In the summer of 2020, smoked queso videos went viral on TikTok. When it comes to anything with cheese and cooking on the smoker, it was a combination that we just couldn’t resist trying…several times.
One of the most brilliant things about this dip is that it is entirely customizable with whatever cheeses you have on hand or are your favorites. Pro tip: try to use mostly blocks that you cube or shred yourself, as most packaged pre-shredded cheeses have preservatives that affect meltability.
Don’t like chorizo? Swap it with another type of sausage or leave it out altogether. Like things spicy? Add more jalapeños or use hotter chili peppers. Smoking this dip adds a delicious accent on the back end, but it can certainly be cooked on a grill, in the oven, or even on the stovetop. It’s a pretty forgiving recipe that can be used more as a guide and the end result is always ooey gooey deliciousness!
Family Standard Time presents to you our favorite version of Smoked Queso Dip!
Ingredients
1 to 1.5 lbs chorizo, crumbled and cooked
8 oz cheddar (medium or sharp), cubed
8 oz pepperjack, cubed
3 jalapeños, chopped
1 red onion, diced
1 lb block Velveeta, cubed
2 cups monterey jack, shredded
1 cup 4-cheese Mexican blend, shredded
10 or 14 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles
Directions
Prepare and preheat your smoker (or grill or oven) to 200°F.
Crumble and brown the chorizo in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until cooked.
Add all of the ingredients to a 9×13″ disposable aluminum roasting pan (you can use an oven or grill-safe dish, but the disposable aluminum makes for the easiest cleanup). Put the pan onto the smoker, close the lid, and cook for an hour. Stir every 20 minutes. After an hour, increase the heat to 250°F and cook for another hour. Stir every 20 minutes. Once all of the cheese is melted, the onions and peppers are soft, and everything blends together nicely, remove from the smoker. Serve while hot.
This dip goes well with tortilla chips and/or a veggie platter. It’s fabulous for a crowd, but saves and reheats nicely. Enjoy!
