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Everyone loves this cheesy Rotel Dip when we serve it at our gatherings. It only requires 3 ingredients and simple to make.

A skillet filled with creamy Rotel Dip, garnished with sliced jalapeños and diced tomatoes, sits next to tortilla chips and a white towel with black stripes.
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This Rotel cheese dip is one of my favorite dips to make. It is the perfect appetizer and only requires 3 ingredients. We love that we can change the meat, add in additional flavors, and no matter when we serve it, it is always a crowd pleaser.

This cheesy dip is perfect for your game day parties or for movie night with the family. This cheesy rotel dip and our Taco Dip is always on the menu. You may also love our Pepperoni Pizza Dip, Crock Pot Chili Cheese Dip or Crack Dip.

Rotel Dip Ingredients

Ingredients needed - velveeta cheese, rotel, ground beef
  • Velveeta Cheese – Gives the cheese the best creamy texture
  • Rotel – Feel to choose your spice level
  • Ground Beef – We used lean ground beef

Scroll to the bottom to see recipe card for the full ingredients and recipe.

How to Make Rotel Dip

Cooked ground beef in a cast iron skillet

Step 1 – Cook Ground Beef – Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium high heat on the stovetop.  Drain off any excess grease.  

Cubed velveeta cheese in the skillet with the ground beef and Rotel

Step 2 – Stir in Rotel and the Cheese – Add in the Rotel Tomatoes and diced Velveeta cheese.  

Step 3 – Stir until cheese is melted – Stir and heat over medium low heat. Continue stirring until melted and fully combined. 

Step 4 – Serve and Enjoy – Once melted and combined, serve warm with chips, crackers or veggies.  Enjoy! 

Rotel Dip in a cast iron skillet
A hand dips a tortilla chip into creamy Rotel Dip, garnished with sliced jalapeños and diced tomatoes.

Rotel Dip

5 from 15 votes
Everyone loves this cheesy Rotel Dip when we serve it at our gatherings. This dip only requires 3 ingredients and simple to make.
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 16
Cuisine American
Course Appetizer
Calories 138

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium high heat.  Drain off any excess grease.
  • Add in the Rotel and diced Velveeta cheese.
  • Stir and heat over medium low heat until melted and fully combined.
  • Once melted and combined, serve warm with chips, crackers or veggies.  Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

These delicious Rotel Dip is best served fresh, but you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The cheese will thicken as it sits.  Add in a small amount of milk or water when reheating to thin the cheese. 
Helpful Tips
  • Cast Iron Skillet – We recommend making the Rotel Dip in an cast iron skillet. It retains the heat and keeps the dip creamier longer.
  • Thicker Dip – If you prefer the dip to be thicker, drain the Rotel Dip. I usually just pour the entire can into the dip but draining works great too.
  • Salsa – If you don’t have any canned rotel, mix the cheese and meat with a jar of salsa.
  • Processed Cheese – We love the way Velveeta melts creamy, but if you prefer you can make this dip with a block of cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese.
  • Keep Warm – If you prefer to keep your dip warm, you can always place your finished dip in the slow cooker. If I am serving at a party, I like to stir it constantly to keep the sides from burning.
  • Slow Cooker – Our Slow Cooker Rotel Dip Recipe is one of popular recipes as it is one of the easiest dips you can make. Make sure to keep stirring occasionally to keep from burning while cooking in the crock pot.
Variations and Additions
  • Change the Meat – You can use different meats in this recipe. Make it with ground turkey, cooked shredded chicken, ground pork sausage, or Italian Sausage.
  • Make is Spicy – Rotel comes in different levels of heat, you can use hot rotel to increase the spicy level. I have even used half hot sausage and regular sausage. It turned out perfectly. The kids had no problem eating it.
  • Taco Seasoning – You can mix in homemade taco seasoning with the ground beef for added flavor. Just mixing a teaspoon of chili powder also gives it the perfect flavor.
  • Add Vegetables – You can cook some onions and garlic with the ground beef to give the dip more flavor.
  • Slice Jalapenos – We like to add in some slice jalapeno pepper before serving. You can even add in green onions and sriracha sauce for a hint of spice.
  • Rotel Substitution – Another rotel substitution is mix in a can of diced tomatoes and a can of green chilies.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 138kcal, Carbohydrates 4g, Protein 11g, Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat 2g, Trans Fat 0.3g, Cholesterol 32mg, Sodium 470mg, Potassium 208mg, Fiber 0.2g, Sugar 3g, Vitamin A 299IU, Vitamin C 2mg, Calcium 173mg, Iron 1mg

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers:

These delicious Rotel Dip is best served fresh, but you can refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. The cheese will thicken as it sits.  Add in a small amount of milk or water when reheating to thin the cheese. 

Can you Freeze?

Store the queso dip in the freezer for up to 2 months in an freezer safe container.

What does Rotel have in it?

Rotel dip originated from chili con queso recipe. But we like to make it with Velveeta and Rotel as it melts smooth and creamy. We like to add meat to this cheesy dip, but you can also leave it out. Rotel is the perfect blend of tomatoes and spices. Salsa is a great substitute if you don’t have any Rotel.

Can this recipe be made without Velveeta cheese?

Yes, you can make this dip without velveeta cheese. Mix together a block of cream cheese and cheddar to a creamy and cheesy dip.

How can I thicken my dip?

The best way we have found to thicken the dip is to let it simmer a little longer without covered.

Rotel Dip in a cast iron skillet with a chip being dipped in

Can you Make Rotel Dip in Advance?

Yes, you can but recommend serving immediately. If you prefer to make it the night before, place the dip in an air tight container in the refrigerator. When you are ready to serve, place in the slow cooker or reheat in a microwave safe bowl.

You may need to add a little milk if it seems to thick.

What to Serve with Rotel Dip?

This Rotel Dip can be served with many things.

More Easy Dip Recipes

If you make this Velveeta Rotel Dip, make sure to leave us a comment or star review. We love hearing from you.

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie Barnard — a professional food blogger with over 14 years of experience helping busy families make dinner fast, easy, and affordable.

At Eating on a Dime, I share simple, budget-friendly recipes that are tested in my own kitchen and approved by my 8 kids. With millions of readers each month, I’m here to help you cook real food for real families — without the stress.

5 from 15 votes (15 ratings without comment)

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