Easy skillet rotel dip with savory ground beef, melted cheese and zesty tomatoes. This camping recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd!

Chip with rotel dip being held over a skillet of cheesy rotel dip.

While this easy Rotel dip recipe is one of those party foods that is perfect for game nights and holiday parties at home, it also makes an ideal addition to your camping menu. Cast iron is our go-to for tons of camping meal and snack recipes, so we always have at least one large skillet in our camp kitchen.

It is the perfect pan for cooking on over a fire. We highly recommend everyone has one so that they can make this easy skillet rotel dip!

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Table of Contents

Today’s cheesy Rotel dip with ground beef and sausage is just the kind of recipe we want – quick, easy, and delicious. This flavorful dip is always a crowd pleaser.

It makes a great snack to enjoy around the campfire in the evening. It is also an easy appetizer to throw together after a long day of hiking or hanging out at the beach, when my boys just can’t wait for dinner and everyone is on the verge of being hangry.

Cheese dip with ground beef and diced tomatoes in a skillet.

Skillet Rotel Dip

When we put together a camping menu, we look for recipes with a short cook time and simple ingredients. We don’t want to spend so much time prepping food that we miss out on all the fun of camping! This goes for meals and snacks equally.

Loaded with great flavor, this easy cheesy dip recipe is going to be a hit with the whole family. Check out the full instructions, along with step-by-step photos, below.

Cheese dip with ground beef and diced tomatoes in a cast iron skillet.

What is Rotel?

Rotel is a brand of diced tomatoes made with a blend of vine-ripened tomatoes, zesty green chilies, and mixture of secret spices.

What can I substitute for Rotel?

Canned diced tomatoes are a standard substitute, but lack the spicy flavor profile. Chunky salsa, with its tomato base and hot peppers, is the best choice.

Cheese dip with ground beef, sausage and diced tomatoes in a skillet.

Tips and Tricks

If your family doesn’t love Italian sausage, just switch it out. You could try substituting another kind of mild sausage, a spicy sausage, ground turkey, ground chicken, or just add more of the cooked ground beef. You could even use kidney or black beans.
For more of a spicy dip, add in some hot taco seasoning or chili powder.
When planning for camping, I like to do as much meal prep as possible before we leave. Having easy access to hot running water makes clean up much easier.
Brown hamburger meat and ground sausage at home to make this dip even easier. Pack it in Ziploc bags for flexible storage.

Rotel dip ingredients in packaging on a wooden table.

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Tips for cooking with cast iron

When cooking with cast iron, be sure to season the surface first.
Always use gloves or oven mitts while cooking as the surface of the iron will be hot.
Cook the recipe over an open fire using hot coals, not open flames. A fire that is too hot will burn the outside of your recipe and not cook the inside. Learn how to make a campfire for cooking.
Be sure to clean the cast iron with a rough vegetable scrubber, rinse and dry thoroughly before storing.

Ingredients

Velveeta cheese, cubed
Can of Rotel tomatoes
Lean ground beef, cooked
Italian sausage, cooked
Monterey jack cheese, shredded – you could use a different cheese, such as white cheddar, if you prefer.