Enjoy the deliciousness of Carlos O’Kelly’s Queso Recipe, featuring creamy cheese and flavorful spices for the ultimate cheesy dip. Perfect for parties, game nights, or casual snacking, this easy recipe is sure to be a crowd favorite!
If you love easy air fryer dips, try my recipe for Air Fryer Peeps Dip, Air Fryer French Onion Dip, served with Air Fryer KETO Cheese Crackers, or Air Fryer Bagel Chips.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Irresistible Flavor: The perfect blend of creamy cheese, fresh tomatoes, and onions creates a mouthwatering dip that keeps you coming back for more.
- Quick and Easy: With simple ingredients and a straightforward process, you can have this delicious queso ready in no time.
- Perfect for Sharing: Ideal for parties, game days, or casual gatherings, this queso is sure to be a hit among friends and family.
- Versatile: Enjoy it with tortilla chips, fresh veggies, or even drizzle it over tacos and nachos for an extra kick.
- Comfort Food Classic: This queso brings the warmth and satisfaction of comfort food, making any occasion feel special!
Ingredients Needed
- Velveeta Cheese Serves as the base of the queso, providing a rich and cheesy consistency.
- Milk: Added to the cheese to help create a smooth and creamy texture.
- White Onion: Adds a subtle, sweet onion flavor to the queso.
- Diced Green Chilies: Contribute a mild heat and a subtle earthy flavor to the queso.
- Cumin: Imparts a warm and earthy flavor with a hint of citrus.
- Garlic Powder: Provides a subtle garlic flavor without the harshness of fresh garlic.
- Paprika: Adds a mild smokiness and a vibrant reddish color to the queso.
- Ground Cayenne Pepper: Provides a touch of heat to the queso.
How To Make Carlos O’Kelly’s Queso
Prepare Your Ingredients: Begin by chopping the Velveeta cheese into small cubes to ensure even melting. Also, finely chop the white onion and have the diced green chilies ready.
Combine Ingredients in a Saucepan: In a medium-sized saucepan, add the cubed Velveeta cheese and milk. Cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
Add Flavorful Ingredients: Stir in the finely chopped white onion, diced green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and ground cayenne pepper. Continue to cook and stir until all the ingredients are well combined and the queso is heated.
Adjust Consistency: If your queso is too thick, you can add a little more milk to achieve your desired consistency. Conversely, if it’s too thin, continue cooking for a few more minutes to thicken it up.
Carlos O’Kelly’s Queso Recipe Tips
- Use High-Quality Cheese: Use high-quality cheese can elevate the flavor of your queso.
- Slow and Low Heat: When melting the cheese, use low heat and be patient.
- Customize Spice Level: Adjust the amount of ground cayenne pepper to control the spiciness of your queso.
- Fresh Ingredients: Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients.
- Garnish with Fresh Herbs: Add a pop of freshness and color to your queso.
- Keep Warm: If serving the queso for a party or gathering, consider using a small slow cooker or fondue pot to keep it warm and melty throughout the event.
- Pair with Dippers: Beyond tortilla chips, offer a variety of dippers like sliced bell peppers, celery sticks, or toasted bread cubes to cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
- Reheat with Care: If you have leftovers, reheat the queso gently in a microwave or on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently.
- Experiment with Add-Ins: Feel free to get creative by adding ingredients like cooked ground beef, sautéed onions and peppers, or diced tomatoes to customize your queso.
- Double the Recipe: If you’re serving a crowd, it’s a good idea to double the recipe to ensure there’s enough queso to go around.
Carlos O’Kelly’s Queso Recipe Faqs
What is Velveeta cheese, and can I substitute it with another cheese? Velveeta cheese is a processed cheese known for its smooth melting properties.
Can I make this queso recipe ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the queso ahead of time and reheat it when ready to serve.
How do I adjust the spiciness of the queso to my liking? You can control the spiciness by adjusting the amount of ground cayenne pepper.
Can I make this queso recipe without green chilies? Green chilies add a mild heat and flavor to the queso.
What are some suggested dippers for serving the queso? Tortilla chips are a classic choice, but you can also serve the queso with various dippers, including sliced bell peppers, celery sticks, carrot sticks, toasted bread cubes, or pretzel bites.
Can I refrigerate and reheat leftover queso? Yes, you can refrigerate leftover queso in an airtight container.
Can I customize this queso with additional ingredients like tomatoes or ground beef? Yes! Feel free to get creative and customize your queso by adding ingredients like diced tomatoes, cooked ground beef, sautéed onions, peppers, or even jalapeños for extra heat.
What can I do if my queso turns out too thick? If your queso is too thick, add a small amount of milk and stir until it reaches your desired consistency.
More Easy Recipes
- AIR FRYER MOZZARELLA PIZZA BREAD
- EASY AIR FRYER CRACK CHICKEN CRESCENT BITES
- AIR FRYER PEPPERONI BASIL TOMATO PUFFS
- EASY AIR FRYER APPLEBEE’S COPYCAT MOZZARELLA STICKS
- AIR FRYER TWICE BAKED SWEET POTATOES
Don’t Forget To Pin!
Carlos O’Kelly’s Queso Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 1 pound Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup white onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons diced green chilies, canned
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
Instructions
- Begin by chopping the Velveeta cheese into small cubes to ensure even melting. Also, finely chop the white onion and have the diced green chilies ready.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, add the cubed Velveeta cheese and milk. Cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Stir in the finely chopped white onion, diced green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, and ground cayenne pepper. Continue to cook and stir until all the ingredients are well combined and the queso is heated through.
- If your queso is too thick, you can add a little more milk to achieve your desired consistency. Conversely, if it’s too thin, continue cooking for a few more minutes to thicken it up.
- Once your Carlos O’Kelly’s-inspired queso is smooth, creamy, and full of flavor, it’s ready to be served. Transfer it to a serving bowl and serve immediately with your favorite tortilla chips or as a dipping sauce for various dishes.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
Notes
- Don’t rush the melting process. Slow, gentle heat ensures a smooth and creamy queso.
- Feel free to customize the spice level by adjusting the amount of ground cayenne pepper.
- For an extra burst of freshness, you can garnish your queso with chopped cilantro or diced tomatoes.
- Customize your queso by adding ingredients like diced tomatoes, cooked ground beef, sautéed onions and peppers, or jalapeños.
- Leftover queso can be refrigerated and reheated gently when ready to serve.
Nutrition
Share this recipe
We can’t wait to see what you’ve made! Mention @forktospoon or tag #forktospoon!
