Queso Skillet Recipe (Easy Cheesy Chili Dip)

Savor the outdoors with our Queso Skillet Recipe! This easy cheesy chili dip is a camping delight – sure to warm your wilderness nights.

One of our favorite things about camping, besides ALL of it, is eating! Some of you might be thinking that we are crazy. Camp food consists of nothing more than hot dogs and s’mores.

How is that something to look forward to? Well, we can promise you, eating while camping doesn’t have to be boring! And it shouldn’t be!

Part of the reason we write these posts is to show you just how delicious and fun food can be, even when you are away from home.

Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!

Everyone loves a good dip. Today’s skillet queso dip is such a great recipe to take camping because it uses just a few simple ingredients and takes minutes to put together.

Of course, you can easily make this copycat Chili’s skillet queso recipe at home in the comfort of your own kitchen, but our family loves taking it on the road and making it at our campsite. It makes the perfect appetizer to share while everyone is waiting for dinner to be ready.

We usually serve it up with bottomless chips (at least the boys seem to think the bags are bottomless!) and raw veggies.

Skillet Queso Dip

Besides being a wonderful appetizer, we also love having this yummy queso as a mid afternoon or evening snack. Because of how easy it is to prepare, this recipe is also a great option for busy moms who need to get some food into their kids quickly after spending hours at the beach or exploring the area around the campsite.

With its creamy texture and great flavor, your family is going to love this cheesy dip.

This post contains affiliate links.

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 – this is the perfect cheese for melting! Pepper jack cheese would work too.
• Canned chili – Hormel Chili No Beans is ideal for that Chili’s copycat flavor but your favorite chili is just fine.
• Milk – whatever you have in the cooler or camper fridge.
• Paprika, cumin and chili powder – you could also use cayenne pepper for some extra spice.
• Lime juice – fresh squeezed is always best.

Instructions

1. Cut the Velveeta into cubes.

2. Combine the cheese with remaining ingredients in a large skillet over medium heat.

3. Stir frequently until the cheese melts, about 15 minutes.

4. Serve with chips or cut up vegetables for dipping.

Variations

• While I prefer using a bean-less chili in this recipe, you can use a bean chili as well. The dip will just be chunkier.
• Add ground beef. Cook it at home before you leave and save yourself the extra cleanup at camp.
• Substitute some heavy cream for some of the milk for an even creamier result.
• Throw in sharp cheddar cheese. I always take packaged pre-shredded cheese with us in the trailer for easy cooking.
• Instead of Velveeta try using cream cheese or monterrey jack cheese.
• Top your dip with sour cream and green onions.
• Use this yummy cheese sauce on burgers, hot dogs, and nachos.

Tips and Tricks

• Serve with pita bread, your favorite tortilla chips, corn chips.
• When planning for your next camping trip, make a list of all the ingredients needed for all of your camping meals. This will be your packing list. It also makes it much easier to see exactly what groceries you need to buy and to make up a shopping list.
• When it comes to camping meals, do as much food prep as you can at home. This saves time and effort and makes for easy cleanup when you don’t have quick access to hot water.
• This easy appetizer recipe can be made at home in your slow cooker or on the stove top.
• Store any leftover dip refrigerated in an airtight container.

Add this quick and easy recipe to your camping menu this year. For more yummy campfire dips, try this spinach dip or this cheesy vegetable dip.

If you love this skillet queso dip recipe, please give it a five star review and help us share it on Facebook or Pinterest.