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posted November 03, 2022

Smoked Queso

If you’ve got a craving for the best dip around, this smoked queso is here to hit the spot! It’s velvety smooth and packed with flavor. Be sure to smoke up this queso before your next party or sporting event!

Corn tortilla chip dipped in smoked queso with text overlay - Smoked Queso.

Smoked Queso Dip

This smoked queso has taken over social media, and it’s no wonder! This cheesy smoked queso dip is totally addictive and perfect for parties.

Loaded smoked queso is a pan full of melty, meaty goodness. Smooth American melting cheese is mixed with smoked sausage, onions and peppers, chilis, cream cheese, and EVEN MORE CHEESE to make a dip that you can’t stop eating. Be sure to buy the sturdy tortilla chips for this smoked queso. You’re going to need them!

Cheese, beans, and meat in a disposable baking pan.

Ingredients for Smoked Queso

This recipe calls for a handful of ingredients, but it’ll all be worth it in the end. To begin, you’ll need the following:

  • 1 pound pork sausage
  • 3 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Fiesta Rub
  • 1 red bell pepper
  • 1 jalapeno
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion
  • 6 cloves garlic

Next, you’ll be making a pico de Gallo from the following ingredients:

  • 3 medium tomatoes
  • 1 jalapeno
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup cilantro
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion
  • 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Fiesta Rub
  • Lime juice, to taste

Last up, you’ll need the following for the queso itself:

  • 1 can pinto beans
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 16 ounces Velveeta

You can purchase a bottle of Fiesta Rub from the Hey Grill Hey Store, or you can make it from scratch using my recipe for Homemade Fiesta Rub.

Meatballs on a baking rack above meatballs.

How Long to Smoke Queso

It takes approximately 45 minutes to smoke queso. This allows time for the cheese to melt and the smoke flavor to penetrate the ingredients. 

If you choose to smoke the veggies and sausage in this recipe, plan on smoking those for 45 minutes prior to smoking the cheeses. I love the double smoke flavor you get from smoking the sausage and peppers, but if you’re shorter on time you can cook them together in a skillet instead.

Tips for Making Smoked Queso

Here are some tips for making this awesome smoked queso.

  • Try a different cheese dip. Not a fan of Velveeta? Check out my post for Skillet Bacon Smoked Cheese Dip! It uses cream cheese and a roux to thicken instead of Velveeta.
  • Swap out and add other goodies to suit. Chorizo for a spicier sausage, drained black beans, hot sauce, etc.
  • Is the Queso too thick? If your queso ends up a little thick with all the goodies, you can stir in a couple of tablespoons of milk to get to the right consistency.

Corn tortilla chip dipped in smoked queso.

More Smoked Dip Recipes

These smoked dip recipes are all delicious and super amazing. They are great for appetizers or sides. Check out a few favorites below.

Smoked Queso Recipe

Follow the video below and let’s make something delicious! I’m all about helping you make better BBQ, feed the people you love, and become a BBQ hero. If you want to see more of my recipes, tips, and behind-the-scenes action, follow along on my social channels. You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube!

Corn tortilla chip dipped in smoked queso.

Smoked Queso

Susie Bulloch
If you’ve got a craving for the best dip around, this smoked queso is here to hit the spot! It’s velvety smooth and packed with flavor. Be sure to smoke up this queso before your next party or sporting event!
Prep Time : 20 mins
Cook Time : 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time : 1 hr 50 mins
Servings : 12 people
Calories : 337kcal

Video

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound pork sausage
  • 3 Tablespoons Hey Grill Hey Fiesta Rub (divided use, recipe in notes section)
  • 1 red bell pepper (seeded and diced)
  • 1 jalapeno (seeded and diced)
  • ½ cup yellow onion (diced)
  • 6 cloves garlic (diced)

Pico de Gallo

  • 3 medium tomatoes (diced)
  • 1 jalapeno (seeded and diced)
  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ½ cup cilantro (chopped)
  • ½ cup yellow onion (diced)
  • 1 Tablespoon Hey Grill Hey Fiesta Rub
  • lime juice (to taste)

Queso

  • 1 can pinto beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 2 cups shredded Mexican Blend cheese
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (cubed)
  • 16 ounces Velveeta

Instructions

  • Preheat. Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees F with your favorite hardwood.
  • Prep the veggies and sausage. Lay a large sheet of foil on a rimmed baking sheet. Add the diced peppers, onions, and garlic to the pan and mix to combine. Top the pan with a flat cooling rack. Break the sausage into 4-6 balls and set them on the rack above the vegetables. Season with 2 Tablespoons of the Fiesta Rub.
  • Smoke the veggies and sausage. Place the pan of veggies and sausage on the preheated smoker, close the lid, and cook for 45 minutes.
  • Prepare the pico de gallo. In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, jalapeños, onions, cilantro, lime juice, and Fiesta Rub. Taste and adjust the lime and seasoning as needed. Refrigerate until needed.
  • Make the queso. Remove the sausage and peppers from the grill. Crumble the sausage and mix it with the peppers. Add the sausage and peppers to a half-sized aluminum pan. To the pan, add the beans, shredded cheese, cream cheese, and cheese.
  • Smoke the queso. Set the pan on the smoker, close the lid, and smoke for 45 minutes until the cheeses are all melted. Remove from the smoker and stir in the last 1 Tablespoon of Fiesta Rub. If your queso is too thick, add in a couple of tablespoons of milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • Serve. Top the finished queso with the fresh pico de gallo and serve with chips, veggies, or crackers.

Notes

Fiesta Rub

Nutrition

Calories: 337kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 1115mg | Potassium: 399mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1478IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 465mg | Iron: 1mg
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