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This recipe was wonderful! Had a Super Bowl party with family and they all gave me two thumbs up for this one. Thank you!!!
Ronald
Waell, looks like we’re going to have to stuff our faces with favorite game day foods two posts in a row. Hmm. Darn.
When it comes to party food game food snack food etc, I have a deep and borderline inappropriate love for cheesy dips bubbling away inside of little mini Crockpots. And my ultimate weakness is almost always some variation of a Chili Cheese Dip which I regret to say is almost always is made with V to the elveeta. Just one question: WHY? Why have I never even thought to just make my own YUMMIER real cheese sauce?
So enter Homemade Cheesy Chili Dip: it starts with a made-from-scratch super quick chili with spicy sausage and black beans that is so deliciously Tex-Mex flavored because I must have all the spice in my mouth right now, and it’s stirred all up to the happy place of dip land with a creamy *real food* cheese sauce involving butter, flour, milk, and cheese AS CHEESE SAUCE SHOULD. It’s like spicy, mouth-hugging chili meets comforting, soul-melting cheese fondue. Grab a handful of chips (sweet potato chips! that’s a thing! Costco!) because things about to get crazy with the cheesy chili dip in the most homemade, real food, made-from-scratch way possible.
I had actually not really wanted to post this recipe today (too much game food all at once = annoying) but I’ve been really trying to make some awesome desserty-type things this week and the bottom line is that they have not been awesome and therefore they cannot be posted today. Sorry not sorry – you reeeeally would not be loving my dessert my recipes this week.
For example. I worked on at least 25 variations of a homemade pumpkin spice latte, and then I liked it but I didn’t love love LOVE it because you can never get the gritty part of the pumpkin to go away and it drives me bazonkers – seriously, how do you do it? and then everyone else in the world posted a recipe for it, so I stopped with the PSLs and everyone round these parts just breathed a sigh of relief. There have been, um, let me count – 183 batches of sugar-friendly healthier chocolate oat bars that have come and gone through the kitchen this week, all of which have basically been reminiscent of horse food. I don’t even know what horse food is except that I’m 99% sure that these bars are it. I feel like a horse chewing on whole grains from the field when I try to eat them and it’s SO not okay.
All that to say: sometimes food bloggers *points to self* cannot get their act together enough to mix up the recipes and you end up with two game day snack recipes in a row.
So, uh…. are you mad at me?
Wanna eat chips and cheesy chili dip with me as a peace offering?
I knew you would. ❤
Unlike my many attempts at the dessertier things in life lately, this homemade cheesy chili dip is a little something that I whipped up on a whim last Sunday when my in-laws were coming over to watch football with Bjork. Here’s the kicker (get it? football? ki– yeah, I’m clever like that) – I wasn’t even home during the game to go completely hog wild on this dip. I honestly just take my role as Chief Snack Maker so seriously that even if I know I’m not going to be sitting down and watching the game gorging on potato skins and cheesy chili dip, I still feel that it is my duty as ultimate food lover to make sure that the football game experience is completed with the most deliciously cheesy, flavor-loaded, rock-your-mouth-off snacks.
We didn’t know that his family was coming over until after I had gone grocery shopping, so my on-the-spot food brain scanned the kitchen and landed on a few staples: salsa, sausage, black beans, taco seasoning, cheese, milk, chips. And just like that, without any trip to the grocery store (my life loves when that happens), my favorite dip of all time was re-invented in the most REAL FOOD way. No need for Velvy up in this mini Crockpot. Homemade cheesy chili dip all the way.
It was seriously so good, so spicy and warm in that mouth-sizzle way with the creaminess of the cheese sauce to mellow it out and make you feel all college food and stuff. I made it again the very next day because why NOT keep a mini crockpot of cheesy chili dip in your fridge at all times? Bjork would eat bowls of this stuff like it was actual chili, like with a full blown spoon, and I would laugh at him because babe! it’s a DIP, not a bowl of chili. I probably shouldn’t tell you that, though. Forget it right now.
I’ll keep working on making those healthier desserts, and you keep working on loading up on this homemade cheesy chili dip with a handful of your fave chippers. Deal?
Deal.
Homemade Cheesy Chili Dip
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: makes about 6 cups – about 12 half cup servings 1x
Description
This Homemade Cheesy Chili Dip is made without the processed cheese! Just homemade spicy chili and creamy cheese sauce. Deeeelish!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground pork sausage
- 1 heaping tablespoon taco seasoning*
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 14-ounce can black beans, rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups salsa
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 3/4 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- fresh cilantro and/or green onions
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the sausage until golden brown and crumbled into small pieces. Drain off excess oil. Add the taco seasoning, cayenne, black beans, salsa, and water if it seems like it needs a little more liquid (this will depend on what kind of salsa you use). The consistency should be like a very thick chili.
- Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Add the flour and stir to form a paste. Slowly stream the milk in a little bit at a time, whisking a little bit after each addition. The sauce should thicken up gradually – continue to whisk in the liquid in small amounts and simmer until the sauce is thick enough to stick to the back of the spoon. Stir in the cheese until melted. Add the cheese sauce to the chili in the skillet from step one. Mix until well combined – stir in cilantro or green onions to taste.
- Transfer to a mini slow cooker (perfect for parties!) or a serving dish. Or just keep it on the stove so it stays warm. This can also be made a day or two in advance – the flavors just keep on getting better. 🙂
Notes
*I used a taco seasoning from a local spice shop (Penzey’s) and I’ve also used this taco spice mix in the past and loved it as well! Nothing funky – just good spicy taco flavor.
I also used a fresh store-bought salsa (Sabra brand) and it was really good – I think it would be fine with jarred salsa, but if you can get fresh, go for it!
If you find that the consistency is too runny, make a little extra of the cheese base (flour, milk, butter, cheese) and stir it in to the dip. It also thickens up as it cools, so don’t keep it SUPER hot – just warm.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Category: Dip
- Cuisine: Tex Mex
Keywords: cheese chili dip, chili dip, homemade chili dip
One More Thing!
This recipe is part of our collection of best dip recipes. Check it out!
Do what you feel! I personally can’t get enough cheesy items in my mouth (“salt tooth”), so I’m glad you went with this over a dessert.
I’m all about dippin’ especially as it gets cooler. This one looks fabulous and I bet my ‘men’ would devour it.
Pinned.
Have a great weekend!
Cheese + anything is a major yes please! But I usually cheat and use velveeta =) woops
That’s how we usually do it, but I can never go back now! The “real” way is so dang good.
Guess I missed something. What type of cheese do you use Linsey. From the pictures it almost looks like white EZ melt?
Um, YUM. Can’t wait to go on a potato skins + nacho cheesy chilli dip binge. I mean, isn’t that what weekends are for, games or no games? And I have to second Tessa, I’m so glad you picked this over a dessert.
Mad at you??? Can I kiss you instead? In a totally platonic, chili cheese dip kind of way of course!
HA! Mwah!
I know how it goes when you pop out a few bad recipes in a week. It’s been that kind of a week for me too. *sad face*. But this cheesy chili dip makes it all better.
Btw. These ‘cheesy’ pictures (yeah I just did that) are pulling at my heart strings. ♥
I feel you Lindsay, I’ve been trying to make the perfect vegan pumpkin chocolate chip bread since Sunday. The first wouldn’t bake through. Finally after 1 and 1/2 hours of baking I had to take it out of the oven! It looked beautiful, but when I cut it the top half collapsed, and the bottom half was gooey and raw. Kind of like the turkey in the movie Christmas Vacation. Then, I went to Sally’s Baking Addiction’s site and saw that she had just posted her beautiful pumpkin chocolate chip bread recipe. Ugh!
I’m so happy you made your own version of V cheese. The “real” stuff isn’t real at all. All of the food coloring and artificial flavors are not something humans should ingest. Just saying! 🙂
I get bummed when a foodie attempt goes awry. This one looks perfect for a football get together on a chilly fall day.
I am having a tailgate aka football party here this Sunday. I have bee looking for a good dip to make. I think this may go right to the top of the list. Love this recipe!
I seriously want to dive head first into this right now. Adding it to our weekend plans soon! 🙂
Your pictures make this dip look so amazing. I don’t know which I will like better; the taste of the dip after I make it or coming back and staring at these pictures. Pinning to try during an upcoming weekend.
This looks Amazing! I’m not a fan of Velveeta cheese dip and am always looking for dip recipes that use REAL cheese. We are going to a friends house for food/football this weekend. This might be the perfect thing to take.
I have a thing for cheesy dips as well. This looks yummy! Totally pinning to try soon!
Cheers to homemade all-natural cheese dips! This one looks amazing. And that first photo? Perfection.
Thanks Ali! Speaking of photos… I just emailed you a lil somethin. 🙂
This needs to get on the yum train to my mouth STAT. My goodness. Making asap. To dip everything in my life in. And maybe even to drink? Aw yeah.
And i’ll pick up any recipe you put down. So game day recipes? Sure, keep em coming!
Hahaha – thanks Morgan!
ohmygoodness. these recipes are making me want to become a football fan and get my tailgate on with these tasty snacks!
This is exactly the kind of thing I want to eat on a chilly afternoon sitting in front of the TV. Will turn me into a perma couch potato!
Yes. Totally. DANGEROUS.
I agree with Bjork – heck yes to eating this with a spoon – wait – forget the spoon – let’s get a shovel! I might have to do a small switcharoo with the cheese being lactose intolerant and all – but this here dip is worth its weight in gold!
Even just the chili itself would be yummy to dip with chips! 🙂
Putting this awesome recipe on my menu this weekend! Thank you for replacing the Velveeta!! #RealFoodForRealLife
I’ll never go back!
This looks so yummy!! I have to make this. What kind of cheese did you use?
Thanks!
I seriously just want to dive into this gooey, warm cheesiness. YUM! I’ve been looking for a good cheesy dip recipe that doesn’t rely on Velveeta. My search has officially ended! 😉
Saving for the game day! This dip will be gone in no time!
…but it’s so EASY! Who knew homemade cheese sauce could be that simple?! Velveeta grosses me out but there’s one recipe that I just can’t seem to perfect without it. Mac&cheese is the crockpot. OMGOMG my fave. How about you make a mac&cheese recipe next? 🙂
This is happening at my house tonight! It looks perfect for relaxing on a chilly Friday with a great movie in my pjs!
Made this tonight and it was a huge hit! I might even make this vegetarian with extra beans next time and it’ll still be super delicious! Thanks Lindsay!
I love hearing that! Thanks for the comment Michelle!
I am way too hungry for you to have posted this. Stop, Lindsay!