Copycat Chipotle Queso Dip
Social distancing has been kind of a struggle for us, just like everyone else. But we’re lucky in one way: I know how to cook, and I actually like doing it. We never went to restaurants all that often anyway, so eating in hasn’t been a big adjustment for us.
But after several weeks without eating out even once, even we were starting to get cravings for a few of our restaurant favorites. And right up near the top of the list was Chipotle’s queso dip. That creamy, spicy melted-cheese goodness, so delicious on a crunchy tortilla chip, was actually starting to haunt our dreams.
So, to scratch that itch, I decided to whip up my own Copycat Chipotle Queso Dip at home. I tasted that yummy dip in my mind and broke it down into all the flavors that made it so good: onion and garlic, bell pepper and jalapeno, tomatoes, paprika, cayenne, a good squeeze of citrus, and two kinds of cheese. Plus cream – lots and lots of cream.
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Then, piece by piece, I put all those flavors back together into a warm, spicy, oozy dip that’s just as satisfying as the original. So now we can get our Chipotle fix right at our own kitchen table.
RECIPE TIPS
What kind of chips do you serve with this Copycat Chipotle Queso Dip?
- Any good, crunchy tortilla chip that’s big enough to dip up a nice big glob of that cheesy goodness. And if you don’t have any tortilla chips handy, but you have some tortillas, you can make your own chips in any shape you like.
Is this cheese dip good for anything besides eating with chips?
- Yes! You can also use it as a sauce to drizzle over tacos, burritos, or any Mexican dish that needs an extra kick of flavor.
The queso is a good start, but I’m really craving a whole Chipotle meal. Do you have any more copycat Chipotle recipes?
- The only one I have that’s an actual copycat recipe is my Copycat Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice. But I have tons of Mexican recipes, including versions of nearly everything on Chipotle’s menu – burritos, tacos, salads and more. Browse through the collection, and you’re sure to find something to satisfy you.
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TOOLS USED TO MAKE THESE COPYCAT CHIPOTLE QUESO DIP
- Dutch Oven: This is a great kitchen tool that can be used for dips, soups, roasts and more!
- Whisk: These are some great study whisks!
How to make Copycat Chipotle Queso Dip
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED:
- vegetable oil
- yellow onion
- green bell pepper
- chopped jalapeno pepper
- tomatoes with chili
- garlic cloves
- paprika, cayenne, cumin, oregano, kosher salt
- flour
- heavy cream
- tomato paste
- red wine vinegar
- white American cheddar
- cheddar cheese
- monterey jack cheese
- lemon juice
- lime juice
- In a large dutch oven, heat on high, add vegetable oil, add chopped onion, bell pepper and jalapeno. Saute until the veggies are soft, about 5-6 minutes. Add tomatoes with chilis, garlic, flour, spices and mix well.
- Whisk in heavy cream. Then add tomato paste and vinegar, and cheese. Continue to whisk until the cheese is all melted.
- Immediately before serving whisk in lemon and lime juice.
- Serve your cheese dip with tortilla chips!
Copycat Chipotle Queso Dip
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Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ yellow onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno pepper
- 10 ounces tomatoes with chili
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- ½ tsp paprika, cayenne, cumin, oregano, kosher salt
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 8 ounces of white American cheddar
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces monterey jack cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, heat on high, add vegetable oil, add chopped onion, bell pepper and jalapeno. Saute until the veggies are soft, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add tomatoes with chilis, garlic, flour, spices and mix well
- Whisk in heavy cream. Then add tomato paste and vinegar, and cheese. Continue to whisk until the cheese is all melted.
- Immediately before serving whisk in lemon and lime juice.
- Serve with tortilla chips!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Looking forward to making this dip, BUT…
Looking forward to making this dip, but what is the difference between white American cheddar and just plain cheddar? Does that mean yellow, Velveeta-like cheese or just yellow cheddar cheese?
You can usually find white American cheese in the deli section. I would just ask you local store’s butcher. It’s a little more mild than regular American Cheese.