The BEST queso dip, flavored with tomato, jalapeño, onion, garlic, and green chilies, goes together in a flash!
This Cafe Rio copycat queso is the perfect dipper for your next fiesta. Pair it with veggies, chips, and tortillas for the ultimate party platter. Made in minutes, this easy queso will be your new go-to appetizer.
This best queso recipe was originally sponsored by La Tortilla Factory. Photos have since been re-photographed. We still love La Tortilla Factory and use their products.
What is Cafe Rio Queso?
The name of this copycat cheese dip is a little confusing - because the meaning of the word "queso" is literally "cheese".
But the term queso also refers to the tex-mex dish made with melted cheese flavored with spices or salsa.
Queso is usually made from cheeses that melt well - like American cheese. Which is what we will be using it as a base for our Cafe Rio queso dip.
If you love Cafe Rio restaurant recipes try our other copycat, Sweet Pork Recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. This recipe comes together in minutes using simple, easy-to-find ingredients.
- Great flavor! This copycat queso is delicious every time.
- Great for groups large and small. Whether you're planning this for a party or a fun family dinner, it's a breeze to make.
- Perfect for Taco Tuesday or Cinco de Mayo. Make your next taco night even better by making a batch of this easy queso dip to kick things off.
Ingredients
All you need are a handful of simple ingredients you can pick up at grocery stores to make the best queso dip. A few notes about the ingredients:
- American cheese: You can use store-brand or Velveeta, but you'll want to buy the block-style American cheese.
- Cream cheese: I've tested both name-brand and store-brand, and I feel that the Philadelphia cream cheese melts a little better and produces a smoother texture.
- Canned tomatoes: Choose canned tomatoes with green chilis such as Rotel or another similar product.
- Veggies and aromatics: Our BEST queso dip is made with fresh yellow onion, garlic, and Roma tomato.
- Spices: A touch of chili powder and cumin give this Cafe Rio Mexican Grill copycat queso a more authentic flavor.
- Fresh flavors: Freshly squeezed limes, jalapeno, and fresh cilantro add heat and brightness to this spicy cheese dip.
How to Make Queso Dip
Making homemade queso requires just a few simple steps. Here's an overview of how to make it but you will find detailed instructions in the printable recipe card.
Step 1: In a blender, combine the onion, garlic, jalapeño, cilantro, tomato, lime juice, and canned tomatoes with green chilies.
Step 2: Pulse until blended, with small chunks remaining. Add salt to taste.
Step 3: Combine the American cheese and cream cheese in a medium bowl.
Step 4: Microwave the cheese for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Be sure to stir every 30 seconds, until smooth.
Step 5: Add a three-quarter cup of the tomato mixture from the blender (save the rest as a yummy salsa!) to the melted cheese. Then add the cumin and chili powder, and stir until smooth.
Step 6: Return the bowl to the microwave and cook for thirty seconds to marry the flavors.
What to Serve with Queso
Queso makes a great addition to meals as a starter or an easy party dip! Here are some ideas for how to use serve queso.
- Queso is most commonly served with tortilla chips but is also great with veggies for dipping.
- Use it as a topping on burritos and tacos instead of shredded cheese. Try it on all types of tacos but our favorites are steak tacos and barbacoa tacos.
- If you want to impress your guests, serve this homemade queso alongside this fresh salsa. It is literally the best salsa you'll ever have!
- This healthy guacamole is so easy and so delicious. Just load up your tray with dippers and we PROMISE you will have a room full of happy tummies!
- Serve queso to start any meal of Tex-Mex favorites such as green chili chicken enchiladas, sheet pan steak fajitas, or skillet chicken fajitas.
If you love this tasty queso dip, you might also enjoy Chili Cheese Dip. It's a bit similar but uses chili with no beans as the seasoning.
Expert Tips
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. If it's too thick you can add a bit of milk to thin it out.
- Melt the cheese in the microwave in small increments and stir in between each. This prevents the cheese from burning.
- For a less spicy queso, eliminate or adjust the amount of jalapeno.
- Make it meaty: Add in some chopped chorizo or cooked ground beef at the end and heat it up.
- Don't freeze this queso recipe. Since it's made with cheese it won't freeze very well and may end up a bit grainy when thawed out and reheated.
FAQs
Essentially, yes. However, most queso recipes have spices and salsas added to them while fondue is a bit thicker and usually just cheese.
Queso has tex-me roots and usually includes spices and salsa. Nacho cheese is generally just melted processed cheese.
Yes! Add all ingredients to a large baking dish, and bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Stir. Return to oven for an additional 10 minutes. Stir again and serve.
You can use a fondue pot or for a big batch, a slow cooker (on low) to keep it heated and creamy. Queso does form a skin on top so if you plan on it sitting around for a bit, it will need a stir every now and then.
Best Queso Recipe (Cafe Rio Copycat)
Ingredients
- ½ yellow onion
- 1 roma tomato
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 jalapeno seeds removed
- ½ bunch cilantro
- 10 ounces canned tomatoes with green chilis
- 1 clove garlic
- salt to taste
- 8 ounces american cheese like velveeta
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
Instructions
- Combine onion, roma tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, canned tomatoes with green chilis, and garlic in a blender.
- Pulse until blended, but small chunks still remain. Add salt to taste.
- Dice American and cream cheese into 1 inch cubes. Place in a medium sized bowl
- Microwave cheeses for 2 minutes 30 seconds - stirring every 30 seconds - until smooth.
- Add ¾ cup of blender mixture to melted cheese.  Add chili powder and cumin.  Stir until smooth.
- Return to microwave and cook 30 seconds to marry flavors.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. If it's too thick you can add a bit of milk to thin it out.
- Melt the cheese in the microwave in small increments and stir in between each. This prevents the cheese from burning.
- For a less spicy queso, eliminate or adjust the amount of jalapeno.
- Make it meaty: Add in some chopped chorizo or cooked ground beef at the end and heat it up.
- Don't freeze this queso recipe. Since it's made with cheese it won't freeze very well and may end up a bit grainy when thawed out and reheated.
Vicki Contratto says
I doubled this for a small gathering. It was the first thing gone. Next time I’ll triple it. So good!