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Return chorizo to the pan and remove from heat to cool slightly.
In a large mixing bowl, combine grated cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Add the cooked chorizo mixture, drained green chiles, cumin, chili powder, and heavy cream. Stir gently to distribute evenly.
Preheat smoker or pellet grill to 225°F (107°C). Place the cheese mixture in a heat-proof bowl or cast iron skillet that fits in the smoker.
Smoke for 45-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the cheese is glossy, bubbly, and smooth.
Serve immediately with tortilla chips or bread. Keep warm in a slow cooker on low if serving over time.

Notes

Drain green chiles thoroughly to prevent watery dip. Grate cheese from blocks rather than using pre-shredded cheese to ensure smooth melting. Keep heat low to prevent cheese from becoming grainy. Can be made in a slow cooker on low for 2 hours if smoking is not possible.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe
Calories: 320
Sugar: 2
Sodium: 680
Fat: 26
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 6
Fiber: 1
Protein: 14

Keywords: smoked queso, chorizo dip, game day snack, budget recipe, pellet grill recipes, cheese dip, spicy dip, easy appetizer