Description
This Halloween Chili Con Queso Dip is a festive, cheesy appetizer perfect for spooky parties. Featuring a blend of ground beef, spices, diced tomatoes with green chiles, and a rich mix of processed and shredded cheddar cheeses, this warm dip is both creamy and full of flavor. The fun spiderweb sour cream decoration adds a playful Halloween twist, making it ideal for serving with tortilla chips, pretzels, or veggie sticks.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound ground beef or spicy sausage
- 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 (10-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained
- 8 ounces processed cheese (like Velveeta)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup milk or half-and-half
Optional Toppings
- Chopped green onions
- Black olives
- Sour cream for spiderweb decoration
Instructions
- Cook the Meat: In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef or spicy sausage and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon to ensure even cooking.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the finely chopped onion, diced jalapeño, and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables are soft and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
- Add Spices and Tomatoes: Stir in the chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt until evenly combined. Add the drained diced tomatoes with green chiles and cook for an additional 2 minutes to blend the flavors.
- Melt the Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and add the processed cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, and milk or half-and-half to the skillet. Stir constantly until all the cheese is fully melted and the dip achieves a smooth, creamy consistency. If the dip is too thick, add a splash more milk to reach your desired consistency.
- Create Halloween Decoration: Transfer the hot dip to a serving bowl. Using a squeeze bottle or piping bag filled with sour cream, draw a spiderweb design on top of the dip. For extra fun, place a black olive slice or a plastic spider in the center of the web.
- Serve Warm: Serve the dip warm with tortilla chips, pretzels, or veggie sticks. To keep the dip warm for a party, you may place it in a slow cooker set to low heat.
Notes
- This dip can be prepared up to a day in advance and reheated gently on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add black beans or plant-based meat crumbles as a substitute.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the jalapeño.
- To maintain gluten-free status, ensure all processed cheeses and chips are certified gluten-free.
