Tex-Mex
Slow Cooker Queso Blanco Dip
White American cheese melts with green chiles, jalapeño, and evaporated milk into a smooth dip. It stays warm in the slow cooker for a party snack.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 1 hr 30 min
- Total
- 1 hr 40 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
Why you’ll love it
- White American cheese melts smoother than a block of cheddar alone.
- Evaporated milk keeps the dip soft instead of oily.
- The cooker holds it at a gentle heat so it does not scorch.
- Canned green chiles bring flavor without a long ingredient list.
Ingredients
Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.
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Instructions
- 1
Add the chopped American cheese, Monterey Jack, evaporated milk, green chiles, jalapeño, cumin, garlic powder, and salt to the slow cooker.
- 2
Stir once so the milk reaches the bottom of the crock. That helps keep the cheese from sticking.
- 3
Cover and cook on low for 60 minutes. Stir well, scraping the sides.
- 4
Cover and cook 20 to 30 minutes more, stirring every 10 minutes, until the cheese is fully melted and the dip is smooth.
- 5
If the dip looks thick, stir in a splash of evaporated milk or water, 1 tbsp at a time, until it spoons easily.
- 6
Turn the cooker to warm. Stir in the cilantro and lime juice just before serving. This dip has no meat.
Pro tips
- Chop the American cheese so it melts before the edges scorch.
- High heat will break the cheese. Stay on low, then warm.
- Stir on a schedule. Queso left alone develops a skin and stuck spots.
Easy substitutions
- White American cheese
- An equal weight of white American deli slices, torn up.
- Monterey Jack
- Pepper Jack for a spicier dip.
- Jalapeño
- An extra 2 tbsp of diced green chiles if you want less heat.
Storage and reheating
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 4 days. It will firm up as it cools.
Reheating
Warm in the slow cooker on low, or in a saucepan over low heat, stirring in a splash of milk until smooth and hot.
Nutrition
Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.
- Calories
- 164
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fiber
- 0 g
Budget friendly · Slow Cooker
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A heavy 12-inch skillet
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An air fryer with a real basket
The air-fryer recipes expect a single layer. A crowded basket steams instead of browning.
A half-sheet pan
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A sharp chef’s knife
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A large cutting board
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Dry cups and a liquid cup
Desserts in particular expect level dry measures and a separate cup for milk.
An instant-read thermometer
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