A Can Of Ro-Tel Tomatoes Is Your Secret Weapon For Flavorful Queso

You can't go wrong with a bowl of queso paired with tortilla chips to satisfy a late-night craving or to serve at your next taco Tuesday dinner party. There are so many ingredients to elevate queso dip like roasted garlic for layers of umami or ground beef to make it hearty. Out of all of the additions you can add to homemade queso, a can of Ro-tel goes far by easily providing layers of flavor and spice.

Ro-tel is a canned product made of diced tomatoes and chopped green chili peppers. Across the United States, particularly in the South, Ro-tel is a staple for queso, often paired with Velveeta. In fact, Ro-tel is a product of Texas, where it was inspired by the roasted vegetables used in Mexican cuisine. The product grew in popularity in Texas during the 1940s, and now across the region and country. As someone who grew up in Virginia, I can confirm that Ro-tel is a staple in a wide variety of queso dips in the South — back in the 1990s, in the early aughts, and even at family functions today.

It makes sense, because the diced tomatoes in the sauce offer a tangy acidic touch, similar to salsa, while the green chilis lend a subtle kick of heat. Other ingredients like cilantro give that Mexican flare to the cheese dip. Today, there are also other varieties like one that uses serrano peppers for more heat, and a low-sodium option to have control over the salt levels.

The perk of using Ro-tel in your queso is that you don't have to roast, peel, dice, or even cut any tomatoes to give your dip that kick of flavor. It's basically as easy as opening the can and pouring the tomatoes and chilis into a bowl. There's some liquid in the can, but you don't have to drain it, because it adds flavor and helps thin out the consistency of your homemade queso. Most recipes use an entire can for queso so don't fret about layovers. And don't forget the other tips you need to make perfect queso, like adding fresh garlic for flavor or cream cheese to achieve a creamier consistency.

Are you hungry for queso now? Add an entire can of Ro-tel for every eight servings to any queso dip recipe. Here at Tasting Table, we have a smoky white queso dip recipe that you can substitute the fire-roasted green chilis with a can of Ro-tel. And to complete the snack or starter, make a batch of these homemade chili lime tortilla chips to serve as the vessel for every scoop or queso amplified with Ro-tel.