If I had to pick one nostalgic food that reminds me of family gatherings at my grandma’s house, it would be Rotel Cheese Dip. Made with Velveeta cheese, rotel tomatoes and spices—this dip is easy to make for your next party. You can make this in a slow cooker (or crock pot) or simply in a large pot or skillet on the stovetop. With only 2 basic ingredients this party dip could not be easier to make!

Related:Check out our Chalupas, Pico De Gallo, Homemade Salsa, Avocado Salsa, Guacamole, Taco Dip, or Buffalo Chicken Dip.

I’ve seen people call this different things, like “cowboy dip” or “ugly dip,” but in our family, we just call it Rotel. It’s made of Velveeta, a can of Rotel tomatoes, and a couple spices and herbs.

Rotel Dip Ingredients

• Velveeta cheese – processed cheese
• Rotel tomatoes – Mexican style canned tomatoes
• Water – to make the dip thinner so it’s less like a spread
• Chili powder
• Cayenne – optional but I love a little spice
• Cilantro – fresh

How to make Rotel Dip

My grandmother usually makes this in a crockpot (or slow cooker) by adding all the ingredients and cooking on low until melted. This is a great option if you want to have this dip sitting out, but still warm during a longer party or gathering.

Another option is to make Rotel cheese dip on the stovetop. You just add all the ingredients to a pan and melt on low heat, stirring every now and again.

I will be the first to admit that we always make this with Velveeta (processed cheese). It’s not an ingredient I use often—in fact, this is probably one of the only recipes I use it in. But there’s just something a little nostalgic about it to me.

That being said, you can substitute the processed cheese for cream cheese and a little shredded cheddar. The consistency will be a little different, but it’s still delicious.

My family typically makes this dip without meat. But, if you want to add some cooked ground beef, sausage, or a vegetarian ground meat to this dip, it’s a great addition!

And, I’m curious, how many of you make this dip at family get-togethers? I sort of think of it as a Midwest thing, but honestly I am not even sure that’s true.

So, let me know in the comments if your family makes a version of this too. xo. Emma

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#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-full svg * fill: #343434; #wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-33 svg * fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33); #wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-50 svg * fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50); #wprm-recipe-user-rating-1 .wprm-rating-star.wprm-rating-star-66 svg * fill: url(#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66); linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-33 stop stop-color: #343434; linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-50 stop stop-color: #343434; linearGradient#wprm-recipe-user-rating-1-66 stop stop-color: #343434; 4.72 from 32 votes PrintGet the Recipe a quick and easy cheese dip recipe made from Velveeta cheese Yield 8 servingsPrep 5 minutes minsCook 5 minutes minsTotal 10 minutes mins Ingredients1x2x3x

• ▢ 16 ounces Velveeta cheese
• ▢ 1 can Rotel tomatoes (10 ounces)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cayenne
• ▢ 2-3 tablespoons water
• ▢ 1-2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
• ▢ salt and pepper

US CustomaryMetric Instructions

• In a medium size pan or pot, add the cubed cheese, Rotel (do not drain), chili powder, cayenne, and a little salt and pepper.
• Melt on low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Once melted, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin slightly.
• Stir in the cilantro. Add more salt and pepper if desired.

NotesYou could also cook this in a crockpot on low heat.  You can add 8-10 ounces of ground beef, sausage, or a vegetarian ground meat. Cook the meat before, then stir in once the other ingredients are melted.  © Author Emma ChapmanCourse AppetizerCuisine AmericanKeywords cheese dip, dip, rotel, rotel dip Nutrition .wprm-nutrition-label-layout .wprmp-nutrition-label-block-line background-color: #333333; .wprm-nutrition-label-layout .wprmp-nutrition-label-block-nutrient border-top-color: #333333; Nutrition FactsRotel Cheese DipServing Size 1 servingAmount per ServingCalories126% Daily Value*Fat 6g9%Saturated Fat 4g25%Polyunsaturated Fat 0.01gMonounsaturated Fat 0.004gCholesterol 24mg8%Sodium 901mg39%Potassium 198mg6%Carbohydrates 7g2%Fiber 0.04g0%Sugar 5g6%Protein 11g22%Vitamin A 605IU12%Vitamin C 0.1mg0%Calcium 326mg33%Iron 0.1mg1%* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

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