Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip

Name: Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 9-10 Ounces Mexican Chorizo*; 1/2 Medium Onion (roughly 1/2 cup) - diced; 10 Ounce Can Rotel; 8 Ounces Cream Cheese; 8 Ounces Mild Cheddar - shredded*; 1/3 Cup Hot Sauce; 1/2 Teaspoon Salt; Pickled Jalapenos; Limes Slices; Green Onion - diced; Cilantro - chopped

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Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip is a super easy and outrageously cheesy appetizer great for any occasion! Loaded with spicy chorizo, tangy buffalo sauce, cream, and cheddar cheese, and topped with pickled jalapenos, lime, and cilantro - all baked in one skillet. This dip will be an instant hit!

Y'all know I am a sucker for an appetizer. Like you can't have a party without one. Heck, Justin and I can't have a Friday night without an app for 2 with a glass of wine! And lately, we have been LOVING (like shamefully loving) this Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip. 😋

I mean who isn't a sucker for a cheese dip?? Honestly.

close up of Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip in a cast iron skillet with hot sauce and chips next to it.

But this one is loaded with

spicy chorizo
cream and cheddar cheeses
Rotel and diced onions
buffalo sauce
and all baked in a cast iron skillet!

It is so unbelievably easy, you won't believe it! Let me walk you through it now.

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Ingredients Needed
How to Make
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ingredients Needed

You just need 7 simple ingredients for this skillet chorizo queso dip:

Mexican Chorizo
Onion
Rotel
Cream Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Hot Sauce
Salt

chorizo, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, rotel and hot sauce in a cast iron skillet.

Then to take this over the top once it is finished, we are going to top it with:

Pickled Jalapenos
Limes Slices
Green Onion
Cilantro

How to Make

Like I said earlier, this couldn't be easier to make.

STEP ONE: Place a large cast-iron skillet on the stove over medium heat and add in your chorizo. Cook for about 5 minutes until browned and fully cooked through, making sure to chop and break up into small pieces as you cook (like ground beef). I find using this meat chopper so helpful in the process (*affiliate link). Drain off any access grease from the chorizo if there is a lot.

STEP TWO: Once the chorizo is cooked, add the rest of the ingredients to the skillet (diced onion, can of Rotel, cream cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, hot sauce, and salt).

STEP THREE: Place the skillet in a preheated 350-degree oven and bake for 15 minutes.

STEP FOUR: Once the time is up, remove from the oven, and gently mix the dip together. The melted cheese and rest of the ingredients will slowly start to come together to make a super cheesy and creamy dip. You will have to mix for a minute or two to bring it all together, but just keep stirring until it does.

STEP FIVE: Top with pickled jalapenos, chopped cilantro, diced green onions, and lime slices on the side. Enjoy immediately hot right out of the oven with your favorite chips!

Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip after baking in the oven and right before needing to be stirred.

This easy cast iron skillet cheese dip with chorizo is best enjoyed around the table or standing around the counter enjoying right out of the skillet with friends and family. It won't be long before it is all devoured! Enjoy this for Super Bowl Sunday, any game or tailgate event, games nights, or just when the craving hits! It will be one of your favorite and go-to appetizers!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make this Ahead of Time?

Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip is best made right at the time you want to enjoy it and not ahead of time. While this dip takes less than 30 minutes to make, you can prep some of the ingredients ahead of time such as pre-shredding the cheese, dicing your onions and toppings, and precooking the chorizo - to save you even more time!

How to Store Leftovers and How to Reheat

Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days in the fridge. To reheat, add to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds intervals until hot and melty again.

Should I Drain the Chorizo Grease Before Adding the Rest of the Ingredients?

You can drain the chorizo grease for this dip if you would like, or not. I have used 2 different types of chorizo for this recipe. This one from my local Walmart and this one from Porter Road. The Cacique brand definitely had more grease and I could have drained it, but I didn't. It was fine not to, but also would have made mixing at the end a little easier since there was a bit more fat/liquid to stir in. The Porter Road chorizo gave off little to no grease, so it was not even necessary to drain. Totally is just a personal preference.

What is Chorizo?

We are using Mexican chorizo in this recipe, and it is a type of ground pork sausage that needs to be cooked that has a bunch of regional flavors and spices added to it, such as chiles. Giving it its unique red color and spicy flavor. There is a Spanish type of chorizo that is already cooked and can be sliced and enjoyed on charcuteries boards like salami.

Is This Dip Spicy?

Chorizo and cheese dip does have a kick to it and is spicy, thanks to the chorizo and hot sauce. If you do not like spice, you can add less hot sauce and use ground beef, turkey, or chicken. This will change the flavor of the recipe, but this substitution can be made.

Can I Make This Without a Cast Iron Skillet?

If you do not have a cast-iron skillet, you can make this chorizo cheese dip in any oven-safe skillet or pot you have. Such as a dutch oven.

Can I Make in a Slow Cooker?

Absolutely! If you would prefer, this can be made in a slow cooker. Brown your chorizo on the stove first. Add it along with the rest of the ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-4 hours, making sure to stir occasionally. Stir to completely combine before serving and keep the slow cooker on warm to keep the cheese warm and melty.

Can I Use Different Cheese?

You can use a different cheese for this recipe. The cream cheese is needed and shouldn't be replaced. But you can play around with other cheeses such as different types of cheddar, Monterey jack, pepper jack, etc. You can even use Velvetta if you like - I just do not prefer the taste. You need to make sure it is a good melting cheese if you are replacing and it is always better to grate your own instead of buying it pre-shredded.

a hand dipping a chip into Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip. — Easy Skillet Chorizo Cheese Dip is best enjoyed hot right out of the oven with friends and family!

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