Traeger Smoked 3-Ingredient Queso Dip

Looking for a quick and easy recipe to delight your guests on game day? Try this simple three-ingredient dish that can be prepped and ready in under 45 minutes. While there are many queso recipes out there, why spend so much time making elaborate dips when you can impress your guests with this easy and delicious recipe?

On game day, I always have multiple items cooking on several smokers. That’s why I confidently chose to use my Traeger Ranger for this occasion. This versatile smoker is small, heats up quickly, and never fails to deliver that delicious wood-fired flavor.

Smoked Queso Dip on the Traeger is the game-day appetizer that sets the tone for the whole party. Three simple ingredients — Velveeta, seasoned ground beef, and no-bean chili — go into the smoker and emerge as a rich, bubbling, wood-fired dip that tastes like it took all day to make. The Traeger does all the heavy lifting, and the result is deeply flavorful with that unmistakable smokiness you simply cannot replicate on the stovetop. Set it out with chips and watch it disappear before the first quarter ends.

Why should you try this recipe

• Quick recipe: Game day is all about spending quality time with your friends and soaking in the excitement of the game. This recipe is the perfect way to ensure that you can enjoy every minute of it, without having to worry about spending too much time in the kitchen. With minimal prep and quick cook time, you can sit back and enjoy the game with your buds, knowing that a delicious and hassle-free snack is on its way.

• Delicious on a cool game day: Memories are the best when they’re made from simple pleasures in life, don’t you think? Like indulging in some gooey, melted cheese and chili on a chilly Sunday afternoon. This recipe is truly noteworthy because it can create a delicious appetizer in no time.

• Versatility: By using just three simple ingredients, you can create a delicious meal that is both easy and versatile. With a little creativity, you can experiment with different ingredients to add more variety and excitement to your dish. Whether it’s adding some chorizo, different types of cheese, or fresh vegetables, there are endless possibilities to elevate your cooking and create new bursts of flavor.

Ingredients for Smoked Queso Dip

• 1 lb Ground Beef:  Just grab some simple 80/20 ground chuck to brown up and place into the dip.
• 1 lb Velveeta:  For this recipe I used the original 2% milk version, cutting a 2 lb block in half before cubing it up. 
• Hormel No Bean Chili:  This is my favorite chili can to use, it packs great flavor and keeps the beans away for some picky, younger guests.
• 2 tbps Smoked Q Rock’s Coffee Rub:  Adding the Smoked Q Rock’s Coffee Rub layers in some earthy, savory flavors taking this dip to the next level
• Café Style Tortilla Chips:  Any chips will do, but I like grabbing some of the larger café style tortilla chips that create a large vessel to dip into the queso.

Instructions for making Smoked Queso Dip

1. Brown the beef: To get started, I turned on my Traeger Flatrock to medium-high heat to brown the ground beef. Using a spatula, I broke up the beef and browned all sides before placing it on a tray to rest before layering it into the dip.

2. Dice up the Velveeta: While the ground beef is browning up, I diced up the Velveeta into approximately ½ inch by ½ inch cubes before placing it into a medium-sized cast iron skillet. 

3. Incorporate ingredients: With the ground beef browned up and the Velveeta cubed, I opened the Hormel No Bean Chili and dumped it into the cast iron, along with the ground beef and Velvetta  

4. Season with Rock’s Coffee Rub: Before placing the cast iron on the Traeger Ranger, I sprinkled on 2 tbsp of Smoked Q Rock’s Coffee Rub

5. Cook to incorporate: Using my Traeger Ranger set to 325º I placed the cast iron filled with the chili dip ingredients on for about 30 minutes until the cheese melted and began to bubble

Variations and Substitutions:

Substitution or variation: This appetizer recipe is a perfect canvas for your creativity. Swap out the ground beef for something adventurous like ground elk or spicy like chorizo. Add jalapenos for an extra kick or layer in some unique cheeses to create a flavor explosion. The possibilities are endless.

• Cheese swap: Replace half the Velveeta with a block of pepper jack cheese for a spicier, more complex flavor with enough heat to keep everyone reaching back in.
• Make-ahead: Brown the ground beef up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. On game day, combine all ingredients in the foil pan and put it straight on the smoker — zero-stress entertaining.
• Storage: Store leftover queso in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a small saucepan over low heat with a splash of milk, stirring until smooth.
• Protein variation: Swap ground beef for cooked chorizo or shredded pulled chicken for a different protein that pairs just as well with the smoky cheese base.
• Serving suggestion: Serve with tortilla chips and also set out celery sticks, sliced bell peppers, and warm flour tortillas so the whole crowd can customize their own dipping experience.

Tips and tricks for making this Smoked Queso Dip

Dice up the block cheese: When I’ve been short on time, slicing up the cheese block into larger pieces can be a quick solution. However, I’ve found it to be an inefficient way to quickly melt together the flavors. That’s why I recommend dicing the cheese into smaller pieces before cooking. This will ensure that the cheese melts together quickly and evenly, resulting in a better-tasting dish.

Go cheesy or go meaty: Embracing the cheesiness or meatiness, depending on the group, is a great way to go. For those who love meat, loading up on one or more types will definitely be appreciated. But if the group is full of cheese lovers, then incorporating more dairy products would be a great idea. Remember, catering to the preferences of your group can make all the difference in making the event enjoyable for everyone.

Thin it out: This dip recipe is absolutely delicious, and it can be thick at times. However, you can easily make adjustments to the consistency by adding some whole milk or beer. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you. Get creative and enjoy!