This Crock Pot Sausage Queso Dip gives our favorite traditional queso a twist with the great flavors of Italian sausage. The combination of Italian sausage, cheese, Rotel, and other tasty ingredients meld perfectly to create a dip that will have everyone coming back for more.
Jump to:
Queso dip is a big favorite of my family, especially on game days. While we’ll eat this kind of dip almost any time, there’s just nothing like it when the game is blaring on the television.
I’ve made queso for years, and I usually make it in the crock pot. Of course, after all those years, things can begin to feel stale, and I’ve never been one to make the same thing forever, anyway.
That’s why I came up with this Italian sausage queso dip. It’s packed with all the flavors we love about classic queso but with an Italian twist that works really well!
If you love queso we’ve got a few more varieties to try! This chorizo queso and skillet brisket queso are other family favorites perfect for any occasion.
Why You Will Love This Crock Pot Queso with Sausage
- Versatile Recipe: There are so many ways to use it! It’s great to dip with chips, as a quesadilla filling, or even poured over nachos. Serve it up for for snacking on game days, but it’s also the perfect addition to any Taco Tuesday spread!
- The Ultimate Sausage Queso Recipe: This queso is always a winner thanks to the delicious flavors of Italian sausage, bell pepper, onions, cheese, Rotel, and cream cheese for even more creaminess.
- Easy to Make: The slow cooker makes this sausage dip so simple! Load it up and then the slow cooker do all the work. You can even turn it down to warm and serve it straight from the pot!
Ingredients
This queso dip with sausage needs just a handful of ingredients to make. Here’s a closer look at them.
- Italian sausage: You can use hot or mild sausage depending on your preference.
- Vegetables: We use a combination of chopped green bell pepper and onions to give the dip extra flavor and some texture. You can also use red bell pepper for a sweeter flavor if you want.
- Rotel®: This canned tomatoes and green chilies combination adds a flavorful punch to the sausage queso dip. I love the flavor it has and it’s so simple — just open it and dump it into the pot.
- Cheese: We use a combination of cream cheese and Velveeta®! They melt easily and create the creamiest texture for queso.
Be sure to check the recipe card further down the page for the measurements you need of each ingredient.
Variations
What I love about this crock pot queso dip is its versatility. You can switch things up to create a dip that is tailor-made to your individual taste or to use ingredients you have on hand.
- Add Some Heat: Throw in some diced or sliced jalapenos for an added kick!
- Change the Meat: You can easily use half Italian sausage and half ground beef, go for all ground beef, or try it with some chorizo sausage. I find the chorizo sausage is a bit spicier and has slightly different flavor profile.
- Add Beans: Boost the flavor and nutrients a bit by adding in a can of drained black beans.
- More Flavors: Stir in some chopped fresh cilantro and a few squeezes of lime just before serving for an extra splash of fresh flavors.
How to Make Sausage Queso Dip
- Step 1: Prep. Cook the sausage, bell pepper, and onions in a large skillet over medium heat until sausage crumbles are cooked through and vegetables are tender. Once cooked, drain the grease thoroughly before adding it to the crock pot.
- Step 2: Adding it Together. Add the sausage mixture to a small crock pot with the the canned tomatoes and both cheeses. Stir, cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2 hours. Stir well. Serve and enjoy.
Expert Tips
This recipe is super simple but there are a few things to remember so that you get a dip that’s fantastic rather than just good.
- Drain the Sausage Thoroughly. Italian sausage is much fattier than ground beef, so be sure you drain it exceptionally well. I like to pour the cooked sausage and veggie mixture into a strainer and let it sit until the grease stops dripping completely.
- Dice the Velveeta Into Small Pieces. While this won’t make or break the recipe, it will speed up the cooking process. Small pieces melt faster which helps bring the entire recipe together more quickly.
- Don’t Overcook the Queso. While it’s pretty hard to overcook most crock pot recipes, this one may split if is heated for too long. This gives it a strange and unappetizing texture. As soon as it comes together turn off the heat for the best results.
Serving Suggestions
Once the queso dip with sausage is ready, turn off the heat and serve it straight from the crock pot. You can also hold the dip on warm if your slow cooker has that setting.
Serve it with your favorite tortilla chips and let everyone dig in. It works great too as part of a nacho bar with chips and guacamole, creamy jalapeno salsa, or some homemade salsa verde!
For parties and game day watching enjoy it with other appetizer recipes like our country fried steak fingers, fried beef tacos, and pastrami sliders.
Enjoy it for a Mexican fiesta with favorites such as beef and bean enchiladas, southwest chicken tacos, and leftover pork quesadillas.
Storing and Reheating
This crock pot queso will keep well in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to four days. For longer storage, you can freeze this dip for up to two months. I recommend freezing it in one or two-person portions in heavy-duty freezer bags so you don’t have to defrost all of your leftovers at once if you don’t need that much.
To defrost, simply put the frozen queso in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 30-second intervals until hot. You can also put the frozen queso in a pan and heat it on medium-low heat until hot.
Crock Pot Queso with an Italian Twist!
This crock pot queso sausage dip made with Italian sausage is a nice little twist on a classic favorite. The Italian sausage pairs perfectly with the classic queso ingredients found in this dip. It’s a delicious, easy recipe that everyone always loves. So give it a try. With something this delicious and easy, you owe it to yourself to make it!
More Yummy Dip Recipes
And Great Grub, Delicious Treats has a delicious and easy Cream Cheese Chili Dip you might enjoy too!
If you try this recipe and love it, please be sure to leave a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and comment! You can also pin it to save it for later. Also, you can follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Remember to “like” or “follow” us on all social media.
Italian Sausage Queso Dip
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage, hot or mild
- 1 green bell pepper, stem, seeds removed, diced
- 1 cup onions, chopped
- 10 ounce Rotel® drained
- 8 ounce cream cheese, cut into cubes
- 32 ounce Velvetta® cheese, cut into cubes
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook sausage, bell pepper and onions, over medium heat, until sausage is no longer pink and vegetables are tender.
- Drain grease and add sausage mixture to small crock pot.
- Add remaining ingredients, stir, cover and then cook on high for 2 hours or 3-4 hours on low.
- Stir before serving.
Notes
- Drain the Sausage Thoroughly. Italian sausage is much fattier than ground beef, so be sure you drain it exceptionally well. I like to pour the cooked sausage and veggie mixture into a strainer and let it sit until the grease stops dripping completely.
- Dice the Velveeta Into Small Pieces. While this won’t make or break the recipe, it will speed up the cooking process. Small pieces melt faster which helps bring the entire recipe together more quickly.
- Don’t Overcook the Queso. While it’s pretty hard to overcook most crock pot recipes, this one may split if is heated for too long. This gives it a strange and unappetizing texture. As soon as it comes together turn off the heat for the best results.
