Rotel Dip Recipe


60 Comments


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Make this easy Rotel Dip in just two steps with melty cheese, seasoned meat, and canned tomatoes. Perfect for parties, game day, or anytime you need a quick appetizer.

close up of rotel velveeta dip

Why you’ll love this dip

Rotel dip has been around for a long time, but this version adds a few key upgrades to the classic Velveeta-and-Rotel combo. (Do you remember the commercials?).

  • Only 5 ingredients
  • Serves 12 as an appetizer
  • Easy to double for parties
  • Can be made in the crockpot or on the Stove-Top

Magic Ingredients for Rotel Cheese Dip

This creamy, meaty dip comes together with just a few pantry staples. Check the recipe card below for exact amounts and instructions.

  • Velveeta Cheese – Melts down into a smooth, rich base for the dip.
  • Ro-Tel Tomatoes – Two cans (undrained) add flavor, spice, and the perfect consistency.
  • Ground Beef – Browned and drained before mixing in.
  • Seasonings – A mix of chili powder and garlic powder adds just the right amount of heat.
tostito chops, velveeta, 2 cans of rotel, package of ground beef and seasonings in front of slow cooker

How to make Rotel Dip:

To make this easy crockpot dip, just brown the ground beef on the stove, then add everything to your slow cooker—cheese, Rotel, and seasonings. Let it cook until melted and creamy. Stir, switch to warm, and serve it right from the crockpot.

Variations

Make this dip your own with a few easy swaps:

  • Swap ground beef for Jimmy Dean sausage
  • Use mild Rotel or canned diced tomatoes to reduce spice
  • Omit beef and add black beans for a meatless version
  • Stir in cream cheese for a richer dip
spoon in rotel dip in slow cooker

My Serving Tips

We make this dip often, here is how we like to serve it:

  • Rotel dip is best served with corn tortilla chips, which can be store-bought or homemade. Here is the recipe I use: Homemade Tortilla Chips Recipe.
  • You can also use “Frito” corn chips – buy the larger kind labeled “Fritos Scoops”.
  • For a lower-carb or healthier option, you can serve the dip with vegetables such as carrot chips, sugar snap peas, cucumber, or celery.
  • If your dip thickens, add a splash of milk.
chip with rotel velveeta dip on it.
close up of rotel dip on a chip

Rotel Dip Recipe

4.64 from 19 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 (as an appetizer, estimate only)
Rotel Dip is a cheesy, flavorful blend of Velveeta, Rotel, and ground beef—perfect for game day or any gathering!
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How to Video

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 16 oz. Velveeta cheese, (the small box)
  • 20 oz. Rotel® diced Tomatoes with & Green Chiles, (TWO 10-oz. cans, undrained)
  • 2 tsp. chili powder
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

For serving

  • corn chips
  • chopped cilantro, optional

Instructions 

Crockpot Instructions

  • Set a large skillet over medium high heat on the stove top. Brown and crumble the ground beef, drain the fat.
  • Add the cooked ground beef to the slow cooker, cube the velveeta and add on top of the beef.
  • Pour over the can of rotel and sprinkle over the chili and garlic powder. Stir.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours or until cheese is melted and the dip is hot.
  • Tip: Keep the slow cooker on warm and stir occasionally to prevent sticking as it sits.

Stove Top Instructions

  • In a large skillet or pot, brown the beef and crumble over medium high heat, drain off fat.
  • Add remaining ingredients and let melt together. When warmed, serve and enjoy.
  • Note that cooking on the stove top will evaporate more liquid so you may have to add milk to thin the rotel dip.

Nutrition

Calories: 161kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 643mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 670IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 239mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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Recipe Rating




60 Comments

  1. Novicecook says:

    Can I use Swiss cheese instead of velveeta?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I don’t know how it would melt, you may need to add milk.

    2. Chelsey says:

      A little late, but you can use a small amount of sodium citrate to give any cheese that velveeta smoothness.

  2. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    made this for the super bowl, added elbow macaroni to the left over dip the next day….

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      That is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

  3. Monica says:

    5 stars
    Great recipe base. I added a couple of different things. When I cooked the hamburger I added a little taco seasoning to it before adding to the crock pot. After it cooked for an hour and 15 minutes and stirred I thought it was missing something else. So, I added 2 cups of triple cheese shredded cheese and 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Then finished out the 45 minutes and man that was perfect! Thank you for the easy recipe. Also, with this recipe crock pot liners are your friend super easy clean up.

  4. Amy Gantman says:

    5 stars
    An all time favor favorite. Originally published in the Crock Pot recipe book that came with the appliance in the 1970’s. Thanks for sharing as I can’t find my pamphlet!

  5. Pam says:

    How long on low will this take in a crock pot

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      The full recipe is in the recipe card. Crock pot and slow cooker are the same thing.

  6. Ar says:

    I also use one large can of cream of mushroom it turns out perfect

  7. Ashley says:

    Can i use a 7 qt slow cooker?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes!

  8. Tokesia says:

    Can you use ground turkey

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes! Or ground chicken.

      1. Tokesia says:

        Thanks

  9. Laura says:

    Looks amazing! How long would I bake in the oven?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I’m unsure, I only test my recipes in the slow cooker.

  10. Lizzie says:

    5 stars
    I followed your recipe and it turned out marvelous! My daughter said it was the best rotel dip I have ever made. I think adding the chili powder gave it that extra flavor it needed because in the past I’ve always only done the cheese, meat and one can of rotel and that was it. So thank you so much! I garnished it with pico de gallo and sour cream.