Description
Hearty Tex-Mex queso blends creamy cheeses and zesty spices in a simple slow cooker marvel. Melted cheddar, pepper jack, and green chiles combine for a crowd-pleasing dip you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Cheese Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) white American cheese
- 4 ounces (113 grams) pepper jack cheese, shredded
Flavor Enhancers:
- ⅔ cup (158 milliliters) half-and-half
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, chopped
- 4 ounces (113 grams) green chilies, drained
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish Ingredients:
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced fresh jalapeño
Instructions
- Gather the essential dairy components of white American cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, and half-and-half in your slow cooker, creating a smooth foundation for the queso.
- Mince fresh garlic and jalapeño peppers with precision, then incorporate them into the cheese mixture along with a sprinkle of ground black pepper, stirring thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Set the slow cooker to high temperature and cover, allowing the cheese to melt and blend for approximately 50 minutes, stirring carefully at the 25-minute mark to prevent scorching and ensure uniform consistency.
- After the initial cooking period, drain the green chilies completely and fold them gently into the molten cheese mixture, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the queso.
- While the queso maintains its warmth, prepare the vibrant garnishes by dicing ripe tomatoes, chopping fresh cilantro, and slicing additional jalapeños for those seeking extra heat.
- Transfer the creamy queso to a serving vessel, creating an appetizing presentation by sprinkling the prepared garnishes generously across the surface.
- Serve immediately alongside crisp tortilla chips or as a luxurious topping for nachos, enjoying the rich, spicy, and creamy texture of your homemade slow cooker queso.
Notes
- Slice deli American cheese into 1/2-inch thick stacks and dice for faster, more even melting.
- Grate cold cheese directly from the refrigerator to prevent clumping and ensure smoother distribution.
- Let cheese sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before incorporating to improve texture and blending.
- Avoid pre-shredded cheese as it contains anti-caking agents that can impact melting quality.
- Store unused cheese in an airtight container wrapped in wax paper to maintain freshness and prevent drying.
- Pat cheese dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture before adding to your recipe.
- Use sharp cheddar for deeper flavor or mild cheddar for a gentler taste profile.
- Consider mixing multiple cheese varieties to create complex, layered flavor dimensions.
- Ensure cheese is uniformly chopped or grated for consistent cooking and melting performance.
- Sprinkle cheese gradually while stirring to promote even heat distribution and prevent clumping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 352 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 693 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg