- Calories: 30
- Protein: 2 g
- Total Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 1 g
- Dietary Fiber: 0 g
- Total Sugar: 1 g
- Natural Sugar: 1 g
- Added Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 95 mg
A kitchen hack you need in your life: the easiest 3-Ingredient Queso Dip that takes minutes to make…in the microwave. WHAT?!? While I’ve taken some liberties with a “queso-like” spin (it’s certainly a bit different than traditional versions), I’m telling you it’s super-rich, super-indulgent and super-easy. Plus, its versatility is endless: choose whatever cheese you want, select mild or spicy salsa, and add any preferred herbs and seasonings to bolden the flavor.
A few notes on this recipe:
-It makes a great, big, batch, which is good for the Bauers because we love it on everything—scrambled eggs, tacos, even as a dip with carrots and celery, lol. I also appreciate that it’s only 30 calories per tablespoon so you don’t have to skimp.
-It’s simple to scale it down for a smaller, 1-cup yield. Use 2 ounces (~¼ cup) reduced-fat cream cheese, 4 ounces (½ cup) salsa, and 2 ounces full-fat block cheese, shredded (~1/2 cup).
You can make a flavorful queso spin using green salsa, a la salsa verde!
Full disclosure: it’s NOT exactly a looker (haha), so don’t judge a book by its cover. But boy, it’s yummy…and simple! Try it over my Oven Baked French Fries.
- Prep time
- Total Time
- • 8-ounce tub reduced-fat cream cheese
- • 16-ounce jar salsa (mild or spicy)
- • 8-ounce block sharp cheddar or other preferred cheese, shredded (like Monterey pepper jack or Mexican blend) *
*I recommend using full-fat cheese instead of reduced-fat for this recipe because some brands don’t melt well in the microwave, and you can wind up with stringy strands. I also experimented with full-fat block cheese and shredded; while they both work, the block tends to yield a smoother, creamier consistency.
In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the cream cheese, breaking it up into smaller pieces and scattering across the bottom. Pour in the jar of salsa and top with the shredded cheese. Place in microwave for 1 minute. Remove and mix everything together. Place back in microwave for another minute or two and mix again until everything is rich and creamy with pieces of veggies from the salsa.
Store leftovers in the fridge in a sealed container. When you’re ready to serve, microwave for a minute at a time, stirring in between to soften and combine the ingredients until the dip is warm and smooth.
Nutrition provided for 1 tablespoon.