Every tailgate needs one dish people keep circling back to. In Texas, that dish is usually queso.
Our Chorizo Queso takes about 10 minutes of prep and a short grocery list. Then the slow cooker does the work while you get back to the game.
Why Chorizo Queso Is a Great Tailgate Recipe
A good tailgate recipe has to be easy to make, easy to keep warm and easy to share. This one checks all three.
It’s simple. Six ingredients, one skillet and one slow cooker. No chopping marathon, no last minute assembly in a parking lot.
It holds. Queso sits happily on low heat for hours, so the dip tastes as good in the fourth quarter as it did at kickoff.
It disappears. Almost everybody likes queso. Adding Kiolbassa Chorizo Mexican Style Sausage makes the dip heartier and gives every chip a little savory spice.
Chorizo Queso Ingredients
You can find everything in one grocery trip.
- 1 package Kiolbassa Chorizo Mexican Style Sausage
- 16 oz. easy melt cheese
- 2 cups fresh pico de gallo, homemade or store bought
- 1 cup half & half
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Optional toppings: sliced jalapeños, sour cream and chopped onions.
How to Make Chorizo Queso in a Slow Cooker
Prep takes about 10 minutes. Plan on about an hour of cook time, most of it hands off.
- Melt the cheese. Turn the slow cooker to high. Cut the cheese into cubes, add them to the slow cooker and pour in the half & half. Stir occasionally until completely melted, then cover and switch to low.
- Cook the chorizo. Remove the Kiolbassa Chorizo from its casing. Cook in a skillet over medium high heat, breaking it up like ground meat, until fully cooked (160°F). Drain and return the chorizo to the skillet.
- Add the garlic and pico. Stir in the minced garlic and pico de gallo and cook until fragrant.
- Bring it together. Add the chorizo mixture to the slow cooker, stir and top with fresh cilantro.
- Serve. Set out tortilla chips and let everyone dig in.
One tip from our kitchen: use a slow cooker liner. Cleanup takes seconds, which matters when you are packing up after the game.
Tips for Serving Queso at a Tailgate
- Make it at home. Finish the queso in your kitchen, then carry the slow cooker to the game with the lid secured.
- Keep it warm. If you have power at your spot, plug in and set the slow cooker to low or warm. No outlet? A cast iron skillet on the cool side of the grill works too.
- Stir now and then. If the queso thickens, a splash of half & half loosens it right up.
- Set up a toppings bar. Jalapeños, sour cream and chopped onions let everyone build a bowl the way they like.
- Bring sturdy chips. Chorizo queso is a hearty dip. Thin chips will not survive.
- Watch the clock. Hot dips should stay hot. Do not let queso sit out unheated for more than two hours.
More Ways to Use Chorizo Queso
If you somehow end up with leftovers, spoon the queso over enchiladas or burritos during the week.
Feeding a bigger crowd? Pair the queso with our Chorizo 7 Layer Dip and you have the snack table covered.
You can find the full Chorizo Queso recipe on our site, and use our store locator to find Kiolbassa Chorizo near you. See you at the tailgate.
