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Smoked Chili Con Queso

Spicy, Cheesy and Everything that remains RIGHT with the world is contained right in this simple aluminum pan! Smoked Chili Con Queso is easy to pull off right on your grill and will please a crowd (or just you wearing your jammy pants and having a night in with yourself!). 

smoked chili con queso on a chip

One thing we love around here are some delicious dips! Corn dip and Queso Blanco come to mind immediately. But these are dips that we do on the grill!

Whoo WEEEEEE! What fun it is to share a bunch of dips while waiting on the dogs and burgers to come off the grill!

Never say we don’t know how to have fun in a small town!

Why This Recipe Works

  • Delicious spicy Rotel with creamy melty Velveeta! Yum
  • Your regular queso dip kicked up a few notches! 
  • Easy
  • Fast!

Here’s What You’ll Need: 

ingredients on a table

  • Browned Ground Sausage 
  • Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilis
  • Velveeta (or similar cheese food)
  • Pickled Jalapeños
  • Minced Garlic
  • Onion Powder
  • Beer
  • Liquid Smoke
  • Grated Pepper Jack

Equipment: 

  • Grill or Smoker
  • Aluminum Pan
  • Smoking Chips
  • Smoking Tube

Alternate Equipment: 

You CAN make this in….

  •  a 9×13 dish in the oven
  • The crockpot
  • On the stove top

However, the smokiness won’t’ quite be there and besides, everyone loves to stand around the grill dipping away with a cold beer (or a glass of iced tea) while you are busy grilling burgers! 

Here’s How It’s Done

STEP 1. 

Dump it all in the aluminum pan. 

ingredients in a pan

STEP 2. 

Turn on ONE side of the grill and set the pan on the OTHER side. If using a smoking tube, get that thing going. 

When the cheese is melted, you are GOOD TO GO! 

melted ingredients in a pan

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Smoked Chili Con Queso

Do I Have To Make This On a Smoker or a Grill? 

No, you can make this on the stovetop, in the oven or even in a crockpot, but the smoky element won’t quite be there (it will still be table banging good though!). 

Do I Have To Use Velveeta or Cheese Food? 

Well, NO, you don’t have to, but I’ve found that it melts the best and makes the creamiest cheese dip. 

We won’t be eating this every day, so at my house, its for a special treat. 

Can I Substitute Something for the Jalapeños?

Are you afraid it will be too hot? If so, then leave the jalapeños off (I promise it isn’t that hot, no hotter than the salsa at your local taco joint). 

How Can I Make This Hotter? 

You can….

  1. Choose the HOT Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilis
  2. Add a chopped chipotle in adobo sauce (chop up fine and add with a tablespoon of the liquid from the can). 

How Long Does This Last? 

It will last covered in the fridge for 5 days (but it will NEVER last that long before it is gobbled up!). 

Can I Freeze This Dip? 

It doesn’t freeze that well because when you thaw it back out, it wants to break. 

Besides, it’s so easy to make, you can alway make some more! 

What Do I Serve With This? 

I think this is the perfect dish as….

  • An appetizer before a game day meal. 
  • As a topping for Nachos. 
  • Carry to a neighborhood potluck (there won’t be a single drop left). 

Serve with….

  • A side of tortilla chips
  • Some veggies (cucumber slices, carrots, celery, etc.). 
  • Pita chips
  • Pour into a Hawaiian Bread Bowl

the corner of an aluminum pan with ingredients

Tips and Tricks

  • Make this your own by substituting taco meat, ground chicken/turkey/beef or even leaving those out for a vegetarian feast! 
  • Use any grill you have or make in the oven, stovetop or crockpot
  • It’s fine to use fresh onion instead of onion powder – use a whole onion and cook it with your meat. 
  • Garnish with tomatoes, cilantro, extra meat and green onions. 

If You Enjoyed This Dip Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy…

Chori Queso Dip

Cheeseburger Dip

Hot Bacon Dip

Would Ya’ll Help Out The Other Folks Who Visit Loaves and Dishes? 

Please leave a 5 STAR review in the comment section below. This helps others to find the great recipes at Loaves and Dishes!

smoked chili con queso on a chip

Smoked Chili Con Queso Dip

Smoky, Spicy, Cheese and Everything that remains RIGHT with the world is contained right in this simple aluminum pan! Smoked Chili Con Queso is easy to pull off right on your grill and will please a crowd (or just you wearing your jammy pants and having a night in with yourself!).
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: smoked chili con queso
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 333kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 lb Velveeta cheese 1 “ cubes
  • 2 lb breakfast sausage browned and crumbled
  • 2 10-oz cans diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
  • 1/4 cup pickled jalapeño slices
  • 3 tbs minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke
  • ½ Cup beer or chicken stock
  • 1 Cup shredded Pepper Jack Cheese

Instructions

  • Brown the breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium heat on the stove top. Drain well when done.
  • Pour the cooked sausage and all of the other ingredients except the chicken stock and pepper jack cheese into a 9x13 aluminum pan.
  • On a standard propane grill, light one side of the grill and place the pan on the OTHER side of the grill. Fill the smoking tube with soaked hickory or applewood chips and light it OR use the standard directions for your smoker.
  • Smoke until the velveeta cheese is all melted. Mix well. Add chicken stock to thin the dip as far as you prefer.
  • Top with the shredded pepper jack cheese.

Notes

  • Make this your own by substituting taco meat, ground chicken/turkey/beef or even leaving those out for a vegetarian feast!
  • Use any grill you have or make in the oven, stovetop or crockpot
  • It’s fine to use fresh onion instead of onion powder - use a whole onion and cook it with your meat.
  • Garnish with tomatoes, cilantro, extra meat and green onions.
    It’s fine to use a 9x9 or similar sized pan, it just might take a little longer to melt.
PRO TIP: Use a little of the chicken stock to deglaze your frying pan after cooking the sausage, this will add a ton of flavor to your finished dish!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Smoked Chili Con Queso Dip
Amount Per Serving
Calories 333 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 10g50%
Cholesterol 71mg24%
Sodium 1299mg54%
Potassium 362mg10%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 22g44%
Vitamin A 684IU14%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 389mg39%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A VERSE TO SHARE

My mama always said, “You represent this family at all times: when we go somewhere together, when you are by yourself and when you are doing things with your friends. Don’t do things that embarrass us as a family”.

As a kid, I always thought that was so backwards and mean but as an adult, I get it.

I notice it especially with my church family (not so much the people whom I actually worship, but with Christians in general).

We represent each other, my friend. When we do anything except reach out to others in love, we are representing our “family in Christ”. We should all remember that a little more, I think.

Wendi is the writer, CEO and dishwasher at Loaves and Dishes! When not in the kitchen or behind the computer, you can find Wendi serving on International Food Conference Boards, Speaking at various conferences, Leading and Cooking for the local Arts Council's "Taste of Stokes" events or donating home cooked goodies to various local non profits such as the Danbury Songwriters and Stokes Partnership for Children. Wendi is also a Registered Nurse with a Master's Degree and serves on her town's board of councilmen.

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Wendi J Spraker

Wednesday 2nd of September 2020

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