This easy cheesy dip needs just 4 ingredients and a few minutes to prepare.
Rotel dip is a quick party favorite with ground beef, Rotel tomatoes and a creamy cheesy base!
Prep it and keep it warm in a slow cooker. Serve it with a pile of tortilla chips for a great game-day spread.
Ingredients in Rotel Dip
This Rotel Dip recipe, also known as ugly dip, is a game day favorite made with just a few ingredients. This recipe is similar to queso dip and is a quick and easy snack.
- Rotel Tomatoes: A can of rotel tomatoes adds lots of flavor and a little heat. Rotel can be substituted with any kind of salsa.
- Meat: We love ground beef in this recipe but swap it out for ground turkey or sausage.
- Cheese: Velveeta makes this dip quick and easy (and super creamy). Cream cheese with a bit of cheddar is a great substitute.
- Seasonings: I add a pinch of chili powder. You can also add taco seasoning or your favorite spices to the meat if you’d like or use leftover taco ground beef.
How to Make Rotel Dip
This Rotel cheese dip recipe is as easy as 1,2,3!
- Brown meat and drain on the stovetop.
- Add Rotel tomatoes and cheese to the same pan.
- Stir until melted.
Do not drain the Rotel, as the juices provide the right consistency. We do sometimes add two cans of Rotel! Of course, like most recipes, you can add in your own favorites or change the flavors/additions based on what you have on hand.
Tips & Variations
- Brown the meat and drain excess grease or use lean hamburger meat.
- If you’d perfect to skip the Velveeta cheese, use 8 oz cream cheese and 1 cup cheddar cheese in place.
- This recipe can be thinned out with a bit of milk if you’d like a thinner consistency.
- Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, or celery, carrots, and other veggies for dipping.
- Keep Rotel dip warm in a small slow cooker. If the Rotel dip cools, it will be hard to scoop so it can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave until dippable again!
- Leftovers are great in a quesadilla, over potatoes, or added to tacos.
Ro-tel tomatoes are a brand of diced tomatoes with green chilies. They bring a little heat to dishes and have a taste similar to salsa and can be found in the canned tomato section of most grocery stores. They add great flavor to Chili recipes, stews, Taco Soup and more.
If you don’t have Rotel Tomatoes on hand, you can substitute another brand of tomatoes with green chiles or salsa. Although the flavor won’t be exactly the same, the dip will still taste delicious.
This dip can easily be made in the slow cooker. Simply brown and drain the ground beef or sausage as directed and drain. Combine all ingredients in a mini crock pot/slow cooker and set to low 2-3 hours stirring occasionally until melted. Once melted, turn the slow cooker to warm.
More Easy Cheesy Dips
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Rotel Dip
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or mild/hot sausage
- 16 ounces processed cheese such as Velveeta *see note
- 10 ounces Rotel Tomatoes undrained
- ½ teaspoon chili powder optional
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef or sausage over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain excess fat.
- Reduce the heat to medium.
- Add processed cheese, Rotel tomatoes with juices, and chili powder.
- Stir the mixture until the cheese has melted and the dip is smooth.
- Serve warm with tortilla chips.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, Tex Mex© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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love this sausage dip recipe have made 5 times love the recipe.
can you freeze this dip?
Hi Evelyn, I haven’t tried freezing this dip (there is never any left to try), but it should last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Can you freeze leftovers?
Hi Linny, I haven’t tried freezing this dip (there is never any left to try), but it should last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
I’ve also used shredded chicken.
AYO THIS SH*T SO GOOD APPRECIATE IT FAM
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Noah!
There is no way that this dip is made with just 8 oz Velveeta. I made this recipe following the instructions exactly. It’s so thick and overly chunky with ground beef that it’s almost comical. Even after thinning it with milk and adding a couple TBSP of butter to add richness, it’s way too thick.
Sorry to hear that, Kat! We do make this recipe with 8 ounces of Velveeta as listed in the recipe. Be sure to use 10 ounces of rotel tomatoes and do not drain them. The juices help to thin the dip to the perfect consistency.
You need 32 ounces of velveeta not just 8 ounces & it turns out just right… I have made this for years & never had any problem using 32oz velveeta….
I have made this recipe 20+ times. Never had a problem.
I used one lb. ground pork sausage, 16oz. Velveeta, 1/2 cup sour cream, dried cilantro, lime juice, 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes with chilies, and a bit of taco seasoning. I cooked all on stovetop and reheated in serving casserole dish in microwave before serving. xxxx
Yum! That sounds delicious Bev, thanks for sharing.
I find that cheddar cheese will curdle when used in this recipe. Have you any suggestions.
Hmm I’m not sure Mary. Are you using Velveeta?
delishious
Hi. If I triple the recipe for a potluck, how much chili powder would I have to use and is it added to the ground beef while Browning?
Hi Constance, if tripling the recipe I would also triple the chili powder you are using and you mix it in with the remaining ingredients after the ground beef has browned.
I just need to make enough for 4 people, how can I do that with a recipe?
Hi Mattie, you could reduce the ingredients but with how delicious this dip is I honestly don’t think you’ll mind having extra!
I’m wondering if you can store this in the fridge or freezer, and if so for how long?
Hi Karen, I haven’t tried freezing this dip (there is never any left to try ), but it should last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Yes you can & it lasts awhile… Especially if you use freezer bags & freeze it & just take it out & reheat on oven or in microwave…..
Rotel & carnation evaporated milk & cheddar cheese —. What are the proportions?
Hi Jean, you can use the jump to recipe button at the top of the page or scroll towards the bottom for the full recipe including quantities. Enjoy!
I use sausage and I add taco seasoning instead of chili powder. Delicious!
Can you sausage instead of hamburger
That sounds like a delicious variation to me Cathy!
I have some queso cheese at home can I ad that with the rotel and ground beef
Sure, that sounds delicious Dee!
Thank you I love this recipe
Thanks Bri! Isn’t it delicious!?
yummy
I am so glad you liked the recipe Mary!
Love the Rotel cheese dip I put two cans of Rotel tomato’s in mine and velveeta cheese it was a hit going to try more of your recipes
I am so glad you liked the rotel dip Charlene!
Look amazing
Thanks Stacey!