The Ultimate Sausage Cheese Dip: Your Go-To Appetizer for Any Gathering

Prepare for an explosion of flavor that will make your taste buds sing! This irresistible Sausage Cheese Dip is a universal crowd-pleaser, guaranteed to vanish moments after hitting the table. It’s a harmonious blend of savory Italian sausage, zesty Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, sweet onions, creamy Velveeta, and rich cream cheese, all baked to perfection until smooth and bubbly. Whether you choose to serve it sizzling hot from a cast iron skillet or simmering gently in a slow cooker, this dip promises to be the star of your next party. Your tortilla chips, and more importantly, your guests, will undoubtedly thank you for introducing them to this sensational recipe.

Sausage Cheese Dip with Rotel Tomatoes: The Perfect Game Day Essential

Elevate your game day experience with a generous serving of this mouthwatering Sausage Cheese Dip. This robust dip, featuring a winning combination of Velveeta, cream cheese, and flavorful Rotel tomatoes, is an undeniable hit with everyone. Its versatility is a major advantage; you can easily customize the spice level to cater to all palates. Prepare a fiery version for those who crave heat and a milder option for a gentler kick. Just be sure to label them clearly to prevent any mischievous family members from swapping them! If your family adores classic hamburger dip, they are in for an even spicier and more complex treat with this Italian sausage-infused delight.

Why a Cast Iron Skillet is Perfect for Your Hot Dip

There’s something truly special about preparing and serving this dip in a single cast iron skillet. The skillet’s ability to seamlessly transition from stovetop to oven makes the cooking process incredibly efficient. Beyond its practical benefits, serving the dip directly from a hot cast iron skillet adds a rustic charm and ensures it stays warm for longer, enhancing the overall experience. Just remember to place it on a heat-safe surface for serving. While the skillet method is a personal favorite for its convenience and presentation, this recipe is incredibly adaptable. Detailed instructions are also provided for preparing this scrumptious dip in a slow cooker or even a microwave, offering flexibility for any occasion or kitchen setup.

Essential Ingredients for Your Delectable Sausage Cheese Dip

Crafting this savory dip requires a simple yet powerful list of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in its irresistible flavor and creamy texture. Understanding each component helps you tailor the dip to your preferences:

• Ground Italian Sausage: The heart of this dip, Italian sausage brings a complex blend of spices like fennel, garlic, and paprika. You can choose mild, sweet, or hot varieties to control the dip’s overall spiciness. Its rich flavor forms the perfect base.
• Velveeta Cheese: Known for its unparalleled melting quality, Velveeta creates the signature smooth, velvety texture that makes this dip so incredibly dippable. It’s the secret to avoiding a grainy or separated cheese sauce.
• Cream Cheese: Adding a wonderful tang and extra richness, cream cheese contributes to the dip’s luxurious body and helps stabilize the cheese mixture, preventing it from becoming too oily.
• Green Onions: Sliced green onions provide a fresh, pungent counterpoint to the richness of the cheese and sausage. The white and light green parts are typically sautéed with the sausage for a subtle flavor, while the vibrant green tops are reserved for a fresh garnish.
• Rotel (Diced Canned Tomatoes with Green Chilies): This iconic ingredient is non-negotiable for authentic flavor. Rotel offers a perfect balance of diced tomatoes, tender green chilies, and a hint of spice, adding both moisture and a distinctive zesty kick. It comes in various heat levels (mild, original, hot) allowing you to fine-tune your dip’s heat.

Crafting Your Skillet Oven-Baked Sausage Cheese Dip: Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these easy steps to create a warm, bubbly, and utterly delicious sausage cheese dip:

1. Prepare Your Oven and Skillet: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While the oven heats, place a sturdy cast iron skillet over medium-high heat on your stovetop.
2. Brown the Sausage and Onions: Add the ground Italian sausage to the hot skillet. Break it apart with a spoon and begin to brown it. As the sausage cooks, add the sliced white and light green parts of your green onions to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is no longer pink and the onions are softened and translucent. This step is crucial for developing deep flavor.
3. Drain Excess Grease: Once the sausage is thoroughly browned, carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet. This prevents the dip from becoming overly oily and ensures a cleaner, richer flavor profile.
4. Incorporate Cheese and Rotel: Return the skillet to the stovetop (heat off, or on very low). Add the cubed Velveeta cheese, softened cream cheese, and the entire can of Rotel (undrained) to the browned sausage mixture. Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
5. Initial Bake for Melting: Transfer the skillet to your preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. This initial bake allows the cheeses to begin melting and softening beautifully.



6. Stir Until Smooth: Remove the skillet from the oven. Using a sturdy spoon or spatula, stir the mixture vigorously until all the cheeses are fully melted and the dip achieves a smooth, creamy, and uniform consistency. Ensure there are no lumps remaining.
7. Final Bake and Serve: Return the skillet to the oven for an additional 10 minutes. This final bake ensures the dip is piping hot and gloriously bubbly. Once removed, garnish generously with the reserved green onion tops for a burst of fresh flavor and color. Serve immediately, straight from the hot cast iron skillet, with an ample supply of your favorite tortilla chips.

Love This Recipe? Pin It for Later!

Don’t let this incredible recipe get lost in the digital shuffle when you’re ready to whip it up next time! Make sure to save it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you navigate away. Pinning is a fantastic way to keep your most-loved dishes organized and easily accessible for future cooking inspiration and meal planning. Share the deliciousness with your friends and followers too – they’ll thank you for the fantastic dip recommendation!

Tips for Preventing Your Rotel Velveeta Dip from Hardening

One of the most common concerns with cheese dips is them cooling down and becoming hard or thick. The key to maintaining a silky, dippable consistency for your Sausage Cheese Dip is consistent, low heat. If the dip starts to thicken or harden while serving, don’t fret! A simple trick is to add a tablespoon or two of evaporated milk or even plain water. Stir it in thoroughly and gradually until the dip returns to its desired creamy texture. Avoid adding too much liquid at once; you can always add more if needed. If your dip has completely hardened after sitting for a while, simply reheat it gently over low heat on the stovetop or in the oven, stirring frequently and adding a splash of liquid until it’s perfectly smooth again. Patience and gentle heat are your allies in keeping this dip irresistible.

What Exactly Are Rotel Tomatoes?

Rotel tomatoes are a game-changer for many Tex-Mex and American comfort food dishes, especially dips. You’ll find these unique canned vine-ripened diced tomatoes seasoned with green chilies in the canned goods aisle of most major grocery stores. What sets Rotel apart is its signature blend of savory tomatoes and just the right amount of spicy green chilies, delivering an incredible depth of flavor that can truly elevate a dish. They come in various formulations: original, mild, and hot, catering to different heat preferences. Some specialty versions might even include roasted chilies, hotter varieties like habaneros, or a lime-seasoned blend, offering a plethora of options. For this Sausage Cheese Dip, the original or mild green chile style is usually perfect, ensuring a delicious outcome every time. If, by chance, you can’t locate Rotel, don’t despair! You can easily create your own blend by combining a can of diced tomatoes with a can of diced green chilies. This allows you to control the spice level and recreate that essential Rotel flavor.

Choosing Your Sausage: Hot or Mild Italian for the Best Cheese Dip

Just as Rotel offers customizable heat, your choice of sausage significantly impacts the dip’s flavor profile. Italian sausage, whether mild, sweet, or hot, is highly recommended for this Velveeta and cream cheese dip. Its inherent blend of spices and herbs—including garlic, basil, and black pepper—contributes a rich, savory layer that complements the creamy cheese and zesty tomatoes beautifully. Using Italian sausage takes much of the guesswork out of seasoning, as it already brings a complex flavor profile to the table. However, if Italian sausage isn’t available or preferred, great spiced pork breakfast sausage can also do this dip justice, offering a slightly different but equally delicious character. Even a well-seasoned ground beef can be used as a base, giving you endless possibilities to adapt this recipe to your taste.

Storing and Reheating Your Delicious Sausage and Velveeta Cheese Dip

While many dips don’t store particularly well, this Sausage and Velveeta Cheese Dip is an exception, provided it’s kept properly. For best results, transfer any leftover dip into an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will remain delicious for up to a week. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat it gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring frequently, or in the microwave in short intervals, stirring between each. You might find that a few stirs are all it needs to return to its smooth consistency, and often, the flavors meld even further upon reheating, becoming richer. Freezing is also an option; the dip can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. However, with a dip this popular, you might find yourself heading to the store for more tortilla chips long before you ever need to worry about freezing leftovers!

More Great Skillet and Slow Cooker Dips for Your Next Game Day or Gathering

Serving an outstanding dip is a guaranteed win, no matter the outcome of the game! Whether it’s the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, the Masters, or simply a casual get-together with friends, a delicious dip always elevates the mood. This versatile Sausage Cheese Dip is also perfect for tailgating; serve it from a crockpot to keep it warm, or heat it directly in your cast iron skillet over a tailgate grill or some hot coals for an added smoky flavor that sounds absolutely incredible! A great dip is more than just food; it’s an experience that brings people together.

Here are some more beloved dip favorites to inspire your next culinary creation:

• Texas Trash Dip (warm bean and cheese dip) pictured above – a hearty, flavorful bean dip loaded with gooey cheese.
• Chili Cheese Dip – a classic, comforting dip combining hearty chili with melted cheese.
• Dill Pickle Dip – a surprisingly refreshing and tangy dip for pickle lovers.
• Slow Cooker Crab Dip – an elegant and rich seafood dip, perfect for entertaining.
• Olive Dip – a savory, old-fashioned favorite, often paired with stuffed celery.
• Crock Pot Reuben Dip – all the flavors of a classic Reuben sandwich, transformed into a warm, creamy dip.

Why wait for a special occasion like game day? Indulge in the irresistible pleasure of this Sausage Cheese Dip RIGHT NOW! It’s easy, it’s comforting, and it’s utterly delicious.

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Print Recipe

Sausage Cheese Dip

Italian sausage, two kinds of cheese, tomatoes, onions and green chilies all swirled together to make the most epic hot cheese dip!

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Course: Dips

Cuisine: American

Keyword: BEST dip recipes, sausage cheese dip, sausage dip, tailgate dips, velveeta sausage dip with cream cheese

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 317kcal

Author: Michaela Kenkel

Equipment

• Crock-Pot Cook & Carry 6-Quart Oval Portable Manual Slow Cooker
• Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25″, Black

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground Italian Sausage (mild, sweet, hot, whatever is your liking)
• 16 ounces Velveeta cheese
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 6 green onions (sliced (tops separated from the bottoms))
• 1 10 ounce can Rotel

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a cast iron skillet on the stovetop brown Italian sausage with onion until sausage is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
3. Add cubed cheese and Rotel to the sausage. Place in oven and bake for 10 minutes. Stir smooth and bake for 10 minutes more. Garnish with tops of green onions before serving with tortilla chips.

Notes

• To prepare in the crockpot, add browned sausage to the slow cooker with cheese and Rotel, cook on high for 1 hour or low for 3 before serving.
• To prepare in the microwave, add browned meat to a microwave-safe casserole dish, along with cheese and Rotel and microwave on high for 4 minutes. Remove lid, stir. Microwave on one-minute intervals until cheese is melted and you are able to stir it all smooth.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 1038mg | Sugar: 5g