Chili con Queso
This is an old family favorite that we always make for our summer neighborhood parties. We learned this recipe from college friends, Mike and Marilyn Sadowski and have been making it ever since. This is probably the recipe that Natalie and I, as a couple, have been making for the longest time, even though there are a lot of older traditional family recipes on the site. The recipe has evolved over the years. Basil was not in the original recipe, but the large amount of basil we added, while true to the original recipe, takes it to a new level.
Chili Con Queso
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Velveeta cheese
- 1 Green pepper
- 1 Sweet Red Pepper
- 3-4 Sweet Hungarian or other peppers
- Jalapeño or other hot peppers (to taste)
- 1 Large Onion
- 6 Cloves garlic
- 1-2 Tablespoons EVOO
- 1 Tablespoon dried basil
- 2 10-ounce cans Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- Fresh Basil (to taste)
- Hot Giardinera (to taste)
- Taco Chips
Instructions
- Put the cheese in a crock pot, turn it to high and let the cheese melt.
- While you are waiting, chop all ingredients, add olive oil to the frying pan and sauté the vegetables, except the fresh basil. The onion should be translucent, and the peppers softened. Don't brown them.
- Add the Rotel, diced tomatoes, and dried basil and simmer until the mixture cooks down and most of the liquid is gone – about 20 or 30 minutes.
- Add the vegetable mixture and fresh basil to the melted cheese and stir thoroughly as the cheese melts.
- Taste and add more dried Basil if needed. Add Hot Giardinera and its juice if you like more heat.
- Keep it hot in the crock pot and serve with taco chips.
Notes
This recipe is fairly loose as far as quantities. Natalie usually makes this and we use what peppers we have in the garden if it is summer. We go pretty heavy on the Jalapenos and will add some hot Giardinera if it's not hot enough. Basil was not a part of the original recipe, but it's really good and is the signature of this recipe. We use quite a bit, especially if we have it fresh.