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Creamy Queso Dip with Ground Beef

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A warm, comforting, and creamy queso dip with savory ground beef, perfect for game day or casual get-togethers. This easy recipe balances cheesy richness with a mild spicy kick and is a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (85% lean)
  • 2 cups (200 g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup (100 g) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk or half-and-half
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (4 oz / 113 g) diced green chiles
  • 1 small tomato, diced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until no pink remains and it’s nicely browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary. Season with salt, black pepper, cumin, and chili powder while cooking.
  2. Push beef to one side of the pan, add a touch of oil if dry, then add chopped onion and garlic. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the diced green chiles and tomato, cooking for another 2 minutes.
  3. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese with milk or half-and-half. Stir gently but constantly to prevent scorching. Melt the cheese into a smooth, creamy sauce, about 5-7 minutes.
  4. Pour the cooked beef mixture into the melted cheese sauce. Stir thoroughly to combine and heat through for another 2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or extra chili powder if desired.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in fresh lime juice. Garnish with chopped cilantro if desired before serving.

Notes

Keep the heat low when melting cheese to avoid graininess. If the dip thickens too much, add a splash more milk to loosen it. Drain excess fat from the beef to prevent an oily dip. Freshly shred cheese for best melt quality. You can hold the dip warm in a slow cooker or warming tray. Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and taste even better the next day.

Nutrition

Keywords: queso dip, ground beef dip, game day snack, creamy cheese dip, easy dip recipe, Tex-Mex dip, party appetizer

Find it online: https://emmaoven.com/creamy-queso-dip-with-ground-beef-recipe-easy-perfect-game-day-snack/