All Natural Queso Dip
I love queso dip, but I’m not super crazy about a certain processed orange cheese that comes in a box (who shall remain nameless) that is a main ingredient in most queso dips. I’m not a total health nut (hello chewy chocolate toffee bars anyone? We also won’t talk about my addiction to gummy worms…), but I do like to use natural ingredients as much as possible. Plus the texture of the cheese that shall not be named just sort of creeps me out (this doesn’t mean I don’t actually eat it on occasion, but I just avoid it when possible).
So I came up with this delicious and easy version with all natural ingredients.
It’s really not hard and I can usually throw it together in 10 minutes or so.
Basically you just need to make a bechamel sauce (which sounds fancy, french and complicated but it’s not!). First melt your butter.
Mix in the flour and let it cook a minute or two.
Whisk in the milk and let simmer until thickened. This usually only take a few minutes.
Add cheese, spinach, and  your favorite salsa.
Enjoy!
RECIPE:
3 TBS butter
3 TBS flour
1 C milk
1 cup shredded cheese (I used monterrey jack, but you can use cheddar or pepper jack even)
1 box of frozen spinach, thawed and drained of all liquid
1/4 C of Salsa
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, mix in flour and let cook for a few minutes until golden brown. Slowly whisk in milk and let simmer until thickened. Add cheese, spinach and salsa, stir until melted. If the sauce is too thick add more milk, or too runny add more cheese.
Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.
A quick note about the salsa, I use  Juan O Sullivans spicy habenero salsa – we used to buy it at our local farmers market when we lived in Iowa. We are so obsessed with it that we actually still order it and have it shipped to us here in Michigan. They haven’t paid me to say that I just really really like their salsa :)  So if you are using a mild salsa you may want to add a bit more to up the flavor in your queso dip, but a little of the habenero salsa goes a looooong way!
Try this for your next game day party!
Yum, this looks amazing! Love that you added spinach too!
When you say a box of spinach, do you mean a 10 oz. box? Mine looks a whole lot more spinachy than yours. It’s good, just looks different. :)
Thanks,
Christy
I’m not a big fan of the orange block either. Love this recipe!
Yum! I love queso dip and the fact that you added spinach to this makes me even more excited to try it!
Thanks Katie, trying to sneak some greens into my kids :)
This looks so good and I am so not a fan of the nameless cheese! I also love hiding a little spinach in here and there to get some veggies consumed by the kiddos! Will try this one for sure!
Take care,
Trish
Can I use Almond milk? Also, can I use fresh spinach? Do I need to steam it first?
And by the way, I always make cheese sauce like this – so much better than crap-in-a-box!! LOL
That looks incredible!!!
Homemade dips are so much better – but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my own stash of gummies – but I prefer the bears!
Kelly
This is fantastic – thanks! I try to eat as “clean” as possible, too. Will not eat that fake cheese, AKA, Velveeta!
You are so welcome, I hope you love it as much as we do :)
Oooh, this looks GOOD! I’m with you, use all natural ingredients at home, I kind of figure control it when you can and not worth the stress when it’s not in your control. Velveeta totally grosses me out though!
Exactly! I don’t stress about it, but if I can switch it up to make it a little healthier I will.
Perfect for Cinco de Mayo or any party. Thanks for sharing!
ooh you are right, definitely have to break this out for Cinco de Mayo!
I am a dip girl! I am going to try this out as soon as possible….like NOW! he! he! Thanks for the recipe!
you are so welcome! I hope you like it :)
OH MY! That sounds wonderful! I’m with you on the weird boxed stuff…creeps me out too. Thanks for the recipe. I will definitely give this one a try the next time we need some queso dip. :)
Christy