Easy Beef Queso Dip With Cottage Cheese Queso (High Protein!)
This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy . This high protein beef queso dip is going to be your new secret weapon for healthy dips this fall! The queso sauce portion is made with cottage cheese and our homemade taco seasoning, then we mix in crumbled ground beef to take the protein levels off the chart! This is the perfect dip for all those fall football tailgate parties, and cookouts… and nobody will even know you’re secret…that it’s a healthy, high protein dip! Table of Contents Video: How to Make the Best High-Protein Beef Queso Dip! Why You’ll Love This Recipe Looking for more high protein dips for fall gatherings? Then you should try our High Protein Buffalo Chicken Dip , our Chipotle Veggie Dip , or for something a bit sweeter our Easy Pumpkin Spice Dip . Health Benefits of Cottage Cheese Queso I’m sure you’ve tried the velveeta queso recipe people love to bring to parties. It’s creamy, it’s meaty, and it’s completely full of trans fat and unhealthy cholesterol . Not to mention flavor ingredients that make it “taste like cheese” and ingredients for color that make it “look like cheese”. Why would you want to put that in your body? Instead of velveeta, use cottage cheese like we did in this beef queso recipe. It turns out just as creamy, and it’s actually good for you. Cottage cheese helps promote bone strength by providing calcium and vitamin D, manages blood sugar and increases muscle mass by providing protein, while also providing potassium, probiotics, and much much more. So when in doubt, don’t reach for Velveeta! Reach for cottage cheese! Ingredients These are the simple ingredients that make this beef queso dip recipe perfect for parties that need a healthy, high protein dip! Ground…
This post contains affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy .
This high protein beef queso dip is going to be your new secret weapon for healthy dips this fall! The queso sauce portion is made with cottage cheese and our homemade taco seasoning, then we mix in crumbled ground beef to take the protein levels off the chart! This is the perfect dip for all those fall football tailgate parties, and cookouts… and nobody will even know you’re secret…that it’s a healthy, high protein dip!
Table of Contents
Video: How to Make the Best High-Protein Beef Queso Dip!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Looking for more high protein dips for fall gatherings? Then you should try our High Protein Buffalo Chicken Dip , our Chipotle Veggie Dip , or for something a bit sweeter our Easy Pumpkin Spice Dip .
Health Benefits of Cottage Cheese Queso
I’m sure you’ve tried the velveeta queso recipe people love to bring to parties. It’s creamy, it’s meaty, and it’s completely full of trans fat and unhealthy cholesterol . Not to mention flavor ingredients that make it “taste like cheese” and ingredients for color that make it “look like cheese”. Why would you want to put that in your body?
Instead of velveeta, use cottage cheese like we did in this beef queso recipe. It turns out just as creamy, and it’s actually good for you. Cottage cheese helps promote bone strength by providing calcium and vitamin D, manages blood sugar and increases muscle mass by providing protein, while also providing potassium, probiotics, and much much more.
So when in doubt, don’t reach for Velveeta! Reach for cottage cheese!
Ingredients
These are the simple ingredients that make this beef queso dip recipe perfect for parties that need a healthy, high protein dip!
Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is the best way to go with this dip since we are using full fat cottage cheese. Whenever possible, try to use grass-fed beef (I like to buy it on sale!).
Cottage cheese: We used full fat cottage cheese for this queso cottage cheese recipe because more fat gives us a more satisfying, creamy texture. The cottage cheese brands I like best are made with minimal ingredients like Good Culture , and Nancy’s Organic .
Salsa: Whenever possible, I like to make my own salsa, here is the homemade salsa recipe I used. It’s also fine to purchase salsa at the grocery, here are some tips for purchasing the best salsa: Make sure the ingredient list is short, with recognizable ingredients. For salsa, simple, real ingredients like tomatoes, chiles, onion, garlic, cilantro, salt, and a little acid. No ADDED sugar (tomatoes contain natural sugars.) Say “NO” to thickening agents, artificial smoke flavor, added sugars, or anything that just seems weird.
Taco Seasoning: You’ll never purchase those store-bought packets again, after making it yourself! I love to mix up my own homemade taco seasoning with organic spices because those little packets of taco seasoning are usually made with canola and soybean oils linked to inflammation, plus sugar, anti-caking agents, and natural flavors. Not to mention making my own taco seasoning actually tastes better too!
Cheddar Cheese: A good sharp cheddar cheese will give you great flavor. Instead of buying pre-shredded cheese, I like to find a block of grass-fed cheese ON SALE and shred it myself….or better yet enlist one of the kids for this duty. Many pre-shredded varieties are coated in very strange things (anti-caking & clumping garbage) that actually interfere with the natural texture and beautiful melting quality.
See the recipe card for full information on all ingredients and quantities.
Variations And Substitutions
Looking for just a high protein cheese sauce without meat? Then omit the ground beef and just make the queso part of this recipe then use it on any recipe you want!
Switch out the meat: This beef queso dip recipe also works with ground turkey, ground pork, and ground chicken for less fat or chorizo for a spicier mixture.
Reduce the fat: You can use low fat cottage cheese for this recipe if you prefer to keep fats and calories lower, but your queso won’t be as creamy and thick as if you use the full fat version.
Make it spicy: Add extra spice by increasing the cayenne pepper, adding chipotle chilis or jalapeno peppers, or using a different cheese like pepper jack instead of cheddar.
Brighten it up: Adding chopped cilantro, lime juice, green chiles, or pickled jalapeños can help brighten the flavor.
How to make Beef Queso Dip
If you don’t already have a taco seasoning to use, mix up the one in the recipe card for this post.
Step 1. Heat your oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and begin cooking.
Step 2. As the beef cooks, add the cottage cheese, salsa, taco seasoning, and garlic powder to a blender.
Step 3. Blend the ingredients for the cottage cheese queso on high until smooth. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4. Once the beef has browned, add the chopped onion, and taco seasoning ingredients and mix into the meat.
Step 5 . Scoop the queso mixture into the skillet with the beef mixture.
Step 6 . Stir queso and beef together to combine.
Rachel’s Tips For The Best Results
Dips are not the only way you can use cottage cheese to create cheesy, high protein dishes. You can also add cottage cheese to things like meatballs so they taste cheesy, wraps so they contain more protein, and even tomato soup for amazing flavor!
How To Serve
This beef queso with cottage cheese is a protein packed dip or topping that can be used in a variety of ways. As a dip, scoop it up with homemade tortilla chips , celery sticks, bell pepper slices, carrots, or cucumbers.
As a topping, try it on any of your homemade burrito bowls , tacos , healthier potato nachos , or even on a southwest style soup.
Make Ahead Tips
If you choose to make this beef queso ahead of time for a party or gathering, I suggest making it over the stovetop per the recipe instructions. Once made, transfer the dip into a crockpot or slow cooker you can set to “warm” (not “low” as this will be too hot and the dip may separate). Stir the dip every 20-30 minutes and make sure it never starts to bubble. Keep the dip around 140°F for food safety reasons.
Leftover, Storage, and Reheat
If you have leftovers (which I doubt you will!!!) you can refrigerate them for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe because the queso will separate. To reheat, pop the queso dip into the microwave, cooking and stirring until it’s heated through, or add the cold dip to a saucepan and heat it gently over the stove until warmed through.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make this dip in the microwave, oven, or crockpot?
I don’t suggest making this dip in a microwave, oven, or crockpot. However, after you have made it using the stovetop instructions, you could keep it warm for a party in a slow cooker set to the “warm” setting for around 1-2 hours.
What is queso dip?
Queso dip is Mexican style cheese dip with Tex-Mex flavors and a creamy texture. You can add meat or not, depending on your preference.
Why is my cottage cheese queso dip grainy?
If your queso dip turned out a bit grainy, there are three ways to troubleshoot this the next time you make the recipe. First, make sure you use fresh cottage cheese (not cottage cheese you have stored frozen or and thawed). Second, make sure they cottage cheese is at room temperature before you blend it. And third, make sure the heat isn’t too hot in the skillet when you add the blended cottage cheese or the proteins can separate and cause the texture to become slightly grainy.
Is this cottage cheese queso dip healthy?
This beef and cottage cheese queso is healthier than the traditional beef queso dip made with Velveeta cheese because cottage cheese is a non-processed, whole food that provides good gut bacteria, high amounts of protein, and natural cheesy flavor.
May you like
Does cottage cheese melt?
Cottage cheese softens, but does not melt the same way shredded cheese melts. For this beef queso dip recipe, be sure to blend the cottage cheese until smooth before adding it to the heat.
Did you try this Beef Queso Dip recipe? If so, it would mean so much to me if you would comment and rate this recipe!
Rachel
More High Protein Game-Day Snacks You’ll Love
Easy Beef Queso Dip With Cottage Cheese Queso
Equipment
Homemade Taco Seasoning:
Ground Beef Mixture:
High-Protein Queso:
Instructions
Video
Notes
Rachel’s Tips
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.