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Real Cheese Queso Dip

Name: Quarterback Dip
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 4 green onions (chopped); 3 Tablespoons flour; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 pint half and half; 1 8 ounce package cream cheese (softened); 1 cup cheddar cheese (shredded); 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded); 1 10 ounce can Rotel; 4 pickled jalapeños (diced); chili powder ( for garnish); diced green onions ( for garnish, optional); tortilla chips

ByEvelyn Osborn Posted onJanuary 22, 2014November 1, 2025 Updated onNovember 1, 2025

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On game day what’s better than enjoying it with some mouthwatering, cheesy goodness? Presenting the Real Cheese Queso Dip – a grand slam of flavors featuring cheddar, Monterrey jack, cream cheese, and seasonings. Swap your processed snacks with this homemade rotel queso with real cheese dip for a healthier, thrilling party experience.

Ditch the processed stuff and score big with Real Cheese Queso Dip—a creamy, spicy touchdown made with actual cheddar, Monterey Jack, and cream cheese (no orange mystery sauce here)! Just 20 minutes from stove to table, this homemade Rotel queso with fresh jalapeños and green onions is the ultimate game-day upgrade. Perfect for Super Bowl parties, tailgates, or any time you crave gooey, real-ingredient deliciousness.

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Are you eating too much processed food in your diet? I know we certainly are, we try to get away from it but it tends to sneak into our house. And especially when the family is gathered around the Television for a big event, like Super Bowl, it just screams processed food or frozen this, frozen that or packaged this, packaged that. Every commercial shows us how to make a fast breakfast, a fast lunch, a fast dinner or an easy microwave snack for that big game. I know we are busy people but shouldn’t some of the excitement of the day be in preparing for our party or whipping up some healthier snacks?

This is a real cheese queso dip recipe with Rotel ™ and three different cheeses . This recipe requires only a minimal amount of work like shredding cheese and chopping a few onions. And it’s totally worth it because who doesn’t love snacks made with real ingredients.

Real Cheese Queso Dip Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Olive oil
4 green onions, chopped
3 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cumin
1 pint Half and Half
8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
10 ounce can of Rotel™
4 Jalapeños
chili powder, for garnish
Additional chopped green onions, for garnish
Tortilla Chips

Equipment:

Saucepan
Whisk
Fondue Pot or small crockpot

🥣 Recipe Tips

Shred your own cheese – Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting. Grate fresh cheddar and Monterey Jack for a silky, gooey texture that’s worth the extra minute.
Control the heat – Keep the stove on low after adding the cheeses and never let it boil—high heat can cause separation or a grainy texture. Stir gently and constantly for that creamy, velvety finish.
Make it ahead & reheat smart – Prepare up to 2 days in advance, store in the fridge, then reheat in the microwave in 1-minute bursts, stirring between each. It tastes even better the next day!

How to make this real cheese queso dip:

Instructions:

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat add green onion s and jalapeños and sauté for about 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cumin, cook for one minute stirring constantly until very well blended.
Slowly pour in half and half, continuing to stir and bring to a simmer. Remove pan from heat and add cream cheese stirring until completely melted.
Return pan to low heat and add the real cheeses, stir until completely melted and blended.
Stir in the Rotel™ and cook until heated thoroughly. Do not allow it to boil
Transfer to a serving bowl or heated fondue dish (or small crockpot).
Serve with tortillas chips or veggies.

This cheesy concoction is a cool spin from the norm with the added benefit of real cheeses. It really doesn’t take that long to make and the prep work is minimal. It’s an opportunity to take a step away from prepared foods and prepare your own real cheese queso. Serve a bowl of our real cheese queso dip, creamy, gooey, and bursting with flavors. then dig in and taste the blend of cheddar, Monterrey jack, and cream cheese. Then comes the spice from the jalapeños. Each bite makes you cheer louder!

Other Football Appetizers

🥣 Recipe

Quarterback Dip

5 from 1 vote

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Ditch the processed food and upgrade your game day with our Real Cheese Queso Dip. Made with cheddar, Monterrey Jack, cream cheese, and a hint of spices, this lip-smacking dip promises a healthier, delicious party feast.

Evelyn Osborn

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings

Calories 231 kcal

Equipment

medium saucepan

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
4 green onions chopped
3 Tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cumin
1 pint half and half
1 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
1 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
1 10 ounce can Rotel
4 pickled jalapeños diced
chili powder for garnish
diced green onions for garnish, optional
tortilla chips

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add green onions and saute for 2 minutes. Stir in flour and cumin, cook for 1 minute stirring constantly
Slowly pour in half and half, continuing to stir and bring to a simmer. Remove pan from heat and add cream cheese stirring until melted
Return pan to low heat and add cheeses, stir until completely melted and blended
Stir in Rotel and jalapeños and cook until heated thoroughly. (Do not boil)
Transfer to serving bowl, garnish with chili powder and optional green onions.
Serve in a heated fondue dish with tortilla chips and/or veggies

Notes

**Note- can be made ahead of time and transferred to a microwavable safe dish, covered with clear wrap and refrigerated. To reheat microwave 3-4 minutes on high heat, stirring once per minute until hot)

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 9gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 190mgPotassium: 123mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 520IUVitamin C: 1.7mgCalcium: 276mgIron: 0.6mg

Keyword dips, Football Party Food, Football themed party, real cheese queso, Rotel cheese queso

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