Description
A creamy, melt-in-your-mouth queso dip with a subtle spicy kick, perfect for parties and casual snacking. This easy homemade dip balances smooth cheese with a lively heat from fresh jalapeños and smoky chipotle powder.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 medium fresh jalapeños, finely diced (seeds removed for less heat)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- Salt to taste (start with ½ teaspoon)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter over medium heat in a medium-sized saucepan or heavy-bottomed skillet.
- Add the finely chopped onion and jalapeños. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent and the jalapeños soften, about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic after onions are soft to avoid burning.
- Stir in the minced garlic, chipotle powder, and cumin. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Lower the heat to medium-low. Add the softened cream cheese in chunks, stirring continuously until melted and smooth.
- Slowly pour in the milk while stirring to combine. The mixture should loosen and resemble a thick sauce. Add more milk if too thick, but avoid making it runny.
- Add the shredded cheddar cheese a handful at a time, stirring until melted before adding more. Keep the heat low and steady to prevent cheese from seizing.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Remove from heat. If desired, stir in a squeeze of lime juice or chopped fresh cilantro.
- Transfer to a warm serving bowl and serve immediately with tortilla chips or veggie sticks.
Notes
Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting results. Keep heat moderate to avoid grainy texture. Remove jalapeño seeds for less heat. Reheat gently with a splash of milk if dip firms up after cooling.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/4 cup per se
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 220
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 8
Keywords: queso dip, creamy cheese dip, spicy dip, party snack, jalapeño dip, homemade queso, easy dip recipe