Description

A rich, creamy, and smoky queso dip made with chorizo, sharp cheddar, and pepper jack cheese, cooked over indirect heat for a deep, campfire flavor perfect for game day.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb (450g) Spanish or Mexican chorizo
8 oz (225g) sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
4 oz (115g) pepper jack cheese, freshly grated
1/2 medium red onion, diced
2 medium jalapeño peppers, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 cup (60ml) heavy cream or milk

Instructions

Preheat grill to 300-350°F (150-175°C) using indirect heat. Add wood chips or chunks (hickory or mesquite) for smoke flavor.
Place a cast iron skillet on the indirect heat zone. Add diced red onion and jalapeños, sautéing for 3-4 minutes until softened.
Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add chorizo (sliced if Spanish, crumbled if Mexican) and cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and crispy.
Stir in cumin and smoked paprika during the last minute of cooking.
Reduce heat slightly. Add grated cheddar and pepper jack cheese evenly over the mixture. Let sit for 1-2 minutes to start melting.
Gently fold the cheese into the chorizo mixture, stirring slowly to melt without breaking the emulsion.
Pour in heavy cream or milk and stir continuously until the queso is glossy and smooth.
Adjust consistency with more cream if too thick, or cook longer if too thin. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Remove from grill and serve warm.

Notes

Shred your own cheese to prevent graininess caused by anti-caking agents in pre-shredded cheese. Keep heat low and slow to prevent the cheese from separating into oil. This dip does not freeze well; store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently with a splash of milk.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican-American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/4 cup
Calories: 320
Sugar: 2
Sodium: 650
Fat: 28
Saturated Fat: 14
Carbohydrates: 4
Fiber: 1
Protein: 14

Keywords: smoked chorizo queso, game day dip, outdoor cooking, cast iron recipes, spicy cheese dip, tailgating food