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This gooey Slow Cooker Sausage and Cheese mix has been the star of my get-togethers for ages. It blends smooth cheese with flavorful sausage and a nice little punch from the tomatoes. Whenever I show up with it, folks gather around my Crock Pot, and I always head home with nothing left.
What Makes This Crowd-Pleasing Dip Special
This mixture works at any event from Super Bowl gatherings to Christmas parties. I really like that I can tweak how spicy it is to match any group. And since everything goes right into the slow cooker, I get to hang out with my guests instead of cooking away in the kitchen.
Must-Have Components
- Italian Ground Sausage: I flip between mild and hot based on who's eating.
- Chopped Onion: Gives amazing taste when cooked with the meat.
- Cream Cheese: Creates that wonderful richness and silky feel.
- Velveeta: Simply can't beat it for melting into that ideal dipping consistency.
- Rotel: Pick your spice level - it brings great flavor and a touch of zing.
Simple Cooking Instructions
- Brown Meat and Onions
- Start by cooking your sausage with the onions until nicely golden, then get rid of any extra grease.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker
- Dump everything in your Crock Pot - the meat, cream cheese, Velveeta, and those tasty Rotel tomatoes.
- Melt and Mix
- Let everything blend together on low around 2 hours, giving it a mix every so often.
- Keep Warm for Serving
- Turn to warm setting and watch it vanish with tortilla chips, crackers or raw veggies.
Handy Tricks
Mix it up now and then while folks are dipping - this maintains that smooth, creamy feel. Need more kick? Go for spicy Rotel or toss in some chopped jalapeños. A bit of milk works great if it thickens too much, and mild Rotel is your friend for guests who can't handle heat.
Storage Suggestions
Any extras will stay tasty in your fridge for roughly 3 days, though we hardly ever have any left. When warming it up again, just add a splash of milk and heat it gently on the stovetop or in your microwave. During parties, the slow cooker keeps everything at just the right temp.
Custom Variations
I sometimes add corn or black beans for some extra crunch. A bit of fresh lime juice makes all the flavors pop. Topping with fresh jalapeños looks nice and gives more heat. You can even swap in turkey sausage if you want something a little lighter.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this on my stove? Definitely - just use low heat and keep stirring.
- How do I maintain the temperature? Your slow cooker's warm setting does the job perfectly.
- Is it possible to prep beforehand? For sure - cook the sausage earlier, then combine and heat everything when needed.
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Tasty Serving Ideas
We grab tortilla chips for this, but don't forget to try it with crunchy veggies or chunks of bread too. It tastes wonderful poured over loaded nachos or as a baked potato filling. At gatherings, I put out different things for dipping so everyone finds what they like best.
Why Folks Love It
This dip really connects people. It's hot, sticky and totally yummy with those tasty bits of sausage mixed throughout. The fact that it's so quick to throw together is just an extra perk - everyone thinks you slaved away making it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I cook this on my stove instead?
You sure can. Just do the same steps but use low heat on your stove and stir now and then until everything's melted. Then put it in your serving bowl.
- → What else goes well in this dip?
You can throw in some corn, black beans after rinsing them, a bit of garlic powder, or onion powder if you don't have fresh onions.
- → What's the best way to serve it?
It's best hot with tortilla chips. Keep it in the slow cooker on the WARM setting while people are eating.
- → How can I make it hotter?
Go for hot Italian sausage or grab the spicy RoTel to bump up the heat however you like it.
- → Should I drain the RoTel can?
Nope, that juice helps get the dip to the right thickness and adds lots of flavor too.