Description
Cheesy dip with ground beef, Rotel tomatoes, ranch dressing mix, and Velveeta cheese. Great for parties!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
- 1 (16 ounce) package Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Rotel), undrained
- 1/2 cup milk (optional, for creamier consistency)
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef. Break it up with a spoon or spatula as it cooks. Cook until the beef is browned and no longer pink, usually about 7-10 minutes.
- Drain the excess grease: Once the ground beef is cooked through, carefully drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
- Return the beef to the skillet: After draining the grease, return the browned ground beef to the skillet.
- Add the ranch dressing mix: Sprinkle the entire packet of ranch dressing mix over the browned ground beef in the skillet.
- Stir well: Thoroughly stir the ranch dressing mix into the ground beef, ensuring that it’s evenly distributed.
- Add the Rotel: Pour the entire can of undrained Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies into the skillet with the ground beef and ranch mixture.
- Stir again: Stir the Rotel into the beef and ranch mixture, making sure everything is well combined.
- Add the Velveeta cheese: Add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the skillet.
- Optional: Add milk: If you prefer a creamier, smoother dip, add the 1/2 cup of milk at this stage.
- Melt the cheese: Reduce the heat to low. Stir the mixture constantly until the Velveeta cheese is completely melted and the dip is smooth and creamy. This may take about 5-10 minutes.
- Simmer gently: Once the cheese is melted and the dip is smooth, continue to simmer it over low heat for another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Adjust consistency (if needed): If the dip becomes too thick while simmering, you can add a little more milk, a tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, continue to simmer it uncovered to allow some of the liquid to evaporate.
- Transfer to a serving dish: Carefully transfer the hot Rotel Ranch Dip from the skillet to a serving dish. A slow cooker or chafing dish is ideal for keeping the dip warm during serving.
- Garnish (optional): If desired, you can garnish the dip with a sprinkle of chopped fresh cilantro, green onions, or a dollop of sour cream.
- Serve with tortilla chips: Serve the hot Rotel Ranch Dip immediately with your favorite tortilla chips.
- Keep warm: If you’re serving the dip for an extended period, keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “warm” setting or in a chafing dish. Stir occasionally to prevent a skin from forming on the surface.
Notes
- Use different types of meat: Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey, ground chicken, or even chorizo for a different flavor profile.
- Add beans: For a heartier dip, add a can of drained and rinsed black beans or pinto beans.
- Spice it up: If you like a spicier dip, use a can of hot Rotel or add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce.
- Add vegetables: You can add other vegetables to the dip, such as diced onions, bell peppers, or corn.
- Make it in a slow cooker: This dip can easily be made in a slow cooker. Simply brown the ground beef as directed, then transfer it to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 2-3 hours, or until the cheese is melted and the dip is heated through. Stir occasionally.
- Make it ahead of time: You can make this dip ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
- Cheese variations: While Velveeta provides a smooth, consistent melt, you can experiment with other cheeses. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack would all add interesting flavors. You could even use a combination of cheeses.
- Ranch dressing mix alternatives: If you don’t have ranch dressing mix on hand, you can create your own blend using dried buttermilk powder, dried dill, dried parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. There are many recipes online for homemade ranch dressing mix.
- Serving suggestions beyond chips: While tortilla chips are a classic pairing, consider serving this dip with pretzel bites, celery sticks, carrot sticks, or even toasted baguette slices. It’s also delicious as a topping for nachos or baked potatoes.
- Adjusting the heat level: The heat level of this dip depends largely on the type of Rotel you use. For a milder dip, use mild Rotel. For a spicier dip, use hot Rotel or add a pinch of cayenne pepper. You can also control the heat by adjusting the amount of green chilies you add.
- Preventing sticking: To prevent the cheese from sticking to the bottom of the skillet, use a non-stick skillet and stir the dip frequently, especially as the cheese begins to melt. You can also add a small amount of cooking oil or butter to the skillet before adding the ingredients.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes