Smoked Queso

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Smoked queso dip is the ultimate party dip we all need in our lives! This delicious cheese dip is loaded with cream cheese, spicy tomatoes, and flavor.

How strong is your queso game?

This delicious dip will blow you away. It is a perfectly cheesy dip for any barbecue, game days, or your next party! Smoked queso is the best version of your favorite cheese dip!

Fire up the Traeger, Big Green Egg, or electric smoker for this easy-to-make smoked appetizer. The process of cooking it on the pellet smoker or charcoal grill adds an extra layer of flavor to each cheesy bite.

It’s easy to make, too! What are you waiting for? Try it today!

This smoked queso recipe is dedicated to delicious smoky flavor.

A white bowl filled with queso dip.
Jump to:

Tips + tricks

No. 1 –> Just say no Velveeta! This recipe is made without Velveeta cheese. Instead of Velveeta, this recipe owes its creaminess to cream cheese!

No. 2 –> Don’t use pre-shredded cheese, it is coated with starches and anti-caking agents to prevent the shredded cheese from clumping together in the bag, but it also affects the sauce quality. Grab the box grater, you’re worth the extra effort!

No. 3 –> I use my little shallow half-size chafing pan for this recipe. Not only is this stainless steel dish incredibly easy to clean, but it’s also the perfect size! If you don’t have one, use a disposable aluminum pan for easier cleanup.

No. 4 –> Seriously, try this hot cheese dip, and you’ll see why this crowd pleaser went viral on social media. It’s filled with cheesy goodness, spicy peppers, and smoke flavor, you just can’t beat it, it’s the best smoked queso dip.

3 tostitos scoops filled with smoked queso.

Key ingredients

Cheese: This recipe owes its deliciousness to cheese. Tons of cheese. Cream cheese, shredded cheese, mixed cheese if you want. I used marble for these photos, but I’ve had great luck with pepper jack cheese too!

Veggies: While loaded with cheese, this recipe also has a bunch of delicious veggies in it. This is why we cook the queso for so long, the veggies need to soften. It’s got bell pepper, onion, and a can of Rotel tomatoes.

Meat: Can’t beat smoked meat! I used leftover smoked brisket, but feel free to use breakfast sausage, taco meat, or leftover smoked pulled pork!

Ingredients for smoked queso dip.

How to make smoked queso dip

  1. Preheat your smoker to 225f. If you’re using a charcoal grill, you’ll be cooking on indirect heat.
  2. Meanwhile, dice the onion and bell pepper. Coarsely chop the cream cheese and shred the cheddar.
  3. Combine all the ingredients into a smoker-safe baking dish, a disposable foil pan, or large cast-iron skillet work well too.
  4. Smoke the queso dip for 1 hour at 225f, then stir well. Not all the ingredients will be melted yet, and that’s ok, just give it a good stir.
  5. Increase the temperature of the smoker to 350f for another hour, stirring every 20 minutes or so.
  6. Remove from smoker, transfer to a serving dish, if desired, and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

What to serve with smoked queso dip

In my snackaholic opinion, nearly anything would be a good dipper into this dish. The key is to find something that is sturdy and can hold on to the great queso! Here are some ideas:

More smoked snacks to love

Make Ahead

Smoked queso can be made ahead quite easily! Simply prepare all the ingredients and toss the veggies and cheese into separate airtight containers up to 2 days ahead. When ready, simply assemble just before cooking.

Batch + Storage

Batch:

This smoked queso dip recipe yields about 4 cups of glorious dip. I find this to be the perfect amount for 8-10 people!

Storage:

Leftover smoked queso can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. If you’ve got too much queso to eat as a dip in a couple of days, turn it into mac and cheese, or use it to top tacos, burgers, or wraps!

Leftover queso can be frozen, but the texture can change a bit. To mitigate that, thaw it slowly at room temperature, and reheat it slowly in the oven at low temperatures.

Substitutions + variations

There are a few different ways to customize this recipe to suit your tastes.

Overhead view of a bowl filled with smoked queso dip.

Which wood pellets?

This recipe is plenty flavorful on its own, so the pellets, while they matter aren’t going to make or break your dip.

Anything that’s universal is a great option! There’s no need to empty your hopper and go through a pellet change unless you’re running mesquite or something super strong. We usually run Lumberjack Competition Blend, which is a blend of cherry, maple, and hickory.

If you’re running a charcoal grill, don’t forget to soak your wood chips!

If you love this recipe, please give it a star rating or leave a comment below! This helps me to create more content you enjoy!

๐Ÿ“– Printable Recipe

Smoked queso ingredients layered in a chafing pan.

Easy Smoked Queso Dip

Allyson Letal
A deliciously smoked queso dip that's loaded with cream cheese, spicy tomatoes, and flavor.
4.48 from 36 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Appetizers
Cuisine American
Servings 4 cups
Calories 670 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 8 oz cream cheese
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 1 bell pepper
  • 2 cups shredded cheese
  • 1 can Rotel tomatoes
  • 2 cups cooked shredded brisket point taco spiced beef, spicy sausage etc
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions
 

  • Preheat smoker to 225f.
  • Meanwhile, coarsely chop one 8 oz block of cream cheese, dice 1 yellow onion and 1 bell pepper, and shred 2 cups of cheese. Add those ingredients, along with 1 can of Rotel diced tomatoes, 2 cups of shredded brisket point (or desired meat) and 1/2 cup heavy cream to a smoker safe baking dish.
  • Smoke the queso dip at 225f for 1 hour, stir well to combine.
  • Increase the temperature to 350f and smoke for 1 hour. Stirring every 20 minutes.
  • Remove from the smoker, give it another good stir and serve with tortilla chips, celery sticks, carrot sticks, crackers, or sourdough bread spears.

Notes

make ahead information

Smoked queso can be made ahead quite easily! Simply prepare all the ingredients and toss the veggies and cheese into separate airtight containers up to 2 days ahead. Assemble just before cooking.

Batch:

This smoked queso dip recipe yields about 4 cups of glorious dip. I find this to be the perfect amount for 8-10 people!

Storage

Leftover smoked queso can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container. If you've got too much queso to eat as dip in a couple days, turn it into mac and cheese, or use it to top tacos.
Leftover queso can be frozen, but the texture can change a bit. To mitigate that, thaw it slowly at room temperature, and reheat it slowly in the oven at low temperatures.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 670kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 42gFat: 52gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 208mgSodium: 633mgPotassium: 640mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2510IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 372mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Pin this smoked queso dip recipe!

Traeger smoked queso dip pinterest graphic.

Similar Posts

4.48 from 36 votes (36 ratings without comment)

Share Your Thoughts

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.