Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

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by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 8 Comments

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Rotel Dip is an easy recipe for classic cheese dip with a spicy kick. This recipe is very popular for many family gatherings, parties, and game-day festivities. This Rotel dip recipe is made with Velveeta Cheese and Rotel Tomatoes. You will love this classic cheesy Rotel dip, it’s always a crowd pleaser.

Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Rotel Cheese Dip

Rotel cheese dip is a popular appetizer enjoyed for decades. The next time you sit down to watch the big dame why not make the best dip around and grab your favorite chips and dig in and enjoy this Velveeta cheese dip?

It’s party time any time you serve this perfect party dip. Whip up this two-ingredient cheesy dip that has a little bit of a kick during the time it takes for a commercial break. ThisRotel diprecipe is sure to become one of your big game party foods.

Do I Really Need to Use Velveeta Cheese?

Velveeta is perfect for melting and is known for its cheesy goodness. Nothing melts quite as good as Velveeta!

If you are looking for an alternative to Velveeta, you can find other processed cheese products in the supermarket. I recommend American cheese you get from the Deli department of your grocery store. It will melt very nicely and will help you create this easy dip recipe.

Modernist Cuisinehas a fascinating recipe for using sodium citrate to turn almost any cheese into a creamy sauce for those who prefer to use unprocessed cheese and are willing to turn their kitchen into a science lab.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you need to make Rotel cheese dip:

  • Velveeta Cheese – this is a blend of cheese that makes for a creamy cheese dip.
  • Rotel canned diced tomatoes with chopped green chilies, 1 can of rotel does wonders!

That’s it! Just 2 simple ingredients. Plus a bag of tortilla chips to serve with the dip.

Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (2)

Recipe Variations

Are you wondering “how can I customizeRotel cheese dip”? Well, it’s easy to do and there are lots of choices.

This is one recipe that begs you to add your own touch. Whether you want to tweak it a little or a lot, there are almost endless options. Here are several that you should try.

  • Add some cooked beans.You can use your favorite Southwestern-style bean recipe or reach for a pre-seasoned canned variety. About 5 ounces of beans, or a third of a standard can of beans, is a good starting point. Feel free to add more or fewer beans based on your preference. I personally love to add some cooked black beans to this recipe.
  • Switch out the variety of Rotel tomatoes you use.With ten different types, there is one that you will love. The lime and cilantro and the serrano chili varieties are particularly delicious in thisqueso dip.
  • Toss in some meat.This is a great recipe to use up any leftovers you have in your fridge. Try adding ground beef, shredded chicken, ground sausage, or ground turkey prepared with taco seasoning it a perfect addition to the dip. Just make sure to cook the meat before using it in this recipe.
  • Sprinkle on your favorite toppings.Chopped pickled jalapenos are a fantastic addition if you like things a bit on the spicy side; otherwise, stick to milder toppings like sliced chives, green onions, and black olives.

How to Make Rotel Dip

  1. The first thing you must do is cut Velveeta cheese into chunks.
  2. Place cheese and tomatoes in a saucepan over low heat on the stovetop.
    Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (3)
  3. Heat until the cheese melts. Stir occasionally to combine melted cheese and tomatoes.
    Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (4)
  4. Serve hot dip with tortilla chips, fresh vegetables like carrot or celery sticks, or even some bagel chips.
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Tips for Making and StoringRotel Cheese Dip

  • Make in the microwave.Place all the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover the bowl and heat on high for 4 minutes. Remove from the microwave carefully; it will be hot. Stir well. Heat for one additional minute and stir. Continue heating in 1-minute increments until the cheese melts.
  • Make in a slow cooker.Spray the insert of the slow cooker with oil to help keep the cheese from sticking. Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and set it on low for 2 hours. Cover and stir after an hour. This nacho cheese dip has the perfect consistency when made in your crockpot.
  • Serve hot.Keep thequeso dipwarm by using a mini slow cooker set to warm setting or a fondue set.
  • Throw away any VelveetaRotel dipyou served.You can store unservedRotel cheese dipfor 4-5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. If you add meat to theRotel diprecipe, you should eat it within two days.

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I hope you enjoy this recipe! It has to be one of the easiest dips you can prepare. This is one of the cheesy dips that make frequent appearances at my house.

Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (6)

More Cheese Dip Recipes

Here are a few additional cheese dips you must try:

  • Beer Cheese Dip
  • Chili Cheese Dip
  • Clam Dip with Cream Cheese
  • Hamburger Dip
  • Jarlsberg Cheese Dip
  • Pretzel Cheese Dip
  • Sausage Rotel Cream Cheese Dip
  • Smoked Gouda Dip
  • Swiss Cheese Dip
  • White Queso Cheese Dip

Great Wings for Game Day

Some tasty recipes for chicken wings to make and enjoy while watching the game:

  • Boneless Buffalo Chicken Wings
  • Parmesan Chicken Wings
  • Sweet and Spicy Wings

Check out more of my easy dip recipes and the best game day food here on CopyKat!

Rotel Dip

Everyone lovesRotel Cheese dip! This easy appetizer is great for parties and game day.

4.88 from 8 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Rotel, Rotel Cheese Dip, Rotel Dip

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 175kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Velveeta Cheese
  • 10 ounces Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies

Instructions

  • Cut Velveeta cheese into cubes.

  • Place cheese cubes and tomatoes in a saucepan over low heat.

  • Heat until cheese melts, stirring occasionally.

  • Serve hot with tortilla corn chips.

Nutrition

Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 1203mg | Potassium: 349mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 449mg | Iron: 0.6mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michelle Anson

    Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (8)
    I only recently discovered that Rotel also makes a MILD version of their amazing tomatoes and peppers. It’s just as fantastic as ‘regular’ Rotel, just less spicy, for those of us with older teeth that can actually burn when in the vicinity of jalapenos. LOL, BUT…
    I don’t understand how it can be any sort of “Queso” or nacho dip using Velveeta (AMERICAN) cheese. I’ve made it that way but it never tasted right.
    Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup works great, or I use Ragu’s Double Cheddar pasta sauce. Sometimes I’ll use the pasta sauce and a bit of Velveeta, if the Cheddar is really biting – the American cheese flavor of the Velveeta sort of smooths the edges off the bite of the Cheddar.

    It’s the closest thing I’ve found to the flavor of ‘commercial’ nacho cheese (think ball games) without resorting to buying one of those institutional sized cans that they actually use at the ballfield! (I’ve done that too – my quest for “real” nacho cheese sauce has been long term.)

    Reply

  2. Teresa Peeples

    do you drain the rotel?

    Reply

    • Stephanie Manley

      No, you do not drain the Rotel.

      Reply

  3. Chris Muller

    Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (9)
    Simple and tasty!

    Reply

  4. Nealla St. Clair

    Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (10)
    This recipe is even better if you replace the Velveeta with 2 cans Campbell’s Nacho Cheese Soup. If you want less spice, you may substitute 2 cans Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup.

    Reply

    • Jane Wilcox

      We did that in college ages ago. Velveeta took up too much space. Two cans of stuff, no problem. That was before microwaves, we used a hot pot or what looked like a pyrex coffee pot on a small burner.

      Reply

  5. Mary

    I recently had Applebee’s spinach artichoke dip and am looking for that recipe.

    Reply

  6. melissa

    add a dash of cumin for a really great taste. also i use hot sausage and fry and drain add to cheese dip along with can of mushrooms. if you dont like sausage you can add black pepper. changes the whole taste… hope you will try this.

    Reply

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Rotel Dip - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why do people put cream cheese in Rotel? ›

Rotel is a canned blend of diced tomatoes and green chilies that many people simmer in a creamy cheese sauce like Velveeta and serve piping hot with a pile of tortilla chips. While there's nothing wrong with this method, adding cream cheese gives it a velvety and creamy texture.

Can you make Rotel dip without Velveeta cheese? ›

Skip the Velveeta and make this fan-favorite gameday snack with shredded cheese, chili powder, milk, and Rotel tomatoes.

What are the different types of Rotel? ›

Rotel is a brand of diced tomatoes and green chiles. Adding a can of Rotel to a dish gives it a nice spicy flavor. There are several different varieties to choose from: Original, Mild, Hot, Fire Roasted, Chunky, Mexican-Style with Lime and Cilantro, and Chili Fixings.

What do you eat with Rotel dip? ›

14 Perfect Sides to Serve With Rotel Dip
  • Classic Tortilla Chips.
  • Simple Crudités Platter.
  • Pita Bread.
  • Crostini.
  • Fresh Baguette Slices.
  • Pretzel Sticks.
  • Pepperoni.
  • Baked Jicama Fries.
Dec 17, 2023

How do you keep Rotel cheese dip from getting hard? ›

Keep Rotel dip warm in a small slow cooker. If the Rotel dip cools, it will be hard to scoop so it can be reheated on the stovetop or in the microwave until dippable again!

Is cream cheese the same as Velveeta? ›

You can also turn to cream cheese when you are looking for a substitute for Velveeta. Cream cheese of course has a creamy texture and mixes well. It's mild and is really easy to find at the store.

What cheese is better than Velveeta? ›

Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar or mild cheddar cheese can be a great substitute for Velveeta. It melts well and has a rich flavor. You can shred or cube the cheddar and use it in your macaroni and cheese recipe. Colby cheese: Colby cheese is another good substitute with a mild flavor and smooth melting properties.

What melting cheese is similar to Velveeta? ›

5 Answers. If you want the smoothness of melted processed cheese, but not the extra trouble of making your own, you can use processed cheese in other flavors such as Swiss, sharp cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, and pepper jack. (Just to name a few.) Another option is canned or jarred process cheeses in various flavors.

Is Queso and Rotel the same thing? ›

In fact, to some Texans, queso is simply “Rotel dip.” But why? Eater's Kayla Stewart recently set out to learn how the canned blend of tomatoes, chiles, and spices, became such a vital part of any queso.

What is a good substitute for Rotel dip? ›

Here are some of the best Rotel substitutes:
  • Canned Diced Tomatoes. These are a straightforward substitute. ...
  • Chunky Salsa. With its tomato base and chunks of peppers, chunky salsa can make a good Rotel substitute, especially in dips and Tex-Mex recipes. ...
  • Canned Green Chiles.
Aug 5, 2023

Is Rotel just diced tomatoes and green chilies? ›

The original Texas family recipe - made with a signature blend of vine-ripened tomatoes and zesty green chilies and a savory mixture of secret spices.

What is the difference between mild Rotel and original Rotel? ›

The mild rotel was more spicy than the original rotel and medium.

How many days is Rotel dip good for? ›

Make-Ahead: You can make this up to one day ahead of time for freshness. In addition, you can make it 4-6 hours before serving it by keeping it warm, covered in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting. How to Store: Cover it and keep the Rotel dip in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Should you refrigerate Rotel dip? ›

Storing Instructions: Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It should last 3-4 days. Heat it up in the microwave when you want to have some. Ingredient Replacement Ideas: We use ground beef but this dip also tastes yummy with ground sausage too.

Why is it called Rotel dip? ›

There are different varieties of Ro-Tel in varying degrees of hotness and spiciness. The brand was acquired by ConAgra Foods in 2000 from International Home Foods. Ro-Tel gets its name from its inventor, Carl Roettele, who started a family canning company in Elsa, Texas, in the 1940s.

What does cream cheese do? ›

Cream cheese is a soft, neutral-tasting cheese made from cow's milk and cream. Its subtle sweetness, mild tanginess, and silky smooth texture make it extremely versatile: Spread it on a bagel, mix it into cookie dough or cake batter, or use it as a base for your next creamy frosting.

Will cream cheese thicken cheese dip? ›

Cream cheese.

Cream cheese can also help to thicken cream-based sauces. It can act as a thickener for salad dressings, dips, and be used as a replacement for mayonnaise. It can also help to thicken pancake batters and be used as a base for cake icing when mixed with butter.

Why do people use cream cheese? ›

Low in lactose: Cream cheese is lower in lactose than many other dairy products, making it a better option for those with lactose intolerance. Versatile ingredient: Cream cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, making it easy to incorporate into your diet.

Why do people cook with cream cheese? ›

Cream cheese is a versatile ingredient that is commonly used in both sweet and savory dishes. It is often used as a spread on bagels or crackers, as a filling for pastries and desserts, and as a base for dips and sauces. It can also be used to add richness and creaminess to soups and casseroles.

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