Easy Cast Iron Skillet Queso Dip Recipe

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This delicious skillet queso recipe is super easy to make and will leave your guests thinking that you spent way more than 5 minutes preparing it. It is a definite crowd pleaser that is a perfect appetizer for game day parties or other get-togethers.

Queso is one of my most favorite appetizers whether at a restaurant or at home. It’s amazing how such simple ingredients can taste so good together. I’ve even served it as a main dish a few times when I didn’t have enough time to get a proper dinner on the table. No one complained! In fact, my daughter asks me to make this at least once a week in place of dinner.

This recipe is a Dined and Dashed Level 1 recipe, which means it takes 15 minutes or less to prepare and the cooking process couldn’t be easier.

Skillet queso dip is more than just cheese dip, and it’s not the same as a queso fundido that is served in Mexican restaurants. Rather, it’s a combination of ground beef, beans and cheese. It’s like chili mixed with enough cheese to make it gooey and stick to a chip.

Most queso is made with bean-less chili, but I prefer to use bean chili. That is really a matter of preference if you want beans in your queso or not.

I admit that this recipe is inspired by a popular chain restaurant’s skillet queso recipe, but doesn’t taste the same. Their recipe has delicious flavor but from what I can tell by looking at copycat recipes in the internet they use Velveeta cheese and I prefer to use regular cheese.

What you need for easy skillet queso

You don’t need a lot for this easy queso dip recipe, and it is easily scalable making it the perfect recipe for any size party or family gathering.

• Hormel chili in a can
• shredded cheddar cheese (you can choose from all kinds of cheese, it doesn’t have to be cheddar)
• your favorite tortilla chips, pita bread or corn chips
• medium skillet (cast iron skillet, or some other oven-safe pan)

You can add a variety of toppings or mix-ins to taste. If you are serving skillet queso at a party, it might even be fun to serve all of these on the side and let people choose and customize to their liking.

• sour cream
• hot sauce
• green onions
• pico de gallo
• green chilies
• chili powder
• cayenne pepper

To add variety, you can use things like bell peppers or other veggies to dip into the queso.

How to make easy skillet queso

This cheesy dip could not be easier to make. I like to say that you just “dump and bake”.

• Dump the canned chili into the skillet or baking dish
• Add the cheese
• Bake
• Serve

Check out the printable recipe card below for full details and instructions.

You can probably make this recipe in a crock pot, but I would watch it closely, and possibly only put it on warm if you need to leave it on for more than 1-2 hours.

How long is skillet queso good for in the fridge?

Skillet queso will likely last up 2-3 days covered tightly in the fridge.

I can tell you that we have eaten it up to 3 days after we made it and it was just fine. We reheat it in the oven the same we cooked it. It usually tastes a little bit better reheated for some reason.

For more easy appetizer recipes check out our appetizers category.