Spicy Slow Cooker Queso

This Spicy Slow Cooker Queso is one of the best make-ahead appetizers to have at the ready whenever you need it. The creamy cheesiness mixed with the kick of the jalapeños, green chilies, and paprika make for a delicious tasting experience. Plus, it’s a quick and easy one to throw in your trusty crock pot!

The mix of gooey meltable shredded cheese and creamy ingredients like evaporated milk and cream cheese leaves you with a smooth dip that pairs well with a variety of snack foods. Plus, little bites of jalapeño and green chilies top of the dining experience with that delicious kick.

Freezer meals and slow cookers go together like peanut butter and jelly: they’re the perfect pair! Taking this Spicy Slow Cooker Queso out and throwing it in your slow cooker makes for a quick but delectable appetizer or snack for whoever you’re feeding. That low effort, high reward feeling is exactly what we deliver to members of our Freezer Meals 101 Club. With the math, lists, and recipe testing done for you, when you join the club, you’ll enjoy less stress, delicious meals, and a system that works for your lifestyle. Check it out for yourself today!

Spicy Slow Cooker Queso

Ingredients:

• 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped, seeds and membrane removed
• 4 oz. green chilies
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 cup jalapeno jack cheese, shredded
• 4 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 12 fl. oz. evaporated milk
• ½ tsp. smoked paprika

Assembly instructions:

1. Place all ingredients in a large freezer bag. Remove excess air, seal and freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw. Cook in slow cooker 2-3 hours on low. Stir every 20 minutes until melted.
2. Serve with chips, raw veggies, soft pretzels, or on nachos.

Spicy Slow Cooker Queso Suggestions:

Achieving that well-loved creamy queso texture is all about the cheeses you use and the emulsifier you include. Without an emulsifier, melted cheeses can separate, leaving you with greasy fat and grainy proteins, rather than a creamy mix of both. We love to mix shredded cheese, cream cheese, and a healthy splash of evaporated milk (your emulsifier) for the sake of texture.

When deciding what to serve with queso, we like to go for a variety of textures as well as a good mix of light and heavy. Pretzels or nachos bring a great salty crunch that complements the dish well, while chopped veggies give the dish that extra freshness. Crispy tater tots are also always a favourite pairing with this dish as well.

To reheat leftover queso, we’d suggested adding it back into the slow cooker or heating slowly on the stovetop. The slower you reheat, the better. If, during the reheating process, things begin to look clumpy or dry, we recommend a splash of evaporated milk to get the texture back where it should be.

If you like your queso extra spicy, adding in a tablespoon of your favourite hot sauce or some extra jalapeños or green chilies will take the heat up a notch.

Looking for other great freezer to crock pot recipes?

Who doesn’t love a freezer meal to slow cooker recipe? Well, we sure do. In fact, we have an entire roundup of all of our favourites like Grape Jelly Roast, Chickpea and Vegetable Curry, Easy Kung Pao Chicken, Shredded Beef Nachos, and many more!