Chile con Queso

in Appetizers, Chile con Queso, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican & TexMex

Not So Quickie Queso

Football and cheese. And we love them both.

There are several ways to detect when it’s playoff time ’round these parts:

  • The Chronicle’s sports page is talking about other professional football teams rather than the Texans.
  • Cowboys fans are suddenly and unusually quiet. We’re talking scary, they-must-be-up-to-something quiet.
  • An ad nauseum Manning family tree discussion can be found on any TV channel, at any time of day.
  • The entrance of your favorite grocery store is completely blocked with eyebrow-level stacks of Tortilla chip and Velveeta brick displays.

MMMmm. Velveeta. You can say whatever you want to about the congealed block of processed cheeze food – I think it rocks. And it’s the only legal item I can think of that’s measured in bricks, you know, besides real bricks. We use it in this house exclusively for queso:

Chili Queso = 2 cups leftover chili + 1 brick Velveeta.
Quickie Queso = 1 can of RoTel + 1 brick Velveeta.
Not-So-Quickie Queso = see below

And on the rare occasion that I have any left, Velveeta makes a wicked grilled cheese to accompany my favorite tomato soup.

Not So Quickie Queso

I have a love-hate relationship with homemade queso. I admit that most of the time, I’d rather just go out for it. In the mood for Queso Blanco? Escalantes is the best bet. Want “regular” queso? Get thee to Lupe Tortilla or Texadelphia. Sure, I have to immediately jump in the shower to get the smell of the restaurant out of my hair but it’s worth it.

I have the hardest time getting “real” queso to come together consistently. (I lied! I now know the secret to good restaurant queso!) Chihuahua and asadero cheeses melted with green chiles and sauteed onions… when it works, it’s fantastic but two batches made on the same day with the exact same ingredients and method can yield a 50% failure rate. Velveeta, while not “real” queso – and maybe not even real cheese? – has never, ever let me down.

Not So Quickie Queso

Chile con Queso

Velveeta melts into a rich, smooth queso that's a party favorite.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Velveeta, cut into large cubes
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 Tbsp vegetable or olive oil
  • 1/2 cup white or yellow onion, diced small
  • 1-2 large jalapeno peppers, diced (~1/4 cup, I leave the seeds in)
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
  • Pinch of salt
  • Dash of cayenne

Instructions

  1. Place Velveeta and milk in a medium bowl and set aside.
  2. Heat oil in sauce pan over medium-high. Saute onions and peppers until the onions are translucent. Pour over Velveeta.
  3. Microwave for 60-90 seconds at a time, stirring until melted and thoroughly combined.
  4. Stir in tomatoes, cilantro, salt and cayenne. Serve hot with chips of your choice or warm flour tortillas.

Notes

Yields: ~2 cups

Source: Confections of a Foodie Bride

Estimated time: 10 minutes

11 comments… add one
  • Rach

    I love it when girls can talk about football better than most guys!!! And I am pretty sure this queso just made it to my super bowl party!

  • Thank you for admitting you love Velveeta! Now I don’t feel so guilty about it haha. I don’t like many processed foods anymore, but Velveeta is one of my exceptions. This queso looks amazing and still looks quick to make. I have some all of these ingredients right now. I’ll have to make my own chips with the corn tortillas, though. YUM! Great photo.

  • This post is awesome! Well first and foremost cause your reasons for knowing it was playoff time made me laugh out loud. See I live in Houston too! And Velveeta is always in my house, I love it! I love it on sandwhiches or definitely when I made queso. However I will say mine is usually with a rotel can!

    And texadelphia queso…amazing! Although I am a pretty big fan of Pappasitos queso as well!

    This recipe looks fab!

  • I love love queso! I need to try this.

  • Oh, what perfect timing for a recipe like this! We’re hosting for the Super Bowl and I’m starting to think about what to make. I’m going to add this to my list. 🙂

  • Mmm…cheese and football are two favorites of mine, indeed! Although my Giants are not in the Superbowl, I am excited for the game and cheering on the Saints. 😉

  • looks so easy for how beautiful it is!

  • I love Queso, I find myself eating and making it every couple weeks. Hey,not all if us Cowboys Fans are quiet! lol

  • Hello! I just found your blog and your foods look absolutely amazing!! I want to go make some of that dip right now!

  • Oh wow – that queso looks amazing! Perfect for the super bowl!

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