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Sausage Queso Dip (with Real Cheese!)

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!

Sausage Queso Dip in pot with tomato, green onion, and cheese on top with a hand dipping a chip in it

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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!

Sausage Queso dip topped with tomato, green onion, and cheese in a pot.

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.

Ingredients for queso dip: pork sausage, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, corn, rotel

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.

How to make sausage queso dip, browning ground sausage in a pan with wooden spoon.

2. Cut cream cheese into pieces and stir it into browned pork cooking over medium heat until melted and incorporated.

How to make sausage queso dip, adding cream cheese to ground sausage in pan.

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.

How to make sausage dip: adding corn, rotel, and cheddar cheese in pot.

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.

sausage queso dip in a pan with chips surrounding it.

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.

Sausage Queso dip topped with tomato, green onion, and cheese in a pot.

More Party Dip Recipes:

We have lots of great dip recipes. Try some of our others for your next game day party:

Sausage Queso Dip Recipe (with Real Cheese!)

4.98 from 139 votes
This cheesy sausage queso dip is creamy with sweet bites of corn and fresh tomatoes. This queso dip is loaded with REAL shredded cheddar and Rotel diced tomatoes. It also reheats perfectly!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people as an appetizer

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

436kcal Calories12g Carbs19g Protein35g Fat17g Saturated Fat102mg Cholesterol722mg Sodium421mg Potassium1g Fiber3g Sugar871IU Vitamin A9mg Vitamin C259mg Calcium2mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Sausage Queso Dip Recipe (with Real Cheese!)
Amount per Serving
Calories
436
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
35
g
54
%
Saturated Fat
 
17
g
106
%
Cholesterol
 
102
mg
34
%
Sodium
 
722
mg
31
%
Potassium
 
421
mg
12
%
Carbohydrates
 
12
g
4
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
3
g
3
%
Protein
 
19
g
38
%
Vitamin A
 
871
IU
17
%
Vitamin C
 
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
 
259
mg
26
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dip
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: queso dip
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 436
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

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. 

Completed Sausage Dip in pan with hand dipping a chip in it.

Sausage Queso Dip is creamy, cheesy and irresistibly good! A queso dip recipe with real cheddar cheese, loaded with sweet corn and tomato. A party favorite! | natashaskitchen.com

And that cute little hand is my son’s. He was my willing hand model.

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the creator behind Natasha's Kitchen (established in 2009), and I share family-friendly, authentic recipes. I am a New York Times Best-Selling cookbook author and a trusted video personality in the culinary world. My husband, Vadim, and I run this blog together, ensuring every recipe we share is thoroughly tested and approved. Our mission is to provide you with delicious, reliable recipes you can count on. Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy you are here.

Read more posts by Natasha

4.98 from 139 votes (102 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Liv
    September 7, 2024

    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!

    Reply

  • Katherine
    August 12, 2024

    It had no flavor. Maybe I would be better with hot sausage or something.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      August 15, 2024

      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!

      Reply

  • Jacki Landon
    July 4, 2024

    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.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      July 4, 2024

      Thank you for your wonderful review, Jacki!

      Reply

  • John
    January 21, 2024

    Not my thing. This didn’t turn out like I’d hoped. The cheese flavor was muted by the Rotel and corn.

    Reply

    • Natasha
      January 22, 2024

      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?

      Reply

  • Brian
    December 31, 2023

    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!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      December 31, 2023

      You’re very welcome! Glad it was a hit!

      Reply

  • Devin
    December 5, 2023

    Not seeing the slow cooker instructions anywhere, or a link to them?

    Reply

    • Natasha
      December 5, 2023

      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.

      Reply

  • Chelle
    November 12, 2023

    Will a 3 quart slow cooker be big enough to hold this dip? What would be the best size?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      November 13, 2023

      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.

      Reply

  • Sue
    October 31, 2023

    Allergic to cream cheese…is there a good alternative? Like mascarpone perhaps?

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 31, 2023

      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.

      Reply

  • Heather
    October 5, 2023

    Hi Natasha,
    Do I need to shred a block of cheese if I put it in the slow cooker? Thanks!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      October 5, 2023

      Hi Heather. I would still shred it.

      Reply

      • Heather
        October 5, 2023

        Thanks!
        By the way, your cook book is being delivered tomorrow- I’m so excited!!

        Reply

  • Christine
    August 1, 2023

    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!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      August 1, 2023

      Aw, that’s wonderful, Christine! Thank you for sharing.

      Reply

  • Mase
    February 7, 2023

    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 🏈.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      February 7, 2023

      Hi Mase! You’re very welcome! I’m so glad you loved the recipe. 🙂

      Reply

  • sam
    January 11, 2023

    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!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      January 11, 2023

      Oh no! We’ll I’m glad at least one kid enjoyed it. You’re welcome! 🙂

      Reply

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