‘Tis the Season for all the parties. And more parties. And more parties. With each one, you’re meant to bring something for everyone to share. Spreads of finger foods and party foods abound and you sure can’t swing one more charcuterie board. Which is just fine, because you’re about to have a recipe in your pocket that is guaranteed to be a hit every time. As a bonus, it won’t empty your wallet like a board of meat and cheese nibbles.

Today, we’re making Slow Cooker Queso!

It’s easy and hands off, which means you can do other things like spend an hour deciding what to wear while the queso cooks. I can’t help you with your closet crisis, but I can at least take your contribution to the party off your list of decisions to make.

Now, this will require you to have one of those mini slow cookers. The round variety is ideal for this particular recipe. But never fear about this being a one-trick wonder. The round mini slow cookers are also perfect for small batches of soup, marinara meatballs, creamy chicken for pasta, single serve meatloaf, lil smokies in BBQ sauce, shepherd’s pie for one, and our favorite… spiced apple cider. The one pictured above was a Christmas gift a couple of years ago, so don’t be afraid to ask Santa for one this year. If you’re slotted for the Naughty List, you can find them on Amazon in white or stainless steel for $14.99.

Slow Cooker Queso

Recipe by HRM Coupon QueenCourse: AppetizersDifficulty: Beginner

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

hours

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese
3 cups shredded cheddar
1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes with green chiles)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder (optional)
1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
milk, as needed (optional)

Directions

Load all ingredients, except milk, into a 1.5 qt slow cooker, making sure tomatoes are the last in on top.
Cook on LOW for two hours.
Stir queso to combine all ingredients and insure they’ve melted together.
Add milk in small splashes if queso is too thick. Stir in milk additions until desired consistency is ready.
Serve with tortilla chips. (Although poured over a burrito is a tasty option too.)

Notes

It’s important to cook the queso on the LOW setting to prevent scorching. If it’s time to leave for your soiree and it’s not quite melted, a quick run of a few minutes on HIGH should finish the job.