Snacks & Party Foods

Homemade Rotel Dip

Rotel dip is the easy, cheesy dip that shows up at game nights, cookouts, birthdays and casual family get-togethers. Browned ground beef, melted processed cheese and a can of diced tomatoes with green chiles come together in one skillet in about 20 minutes.

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Warm Rotel cheese dip with ground beef served with tortilla chips

Prep time

5 min

Cook time

15 min

Total time

20 min

Servings

10 · 8–10 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound processed cheese such as Velveeta, cubed
  • 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Tortilla chips, for serving

Instructions

  1. 1

    Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small crumbles.

  2. 2

    Drain excess grease.

  3. 3

    Reduce heat to low and add the cubed cheese and undrained tomatoes with green chiles.

  4. 4

    Stir until the cheese is completely melted and the dip is smooth.

  5. 5

    Stir in garlic powder and black pepper.

  6. 6

    Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Heritage Kitchen Tips

  • Keep the dip warm in a small slow cooker for parties.
  • Do not drain the tomatoes; the liquid helps create the proper texture.
  • If the dip becomes too thick, stir in a small splash of milk.

Ingredient substitutions

Ground breakfast sausage
Ground beef (or use half of each)

Storage and reheating

Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently on the stove over low heat or in short microwave intervals, stirring in between.

Helpful kitchen tool

Soul Food Serving Calculator

Know exactly how much fried chicken, greens, and mac to make — no guessing, no leftovers gone to waste.

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Related guide

How Much Food Do I Need for 20 People?

A practical starting point for portions, sides and meat when you are cooking for twenty.

Read the guide

Frequently asked questions