Chili’s Skillet Queso

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February 2, 2009 33 Comments

Chili’s Skillet Queso has been on the menu at Chili’s for years. Don’t miss this easy appetizer. While there is only two ingredients in the dip, it isn’t short on flavor. If you have never cooked before, I promise this is a recipe that you can prepare. You can make this one quickly, and easily. No one will be able to tell that this queso didn’t come from Chili’s.

skillet queso from chilis

Chili’s Skillet Queso

Chili's Skillet Queso

Author: CopyKat Recipes via Steve
Recipe Type: Appetizer, tailgate, queso
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serves: 1

You can make skillet queso just like Chilis does. No bean chili, and Velveeta are heating together for this creamy queso. This is perfect for your next ball game, or tailgating party.

Ingredients

1 2 pound block Kraft Velveeta Cheese
2 Cans Hormel no-bean Chili

Instructions

Just heat the ingredients together in a crock pot for a few hours or until melted. For the most accurate texture, you should mix sauce in a blender. Serve with heated corn tortilla chips. If you want to serve this just like Chili's be sure to serve this in a warmed iron skillet.

Thanks to fellow viewer Steve for the inspiration for this recipe. I personally stock up on the canned chili right before the Super Bowl game. Some people do like to use the canned chili with beans, but this is entirely a personal preference. If you love queso recipes, there are lots more queso recipes here at CopyKat.com

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Additional Queso Recipes

Montrey's Tex Mex Queso

True Mexican Queso

Pappasito's Ques

Oryx

Please change the recipe for this.

As written, this tastes NOTHING like Chili’s Chili Queso Dip. I even went so far as to add a package of chili seasoning, chili powder, cumin, salt/pepper etc and it still tasted nothing like it. Per the post below mine, using Wolf Brand Chili is the closest thing without adding any other ingredients.

I stumbled onto another Chili’s Queso copycat recipe that claims to be per another former Chili’s employee which uses Hormel, as follows:

16-ounce box Velveeta Cheese

1 c. milk

2 teaspoons paprika

½ tsp. ground cayenne pepper

15-ounce can Hormel Chili (No Beans)

4 tsp. chili powder

1 tablespoon lime juice

½ tsp. ground cumin

I have not tried that recipe, but I can vouch for the Wolf Brand chili version. Very similar.
- Stephanie Manley
  
  Thanks for your comment. I will keep your suggestion in mind. I have often found that people who claim to work for a restaurant, haven’t. But I will give your suggestion a try.
  
  Thanks for your input.
  Stephanie
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1251941297 Michael Wilson
  
  You need to use Wolf not Hormels!….I don’t use the cumin, it’s like using Cilantro, only cilantro is the fresh leaves of cumin…cumin is the ground seeds of flowered Cilantro..G/F is allergic to it and their family resturants do not use cilantro or cumin, comino, which is the same thing…comes from Cilantro Plant…but they much be doing something right as they have one Mexican Resturant that is 103 years old….Something else…You can use Sharp and Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, w/ the Canned milk…but, you need to heat it on low and use a roux…to thicken it….
missy

I used canned no bean chilli, I didn’t have velveta (I really don’t like the stuff) so I added 3 hand fulls of fancy shredded cheddar and 1/2 cup of milk stirred and let bubble a bit. It was very yummy!
Lmmcnic

Ok I improvised and made it at home. My boyfriend who loves the chilis quest tried it and said it was the best…. Here is my version:

1 large 32 oz velveta cheese brick
2 cans wolf’s brand no bean chili
1 hamburger patty (about a half lb.) (pre browned on the stove or precooked in the microwave)
2-3 tablespoons chili powde (to taste)
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup milk or Half-and-half (depending on how creamy u want it)

Melt all your ingredients in the crockpot for 2 hours. Stir nd add more chili powder or milk based on your taste preference. Enjoy!
Chickenfeet103

i don’t like how you say “contreverseyal”
- Foodlover
  
  I agree. It’s controversial. not “controverseyal”. I couldn’t even understand what she was saying at first. Glad someone felt the same way.
Austin_Native

I’M A FORMER CHILI’S EMPLOYEE
… and got the following recipe from the cooks before I left. I believe your amount of chili may be off and you’re missing an ingredient. Oh, and there are NO beans in the chili folks. Try the following … and enjoy:

two (2) pound block Kraft Velveeta Cheese
one (1) small can Wolf Brand Chili (15oz +/-)
1/2 cup of milk (microwaved) … add a little more if queso is still too thick.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1251941297 Michael Wilson
  
  Austin, that is the correct recipe…Don’t ever use Hormel!…too much grease…
  - Stephanie Manley
    
    What brand of canned chili do you recommend?
Hollowoakfarm

Concerning Chili’s skillet queso……..tried all these recipes, and more……nothing really taste quite the same….but one night I inadvertantly (did I mispell?) stumbled upon one that’s very close….when I had nothing I needed in the pantry…of course.

I browned one pound of hamburger in a cast iron skillet, added 1 package of chili seasoning and one can of tomatoe soup(yep, that’s right) then I added a jar of the store bought cheese queso ….it was a little thick so I put a little water in the queso jar and shook it , then added it to the skillet…….it’s very close!
Lindsey

The Chili’s Skillet Queso doesn’t have beans in it. A friend of mine used to work there, and Chili’s Skillet Queso actually comes to the restaurants frozen!
- http://www.copykat.com Stephanie
  
  That’s why I recommend the no bean chili Now, here in Texas, that is a very serious topic of discussion, beans or no beans in the chili.
  - Heri Meza
    
    Contrary to popular belief Texan cowboys did actually put beans in their chili. When it was made and packaged back home it did not contain beans. It was a compact, high-calorie food meant to fuel you on the range (like pemmican) where every pound you carried counted. Once they made camp, chili con carne was reconstituted on a fire with water and any other food stuffs you had on you at the time. Most of the time this included beans because they were available at every trading post and general store, were relatively light when dried and kept for a long time. Most Texans that get worked up about beans in their chili are just food snobs who have never worked a day on the range or in the mountains away from modern conveniences.
    - http://www.copykat.com Stephanie
      
      Amen to your comment.
      I don’t understand why some folks in Texas get very excited about beans in chili. Many years of my childhood were in the Midwest and we always put beans in our chili. It wasn’t until I came down to Texas that I realized some folks get up in arms about their chili. I am totally going to use your argument for beans in chili next time someone says that Texas chili has no beans it it. Thank you!!
- Rodney Corbett
  
  just had it 1 hour ago. it has beans in it. for sure.
- Rodney Corbett
  
  just had it 1 hour ago. it has beans in it. for sure.
  - Anonymous
    
    Y’all got me stumped on the beans/no beans. I don’t recall their being any beans, but they may have changed the recipe since I last tried it.
    - Gena
      
      it has no beans in it i had it yesterday!
    - Gena
      
      it has no beans in it i had it yesterday!
      - JoJo
        
        I just had it yesterday too and there were definitely beans in there. I know because I purposely looked for them to scoop them and savor them because I LOVE the beans. Maybe it varies from restaurant to restaurant, or maybe they’ve changed the recipe since you had it.
      - Guest
        
        I am a former Chii’s employee (not the one from above) and I guarantee there are no beans in the queso, just like there are no beans in the chili.
      - http://www.copykat.com Stephanie
        
        Some people seem to feel there are beans in that queso.
    - Gena
      
      it has no beans in it i had it yesterday!
      - http://www.copykat.com Stephanie
        
        Hmmm, some people find beans, while I have never found any beans in there, some people do.
Teresa Purvis

We just had Chili’s queso dip last night and it definitely has beans in it, didn’t see any beef. So the canned chili without beans isn’t correct. I think this may be made with the Velveeta cheese and a can of refried beans and maybe some spices.
- Jim H.
  
  I’m going to go in the direction of refried beans the next time I make this… Great suggestion!
Kim

Just had this dip at Chili’s and it was so good I came home and searched for the recipe- this looks like the closest, except the dip at the restaurant had some beans in it…
- Paintedlovefarm
  
  it does not have beans in it a chilis we asked.. it’s so dang good i thought it did but they corrected me and told me it did not.
Monica

I made this dip for a party my fiance and I threw. I made a double batch and not even an hour into the party it was gone. I ended up making a run to the store mid party to make another double batch. This stuff is for sure a party hit.
- Kristan
  
  Is it good the way it says or do you need to double the ingredients?
Drew

Try changing the ratio of ingredients to 1 lb Velveeta & 2 cans chili. I think you will find this a closer match to Chili’s Skillet Queso.
Tracy

We went to Chili’s about a month ago and we loved this cheese dip!! We wondered how we could make it. I was soooo glad that on Thanksgiving Day I was looking for cheese dip recipes and came across your site. We made this and it was a hit!!! We will definatley be using this site more as I have added it to my favorites!!!! Thanks a bunch!!