
Free: Healthy Freezer Meals Recipe Ebook
Get It NowThis post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. (Full disclosure)
There is a lot to love about this queso dip recipe. It’s flavorful (so many ways to eat it!), it’s made in the slow cooker, and perhaps best of all? (Naturally keto) Crock Pot queso dip is made with just three (!!) ingredients, which take all of 2 minutes to throw together! It’s the perfect appetizer for game days, potlucks, holiday parties, or — let’s be real — just any simple Taco Tuesday.
I was originally inspired to make this dip when we had a potluck at work over the holidays several years ago. Someone brought a yummy, warm slow cooker queso dip in a miniature Crock Pot. I’m not sure exactly what was in the dip, but right away it sparked two ideas. First, I had to get my hands on one of those little mini slow cookers. And second, I wanted to experiment with how to make queso dip in the Crock Pot, so I could share my own version. So, here it is — and it couldn’t be easier!
What Is Queso?
Queso dip is a Mexican style cheese dip made from warm, melted cheeses that are cooked together into a dip-able sauce. Some varieties include vegetables or chorizo, and some just have a little spice. You may have had it at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
This queso dip in a Crock Pot is made with salsa that gives it a little spice and a lot of flavor to the cheese — it’s the perfect blend!
Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Queso Recipe
- Cheesy taste with a bit of spice
- Creamy and dip-able
- Made with just 3 basic ingredients
- Just 2 minutes to prep
- The slow cooker will do all the work!
- Naturally low carb and gluten-free with no fillers

Queso Dip Ingredients & Variations
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for homemade queso dip, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Basic ingredients:
This easy queso recipe has just 3 ingredients: shredded cheese, cream cheese, and salsa! Here are some customization ideas…
- Pick your cheese. I chose Monterey Jack cheese to match the other Mexican flavors in the dip, but Colby Jack, pepper jack, queso blanco, or cheddar cheese would be great alternatives. Any semi-soft or semi-hard cheese that melts well is fine. Lots of people love to use velveeta or white American cheese, but I prefer to use a less processed cheese.
- Pick your salsa. Any salsa you like will work. I used a jar of salsa verde, but have also made it with homemade tomato salsa or tomatillo avocado salsa, too. You can even use a can of green chilis or Rotel if you like, which is similar to a Rotel dip.
INGREDIENT TIP: I recommend salsa that isn’t too chunky, since queso dip is usually on the smoother side. But if you prefer your dip to be chunky, why not? You could also puree it in a blender at the end to get it extra smooth. (I didn’t puree mine, so the tiny chunks in the pictures are from the salsa.)
Other things you can add:
- Aromatics – Diced onions or mixed garlic work great, but I prefer to saute them before adding. You can also choose an easier route by adding onion powder and garlic powder instead.
- Diced tomatoes – You can use canned (drain first) or fresh.
- Green chiles – Canned green chiles can work instead of the salsa. Drain first.
- Ground beef – Make it a meaty dip by adding beef! Cook it on the stovetop first, before adding to the slow cooker with the other ingredients.
- Spices – Ground cumin, paprika, or chili powder work well here.
For the veggie ingredients (aromatics, tomatoes, chiles), you could puree them first if you want a smoother cheese dip, or leave them diced for texture.

How To Make Queso Dip In A Crock Pot
This section shows how to make Crock Pot queso dip, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Are you ready to see how easy the best Crock Pot queso is to make?! TWO MINUTES and TWO STEPS!
- Mix ingredients. Mix together cream cheese, salsa verde, and shredded Monterey jack cheese together in the slow cooker.
- Slow cook. Cook this Crock Pot cheese dip recipe on Low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to get rid of any lumps.


How To Make Queso Dip On The Stove
If you want to make this easy queso dip recipe on the stove, you can easily do so! Simply set up a double boiler over low heat and stir frequently as cheese melts. Serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is queso dip spicy?
Slow cooker queso can be spicy, but the heat level is totally up to you. I used mild salsa verde, so along with all of the cheese, it’s got a little kick and a lot of flavor, but it’s not spicy! Just use a salsa that fits your desired spice level.
INGREDIENT TIP: If you want to add more spice on top of the salsa, you can always add in a few dashes of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chili powder, or jalapeño pepper slices.
Is queso keto?
Yes, queso dip with cream cheese is naturally low carb and keto friendly! Just make sure the queso you enjoy has no added starches or fillers (this one doesn’t!) and that whatever you dip in it isn’t high in carbs. This particular queso recipe contains just 2 grams carbs per 1/4 cup serving.
Can you use a full-size slow cooker?
Yes, you can, but you’d need to increase the recipe yield by 2-4 times, so that it’s not too empty. You can adjust the number of servings on the recipe card below to achieve this.

Storage Instructions
Feel free to make this keto queso dip ahead of time! It takes about 2 1/2 hours to cook and melt in the slow cooker, so it’s easy to start the queso dip in a Crock Pot and then have it ready for a party or get-together a few hours later.
How long is queso dip good for?
You can make the dip up to 3-5 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve, then reheat gently. But given that it literally takes 2 minutes to throw together, just make it a few hours before you need it!
Can you freeze queso dip?
I would not recommend freezing queso dip recipes. Dairy does not freeze and thaw well — the consistency changes — so it’s best to eat it within a few days. And honestly? I don’t think that will be a problem!
Reheating instructions:
Reheat queso in the slow cooker on the warm setting. The microwave or stovetop is also fine if needed.

What To Serve With Queso Dip
There are so many different things that you can serve with your Crock Pot cheese dip. You can obviously keep things simple and serve up your slow cooker queso dip with a variety of veggies, chips or crackers, or use it as an easy way to majorly upgrade tacos or some of these Mexican favorites:
- Raw Veggies – My favorites are mini bell peppers and celery. They make scooping so easy!
- Tortilla Chips – The most classic pairing! Make my almond flour tortilla chips for a healthier grain-free option.
- Crock Pot Taco Casserole – This easy Crock Pot queso will majorly upgrade this taco casserole, which is made in a full-sized slow cooker instead of a mini one, so you can make both at the same time.
- Tacos – Queso is delicious over any taco recipe (check my guide to low carb tacos for ideas!) Chipotle copycat barbacoa is one of my favorite taco fillings to pair with queso.
- Cauliflower Nachos – These nachos do already have cheese, so you can skip the shredded cheese and drizzle this over the top, OR use both for some majorly cheesy nachos.
More Easy Mexican Recipes
If you like this queso cheese dip recipe, you might enjoy some of these other easy Mexican recipes:
Tools To Make Slow Cooker Queso Dip
- Mini Crock Pot – If you serve a lot of warm dips or appetizers, a mini slow cooker is a must! This one is the perfect size for Crock Pot cheese dip.
- Divided Serving Tray – This dish has room for a variety of veggies and crackers, along with a bowl in the middle for this keto queso recipe.
Easy Queso Dip Recipe
Crock Pot Queso Dip Recipe (3 Ingredients)
This easy homemade queso dip recipe needs just 3 ingredients + 2 minutes prep! See how to make Crock Pot queso dip that's creamy, cheesy, and always a hit.
Recipe Video
Tap on the image below to watch the video.Like this video? Subscribe to my YouTube cooking channel for healthy recipes weekly! (Click the bell icon to be notified when I post a new video.)
Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
-
Mix all ingredients together in a mini slow cooker.
-
Cook on Low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring and whisking every 30 minutes to get rid of any lumps.
-
Optional: If you want even smoother dip, you can puree it in a blender at the end.
-
Return to the slow cooker on the warm setting to keep the dip warm.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram – I’d love to see it!
Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
Want to save this recipe?
Create a free account to save your favorite recipes!
Sign Up To Save Recipes© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

39 Comments
Natalie Dixon
0Can I add browned hamburger to the crock pot too?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Natalie, Yes, that would work.
C
0So good.
Sandra
0Thank You, Maya, for posting this! My son is sure to try this out. Bet he will even try to make this in the double boiler.
Sandra W.
Amy L Huntley
0So simple to make and so, so good! This dip does not last long at our house!
Laura
0Mmmmm this crock pot queso is amazing!!
Kristyn
0Cheesy & so delicious!! This will be a hit at all the holiday parties coming up!
Andrea Thueson
0This was magical! I love a good cheese dip, and this one did not disappoint.
Taylor
0This is my go-to appetizer recipe! It’s SO SO easy and tastes super delicious. Everyone always loves it!
Anne
0Gooey cheese, what more do you need? My kids will eat veggies without complaint when I add this dip!
Linda Bravo
0Is the mini crockpot a 2 quart?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Linda, It is 1.5 quarts.
Donna Straus
0It doesn’t get any easier! We love this dip!
Alan P
0Nice but can you cook it in a pan on the stove top on low heat? If so how long?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Alan, I have never attempted to use the stovetop for this recipe. If you try it let me know how it turns out.
Elena
0Perfect for dipping veggies!
Kelly Anthony
0You had me at 3 ingredients. This queso makes the perfect appetizer for any gathering.
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
0WOAH Drool Central! This is the dip of my dreams!!!! Netflix marathon is saved! I would totally just make this for myself!
Suzy
0WOW! Can’t believe how easy this was to make! SO hands off but so delicious!
Stephanie
0I made this in the slow cooker today and my kids loved it.
Carrie Robinson
0I just love that this is made in the slow cooker! 🙂
Faye
0Since I can’t have dairy, I made this with Miyoko’s sensational scallion vegan cream cheese, goat Gouda cheese and roasted green Chile. Came out very good. I also did it double boiler style. I put water in the skillet and the ingredients in a pot and set it down in the skillet and it took no time. No more than 20 minutes tops.
Chris
0Help! The print button in not working on your queso recipe. Need to print it, to try it. Thanks! LOVE your website!
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Chris, Try it again. The button is working now.
Mary
0I would LOVE to know what the chips are in you crockpot queso video! Thanks!
Wholesome Yum A
0Hi Mary, those are my low carb tortilla chips!
Pat
0Thank you for this simple & easy dip. I love simple & delicious recipes.
Nellie
0I am going to make this for New Years Eve!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Lindsay! I’m glad your family enjoyed it!
KetoDee and Lawana, I’ve never heard of that either – but I’m sure many families have their own versions. 🙂
Lawana Scott
0I agree, NEVER heard off grape jelly in queso, cheese dip or any variation of a cheese dish. I have only ever lived in Texas.
KetoDee
0Grape jelly?!? What part of Texas are you talking about? I’ve lived here all my life and have never, ever, ever had or heard of anyone make “cheese dip” (velveeta+rotel is NOT called queso in southeast Texas. We definitely know the difference!) this way. NEVER! I can’t even imagine what that could possibly taste like.
Lindsay
0I made this in the microwave yesterday! My family loved it! Thank you!
Sarah
0This is awesome! I’ve always thought those mini crockpots were so adorable! I love that your queso only has 3 ingredients! WIll be trying soon!
Pam
0Do you think you could use a can of Rotel?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Yes, definitely! That sounds like a delicious variation.
Kim | Low Carb Maven
0Love this – especially because it reminds me of my brother who is the queso King! In Texas, the common recipe for queso dip is a brick of Velveeta, a can of spicy Rotel tomatoes and a small jar of grape jelly. I think l much prefer your version made from wholesome and unprocessed ingredients!
Stacey Crawford
0I love this dip! 🙂
Georgina
0Mexican food, cheese, and a slow cooker – three of my favorite things!
Katrin Nuernberger
0This is such a simple recipe and it looks just yum. Thanks for sharing!