Warning: this Beef Queso Dip is dangerous. Like, you might accidentally eat half the skillet before your guests even show up kind of dangerous. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED. I can't be held accountable for anything past this sentence!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
There are a lot of queso dips in the world but this Beef Queso Dip reigns supreme. It is cheesy and melty with the perfect spicy kick from jalapeños and poblano peppers, and then you get this extra hearty layer of perfectly seasoned beef tucked underneath. It is the ultimate party dip whether you are hosting game day, Taco Tuesday, or just need an excuse to live your best life with a big bowl of chips.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Olive oil
- Ground beef
- Yellow onion
- Garlic cloves
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Ground cumin (or sub for taco seasoning)
- Chili powder
- Chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
- Unsalted butter
- Poblano pepper
- Jalapeños
- Tomatillo salsa
- All-purpose flour
- Milk
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Pepper Jack cheese
- Pico de gallo
- Fresh cilantro
- Tortilla chips
How to Make
For the Beef
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add the beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned on all sides for about 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, cook for 6–8 minutes, the last minute, add the garlic and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, cumin and chili powder and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.
- Add the chicken stock and add beef back into the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until stock has completely evaporated, roughly 10 minutes. Remove from heat, taste and season with salt and pepper, leave it in the skillet and set aside.
For the Queso
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion, poblano, jalapeños, and garlic, for 8–10 minutes until soft.
- Stir in flour and cook until incorporated, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in milk and salsa and continue to cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and add all the cheeses, stirring constantly, until the cheese is completely melted and queso is smooth. If it seems too thick or gloopy, stir in a tablespoon of milk at a time until smooth.
- Pour the hot queso over the skillet with the meat. Sprinkle the Beef Queso Dip with cilantro and pico de gallo. Serve immediately with chips.
Tips & Tricks
- Use freshly grated cheese when making this Beef Queso Dip. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents that can make your queso less smooth.
- If you want it extra spicy, leave some jalapeño seeds in. If you want it mild, be sure to remove them.
- If the Beef Queso Dip thickens too much while sitting out, just whisk in a splash of warm milk to loosen it up.
- Make the beef mixture a day ahead if you want to save time when guests come over.
- Serve it the Beef Queso Dip straight out of the skillet for casual vibes and minimal clean up.
FAQ's
How do I make this vegetarian?
Just skip the beef or use a plant-based ground meat substitute.
Is this spicy and can I make it less spicy?
It's subtle but use fewer jalapeños or substitute with a red bell pepper or a fresno pepper for a milder flavor.
How can I serve this other than with chips?
Try it drizzled over nachos, stuffed into burritos, or spooned onto baked potatoes.
Similar Recipes
Beef Queso Dip
The ultimate Beef Queso Dip loaded with seasoned beef, spicy queso, and tons of chips. Perfect for game day, parties, or any cheesy craving.
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ pound ground beef
- ½ yellow onion small dice
- 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium chicken broth
For the Queso
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ medium onion small dice
- 1 poblano pepper small dice
- 3 jalapeños finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves roughly chopped
- ½ cup tomatillo salsa
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups milk plus more as needed
- ½ pound Monterey Jack cheese grated
- ½ pound Pepper Jack cheese grated
- Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, sour cream, chopped chives, chopped cilantro, and chips for serving
Instructions
For the Beef
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add the beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned on all sides for about 6–8 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, cook for 6–8 minutes, the last minute, add the garlic and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper, cumin and chili powder and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.
- Add the chicken stock and add beef back into the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook until stock has completely evaporated, roughly 10 minutes. Remove from heat, taste and season with salt and pepper, leave it in the skillet and set aside.
For the Queso
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion, poblano, jalapeños, and garlic, for 8–10 minutes until soft.
- Stir in flour and cook until incorporated, about 1 minute.
- Whisk in milk and salsa and continue to cook until mixture comes to a boil and thickens, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and add all the cheeses, stirring constantly, until the cheese is completely melted and queso is smooth. If it seems too thick or gloopy, stir in a tablespoon of milk at a time until smooth.
- Pour the hot queso over the skillet with the meat. Sprinkle with cilantro and pico de gallo. Serve immediately with chips.
Notes
Swap out the types of peppers, leave the seeds in or out, you do you and make this your absolute favorite Queso ever!
Nutrition Information
Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 426mg | Potassium: 277mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 730IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 404mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @WhatsGabyCookin or tag #whatsgabycooking!
Hi Gaby!
I'm making this dip for a BBQ I'm going to today and didn't realize I needed to serve immediately. Will it be okay to make it now, 8am and serve at 1? I guess I was just way too excited to make it and didn't read all the directions
the cheese will harden up while it sits out, so you can just re-bake it to warm it and re-melt the cheese!
I made this last night and it was incredible! I made a lot more of the meat and my kids used it as taco filling, it was so delicious I don't think I'll ever go back to using packaged taco seasoning! The queso was really easy to make and so flavorful, we loved it. I'll definitely be making this again!
Yay!! LOVE hearing that Sarah! xo
Helllooooooo Cinco De Mayo! You're looking as delicious as ever 🙂 Totally in love with this dip!
Quick question - you cook the beef and set aside in a bowl, then cook the onion as directed in step 2 and set aside in the skillet. And then after the queso is done you pour it over the beef. Sine the beef is never mentioned again should I just assume that the it goes back into the onion skillet before pouring queso?
Hi Becca, In step 2 the meat is set aside and in step 4 the cheese mixture is poured back of the meat. Hope that helps
Looks sooo good!!! What could you replace your tomatillo starter with? (I'm in Canada so I can't get my hands on them 🙁 )
it's carried at Williams-Sonoma in Canada!! But a tomatillo salsa would work
Why isn't there a drooling emoji?? My mouth is literally watering (granted I haven't eaten breakfast yet today) and this looks amazing! I have to try it!
lovely presentation!
Looking forward to meeting you in San Diego in a few weeks and getting some of your new salsas!
yayyyy can't wait!
My boys love anything they can dip a chip in 🙂
I need this ASAP!
Oh my goodness, Gaby!! I love pretty much anything to do with cheese, especially dip, and this looks amazing. I definitely need to give it a try.
Looks so good! I was also wondering, what brand of chips to you use? They look awesome! Thanks!!
I made these ones from scratch!
That was my exact guess in the chips! Homemade is ALWAYS better!!
I so want this queso in my life!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE - I can totally see why everyone gathered around this like vultures.
This looks amazing! I want to eat the whole bowl all by myself!