Smoked Queso Dip (TikTok Recipe) (2024)

By Rebecca Hubbell on April 12, 2021 | Updated June 18, 2024 | 2 Comments

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This Smoked Queso Dip is the viral TikTok appetizer recipe loaded with spicy and smoky flavor made with ground beef, cheese, peppers, onion, taco seasoning, cream, and cilantro that’s cooked in the smoker in just 1 hour!

It’s an easy and addictive appetizer you’ll want to make for summer BBQs and game days! Looking for more deliciously cheesy dips? Try my BBQ Bacon Chicken Dip and my Spinach Artichoke Dip too!

I know I’m a little late to the party since this Smoked Queso Dip started trending last summer and fall – but better late than never, amirite? This easy appetizer recipe is made right in the smoker and packs some delicious flavor from both the ingredients and the smoke.

TikTokers went crazy coming up with all kinds of combinations for this silky cheese sauce, but personally, we think this one is the best, especially if you love a little flavor kick!

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Recipe

Heat – Made with 3 different kinds of peppers, this cheesy dip packs some flavor and heat!
Easy – You’ll need to cook the beef to start, but then everything just gets thrown in a disposable aluminum pan and smoked to perfect – easy prep and even easier cleanup! You can generally find the pans in the baking aisle at the grocery store.
Creamy – Since it’s made with Velveeta, this queso is super smooth and creamy, I know it’s no real cheese, but it’s necessary for texture! The addition of cream cheese and heavy cream really takes it to the next level! There’s also pre-shredded cheese in this recipe!

Ingredient Notes

The creamy base of the dip is made with Velveeta, Mexican shredded cheese, cream cheese, and heavy cream.

The heat primarily comes from the addition of banana peppers, jalapeno peppers, and chipotle peppers as well as the taco seasoning. Feel free to use the mild, medium, or hot taco seasoning blend of your choice.

The rest of the add-ins include ground beef, red onion, cilantro, and diced tomatoes with green chilies.

In our smoker, we used mesquite pellets, but feel free to use your preferred flavor.

How To Make Queso Dip In A Smoker

Queso Cheese Dip has never been easier or more delicious! This fool-proof appetizer is ready in just 1 hour with minimal prep and hands-on time!

Brown the ground beef in a cast iron skillet in the smoker.
Add cooked ground beef, taco seasoning, cheese, tomatoes, onion, and peppers to an aluminum baking dish.
Smoke for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Then stir until cheese is fully mixed and add in the cream and cilantro.
Cook for an additional 25 minutes.

Serve this creamy queso dip with tortilla chips, over nachos, and more!

Smoked Queso Recipe Variations:

Vegetarian – Just omit the meat or feel free to substitute it with a plant-based alternative. Leaving out the beef will also cut the cooking time down to just 45 minutes!
Sausage – Swap the ground beef for a delicious ground sausage!
Mild – Don’t want a ton of heat? Go ahead and swap the banana or jalapeno peppers for a diced bell pepper.

Can I Make It Without A Smoker?

Yes, absolutely! We made this recipe using a Traeger electric smoker, but you can make this on a regular grill, in the oven, or even in a slow cooker like my Slow Cooker Chicken Queso Dip recipe!

If you decide to use a regular grill, you could always invest in a grill box and some Mesquite wood chips. And if you go the oven or crockpot route, you could add a little liquid smoke to the recipe.

If you love simple appetizer recipes like this one that are loaded with flavor and always a crowd pleaser, check these recipes out!

Cheesy Stuffed Breadsticks
Pepperoni Pizza Dip
Cheesy Sausage Dip
Cowboy Caviar
Ham and Cheese Sliders

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried thisrecipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!

5 from 4 votes

Tik Tok Smoked Queso Dip

Author Rebecca Hubbell

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mexican Inspired

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

This Smoked Queso Dip is the viral TikTok appetizer recipe loaded with spicy and smoky flavor made with ground beef, cheese, peppers, onion, taco seasoning, cream, and cilantro that's cooked in the smoker in just 1 hour!

Ingredients

▢ 1½ lbs ground beef
▢ 2 tablespoons taco seasoning divided
▢ 16 oz block Velveeta cheese cut into cubes
▢ 8 oz cream cheese cut into cubes
▢ 1½ cups shredded mexican cheese
▢ 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce + 2 tbsp adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
▢ 3 jalapenos sliced
▢ 2 banana peppers sliced
▢ ½ red onion diced
▢ 1 (10oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies drained
▢ ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
▢ ½ cup fresh chopped cilantro + more for garnish

Instructions

Place a cast iron skillet inside the smoker. Preheat the smoker to 400°F for 15 minutes.
Add 1 tbsp olive oil and ground beef to the skillet. Break meat apart and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of taco seasoning over the meat. Close the lid. Cook until browned, about 15 minutes, stopping halfway through to break the meat apart and turn. Drain and set aside.
Lower the smoker to 375°F.
Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients. Cut the Velveeta and cream cheese into 1” cubes. Mince the chipotle peppers, slice the jalapenos (remove the seeds of the jalapenos to cut down on spice if desired) and slice the banana peppers. Dice the red onion and drain the canned diced tomatoes with green chilies.
Add all of the ingredients except for the heavy cream and cilantro into a large tin foil disposable dish. Place in the smoker and close the lid. Cook for 20 minutes. Stir the ingredients to combine, and pour in the heavy cream and cilantro. Stir again and close the lid. Cook for 25 more minutes.
Carefully remove the dip from the smoker. Garnish with pico de gallo and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy!

Notes

If you don’t have heavy cream, whole milk or evaporated milk may be used instead.
Monterey Jack can be used in place of Mexican cheese.
Can I Make It Without A Smoker?Yes, absolutely! We made this recipe using a Traeger electric smoker, but you can make this on a regular grill, in the oven, or even in a slow cooker. If you decide to use a regular grill, you could always invest in a grill box and some Mesquite wood chips. And if you go the oven or crockpot route, you could add a little liquid smoke to the recipe.

Smoked Queso Recipe Variations:

- Vegetarian – Just omit the meat or feel free to substitute it with a plant-based alternative. Leaving out the beef will also cut the cooking time down to just 45 minutes!
- Sausage – Swap the ground beef for a delicious ground sausage!
- Mild – Don’t want a ton of heat? Go ahead and swap the banana or jalapeno peppers for a diced bell pepper.

Nutrition

Did You Make This Recipe?

Don’t forget to share it with me on Instagram @sugarandsoulco and follow on Tiktok @sugarandsoulco and Pinterest @sugarandsoulco for more!