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Smoked queso, a delightful and flavorful twist on the classic queso dip, has gained popularity in recent years for its smoky, cheesy, and slightly spicy goodness. Whether you’re preparing it for a game day party, a casual gathering, or just craving a delicious snack, smoked queso is a crowd-pleaser that’s surprisingly easy to make.
Here, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step smoked queso recipe, valuable tips for achieving the perfect blend of flavors, and calorie information to help you make informed dietary choices.
Equipment
Here’s a list of the equipment you’ll need to prepare smoked queso:
- Smoker: You’ll need a smoker to infuse the queso with a smoky flavor. Choose an electric, charcoal, or wood pellet smoker. (recommendation)
- Cast-Iron Skillet or Disposable Aluminum Pan: This is used to hold the queso and other ingredients while it’s being smoked. (recommendation)
- Wood Chips: Select your preferred wood chips (e.g., hickory, mesquite, cherry) to create the desired smoky flavor. You’ll need these to load into your smoker.
- Knife and Cutting Board: For chopping and dicing ingredients like onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. (recommendation)
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: To accurately measure and add the various spices and liquids. (recommendation)
- Spatula or Wooden Spoon: Used for stirring and mixing the ingredients in the skillet.
- Milk: To adjust the consistency of the queso as it cooks.
- Oven Mitts or Heat-Resistant Gloves: Essential for handling the hot skillet or pan when taking it out of the smoker.
- Serving Dish: Choose a bowl or platter to serve the smoked queso once it’s ready.
- Optional Warming Tray or Slow Cooker: If you want to keep the smoked queso warm during your gathering, you can use a warming tray or slow cooker for this purpose. (recommendation)
- Garnishing Tools: If you plan to garnish your queso, have items like fresh cilantro, green onions, or sour cream ready for topping.
- Serving Platters and Utensils: Prepare plates, bowls, and utensils for serving the queso to your guests.
Smoked Queso Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound of Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, diced
- 1/4 cup diced tomatoes (canned or fresh)
- 1/4 cup cooked and crumbled sausage or ground beef (optional)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 cup milk (adjust to achieve your desired consistency)
Instructions
- Prepare your smoker: Preheat your smoker to 250°F (120°C) using your choice of wood chips (hickory or mesquite work well for a smoky flavor).
- In a cast-iron skillet or a disposable aluminum pan, combine the cubed Velveeta cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, diced onion, bell pepper, pickled jalapeños, diced tomatoes, and, if using, the cooked and crumbled sausage or ground beef.
- Sprinkle the chili powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin evenly over the cheese and other ingredients in the skillet.
- Place the skillet in the preheated smoker and smoke for about 1-1.5 hours. Stir the mixture every 20-30 minutes to ensure even smoky flavor distribution.
- Add milk as needed to reach your desired consistency. Some prefer a thicker queso, while others like it a bit runnier.
- Once the smoked queso is smooth, bubbly, and infused with smoky goodness, remove it from the smoker.
- Serve your smoked queso hot with tortilla chips, nachos, or vegetables for dipping.
Tips for Perfect Smoked Queso
- Experiment with Wood Chips: Different wood chips impart unique flavors. Try various options like hickory, mesquite, or cherry to discover your favorite smoky taste.
- Manage Spice Level: Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and pickled jalapeños to control the spiciness according to your preference.
- Enhance with Toppings: Garnish your smoked queso with fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, or a dollop of sour cream for extra flavor and presentation.
- Keep it Hot: Use a warming tray or slow cooker to keep the smoked queso warm throughout your gathering.
- Pair with Sides: Offer accompaniments like sliced avocado, guacamole, and salsa to complement your smoked queso.
Calorie Information
Smoked queso, while undeniably delicious, can be high in calories and fat due to the cheese and optional meat content. A 2-ounce (approximately 57 grams) serving of smoked queso contains about 120-150 calories on average, with 8-10 grams of fat. This is a ballpark estimate and may vary based on ingredient choices and portion size.
To reduce the calorie and fat content, consider using lower-fat cheese options, such as reduced-fat Velveeta or reduced-fat cheddar. Additionally, increasing the vegetable-to-cheese ratio by adding more bell peppers, tomatoes, and other veggies can make the dish slightly healthier.
Smoked queso is a mouthwatering and versatile dip that can be tailored to your taste preferences. Whether you enjoy it mild or spicy, with or without meat, this crowd-pleaser is perfect for parties and gatherings.
By following our recipe and tips, you’ll be well-equipped to make the perfect smoked queso, and with calorie information in mind, you can enjoy this delectable treat while making informed dietary choices. Enjoy the smoky goodness of smoked queso at your next get-together!
