Sausage queso dip is creamy and hearty with bites of corn and fresh tomatoes. This queso dip is loaded with half a pound of REAL shredded cheddar and it’s one of our favorite Rotel recipes!
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Sausage Queso Dip
Sausage queso dip has to be one of the easiest dips ever! It has just a handful of simple ingredients and comes together quickly in 1 pan. It is perfect for parties or a game day appetizer just like our Cowboy Caviar, creamy Spinach Artichoke Dip, or Pico de Gallo.
The inspiration for this dip cake from one of my readers, Ksusha who shared her version, saying it was a “super easy dip that I almost never host without. It’s one of those things that never gets old.” Ksusha, thank you so much for sharing this with me!
Ingredients for Rotel Sausage Dip:
This Rotel dip recipe takes just a few simple ingredients: ground pork sausage, Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, canned corn, cream cheese, and real cheddar cheese. The garnish is just chopped tomato and green onion or chives.
Substitutions and Toppings for Queso Dip:
We love to change up this queso dip based on what we have on hand. Here are some ideas for queso variations:
- Other ground meat (i.e. chicken, beef, turkey) for ground sausage. If it doesn’t say “sausage” on the label, you may need to add additional seasoning to taste at the end.
- Chopped black olives for the corn
- Adding black beans and chopped jalapenos
- Adding taco seasoning and serve with sour cream
How to Make Sausage Queso Dip:
1. In a large dry pot or deep skillet over medium/high heat, brown sausage (10-12 minutes), breaking it apart with your spatula (the sausage releases enough oil to grease the pan). Pat sausage dry with a large paper towel to remove excess grease – push paper towel around the pan with a spatula until fully saturated then discard.
2. Cut cream cheese into pieces and stir it into browned pork cooking over medium heat until melted and incorporated.
3. Add 2 cans un-drained Rotel tomatoes, 15 oz can drained corn, and 8 oz shredded cheddar (reserve some cheddar to garnish the top if desired). Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally just until bubbly and cheese is melted. Remove from heat, garnish with diced tomatoes, reserved cheddar, and fresh chives. Serve with tortilla chips.
It does melt into a perfectly creamy consistency and you’ll find that sampling at this stage is undeniably irresistible! This does make a big batch so it is absolutely party friendly.
Can I Make Queso in the Slow Cooker?
Our readers have also had success in making this queso dip in the crockpot. You can keep it warm for hours while the game is on so everyone can have seconds. Just make sure you brown your meat on the stove before adding it to the crockpot.
How to Reheat Leftover Dip:
If you’re fortunate enough to end up with leftovers, this queso dip reheats really well. You can microwave it for 1 1/2 minutes stirring every 30 seconds, or on the stovetop, stirring frequently until heated through.
More Party Dip Recipes:
We have lots of great dip recipes. Try some of our others for your next game day party:
- Hot Shrimp Dip -creamy and cheesy with shrimp and artichokes
- Buffalo Chicken Dip -great with chips and veggie sticks
- Southwest Hot Chicken Dip -extra cheesy
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip -always a hit at parties
- Avocado Ranch -quick and easy to make
Sausage Queso Dip Recipe (with Real Cheese!)
Ingredients
Ingredients for Sausage Queso:
- 1 lb ground pork sausage, make sure it says "sausage"
- 8 oz cream cheese, (no need to soften)
- 20 oz Rotel diced tomatoes & green chilies, (two 10oz cans)
- 15 oz can of corn, drained
- 8 oz medium cheddar cheese, shredded
Garnish for Queso Dip:
- 1 Roma tomato, diced
- 1 Tbsp chives or green onion, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a large dry pot or deep skillet over med/high heat, brown sausage (10-12 min), breaking it apart with your spatula (the sausage releases enough oil to grease the pan). When browned, remove excess grease by pushing a paper towel around the pan with a spatula until fully saturated then discard.
- Cut cream cheese into pieces and stir it into browned pork until melted and incorporated.
- Add 2 cans un-drained Rotel tomatoes, 15 oz can drained corn, and 8 oz shredded cheddar (reserve some cheddar to garnish the top if desired). Cook over med heat, stirring occasionally just until bubbly and cheese is melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper if needed.
- Remove from heat, garnish with fresh tomatoes, reserved cheddar, and chopped chives. Serve with tortilla chips.
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
We first published this recipe in 2012 and updated it in January 2020 with more tips, substitutions, reheating instructions and how to make Rotel queso dip in the slow cooker.
And that cute little hand is my son’s. He was my willing hand model.
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Delicious! I used Italian sausage because I had it on hand and omitted corn. Everyone in the house is requesting it every Sunday for game day. My youngest is multiplying the recipe times 5, so that his friends can enjoy it!
It had no flavor. Maybe I would be better with hot sausage or something.
Hi Katherine, did you change any of the ingredients? This normally has plenty of flavor but you can add salt to taste in case you use any low sodium products. Also, if you prefer spicy, that would be a nice way to add a layer of flavor by using hot sausage. Great idea!
A hit with the whole fam! It was super easy as I already had cooked Italian sausage frozen from a past meal. Will definitely be making again.
Thank you for your wonderful review, Jacki!
Not my thing. This didn’t turn out like I’d hoped. The cheese flavor was muted by the Rotel and corn.
HI John, I’m sorry it didn’t hit the mark for you. Normally this has plenty of flavor. Did you change anything in the ingredients?
Instant classic! We used hot sausage and halved the recipe for just us two and man what a hit! We ate more of this than the tacos we were having for lunch. This is in our family recipes from now on. Thank you!
You’re very welcome! Glad it was a hit!
Not seeing the slow cooker instructions anywhere, or a link to them?
Hi Devin, I haven’t tested this in a slow cooker but my readers have had great results. I would do step one on the stove (unless your slow cooker has a sautee function) and then add everything to the slow cooker in step 2. Based on other slow cooker recipes I’ve come across, my guess would be on low heat for 2 hours or on high for 1 hour.
Will a 3 quart slow cooker be big enough to hold this dip? What would be the best size?
Hi Chelle! I haven’t tested it myself in the slow cooker, some of my readers have. A 3 quart seems like it may be small for the amount of ingredients in this this recipe.
Allergic to cream cheese…is there a good alternative? Like mascarpone perhaps?
Hi Sue! I haven’t tested any alternatives to advise. I assume something creamy that melts well like cream cheese could work. Let us know if you experiment.
Hi Natasha,
Do I need to shred a block of cheese if I put it in the slow cooker? Thanks!
Hi Heather. I would still shred it.
Thanks!
By the way, your cook book is being delivered tomorrow- I’m so excited!!
Oh my days… it was gone! We had some friends over and they demolished this and raving about it while eating it. I’m sure that could have been their whole dinner! 🙂
We don’t have the Rotel tomatoes in Canada so I substituted it with some Paese Mio roasted ones I found and some Old El Paso green chillies and that seemed to work. I also used a pack of mix of cheeses that were spicy had pizza mozzarella, cheddar and Monterey Jack… it turned out great!
We love your recipes, you make me look like an awesome cook!
Aw, that’s wonderful, Christine! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the recipe Miss Natasha. I enjoy cooking, but rarely use recipes. Sausage Queso dips are a big hit in Texas where I’m from, but unfortunately I’ve been displaced in PA for the past few years. Saw your recipe and just had to try it. Am I glad that I did. Totally scrumptious dip and perfectly suited for Super Bowl Sunday 🏈.
Hi Mase! You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. 🙂
I accidently thawed a roll of (venison) sausage instead of ground venison so taco night was ruined. I made this instead and thought it was pretty tasty but it was only approved by 1 out of 3 kids. Thanks all the same!
Oh no! We’ll I’m glad at least one kid enjoyed it. You’re welcome! 🙂