Need the perfect hot dip for Super Bowl? I’ve got you!
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Cheesy baked cowboy dip combines bold Southwestern flavors with minimal prep and easy cleanup.
- It’s an excellent appetizer for game day, tailgating, or any party.
- For best flavor and texture, cook the ground beef with taco seasoning until well browned and crumbly before combining with the other ingredients.
Bright ingredients like Rotel tomatoes, fire-roasted corn, diced green chiles, and green onions balance the rich cream cheese and make this dip craveable. Serve it hot from the oven or cold from the fridge — both ways are delicious.
🧾 Ingredients
This overview lists the ingredients. Exact measurements and the printable recipe card appear below.
📖 Recipe
Baked Cowboy Dip
5 minutes
30 minutes
35 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 16 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 packet taco seasoning
- 1 cup sour cream
- 4 ounces Pepper Jack, grated (or sharp cheddar)
- 2 cups sweet corn, fire-roasted, thawed and drained
- 10.5 ounces diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel)
- 4 ounces diced green chiles
- 1/2 cup sliced green onions
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Topping:
- 1/4 cup Pepper Jack cheese, grated (or sharp cheddar)
- Sliced green onion for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with the taco seasoning, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Continue cooking until the beef is browned and crumbly, about 10–12 minutes. Remove from heat and drain excess grease if needed.
- Add cream cheese, sour cream, 4 ounces grated cheese, fire-roasted corn, cooked beef, Rotel tomatoes, diced green chiles, green onions, salt, and pepper to the skillet.
- Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the cream cheese melts and the mixture is well blended.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the dip is heated through and bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle sliced green onions over the dip before serving.
Notes
Let the dip cool to room temperature, then refrigerate in an airtight container for 3–4 days. It freezes well for up to 3 months.
Tips:
- Drain excess grease from the cooked beef before combining with the other ingredients unless you prefer the richer flavor the fat provides.
- Bring cream cheese to room temperature so it blends smoothly.
- Grate cheese from a block for best flavor and texture; pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that change the result.
- Fire-roast corn on the grill, in a skillet, or on a baking sheet in the oven for best texture and charred flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Carbohydrates: 7 g |
Protein: 11 g |
Fat: 19 g
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. Verify with your own calculator if needed.
This recipe has been tested several times. Substitutions or technique changes may alter the results.
📖 Variations
- Use crumbled hot Italian sausage instead of ground beef for more heat and savory flavor.
- Make your own taco seasoning from chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Swap finely chopped red onion for green onion for added color and bite.
- Try different melty cheeses: Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Mozzarella work well.
- Use regular diced or fire-roasted tomatoes if you prefer less spice than Rotel.
- Add black beans or pinto beans to bulk up the dip and add fiber.
🎥 Video
🥫 How to store leftovers
Let leftovers cool to room temperature, then refrigerate in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Reheat in the microwave, oven, or air fryer until warmed through. If reheating in the oven or air fryer, cover the dish with foil to prevent the top from burning.
Expert tip:
Use fresh corn sliced from the cob or frozen kernels that you can fire-roast. Canned corn tends to be too soft for this recipe.
💭 Things to know
- Brown the ground beef on medium heat and break it up with a flat spatula. Drain excess grease if desired.
- Bring cream cheese to room temperature so it blends smoothly.
- Freshly grate cheese from a block for the best texture and flavor.
- Fire-roast corn on the grill, in a skillet, or in the oven for the best smoky flavor.
- Hatch (New Mexico) chiles are a nice choice for mild heat and smoky sweetness, but any diced green chiles will work.
- Place the baking dish on a sheet pan before baking in case the dip bubbles over.
- Garnish with extra green onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, hot sauce, bacon bits, or a pinch of cayenne if desired.
👩🍳 FAQs
Sharp cheddar is classic, but Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or Pepper Jack are all excellent melty choices. Avoid Parmesan for this dip.
Grill whole ears in the husk or wrapped in foil for 15–20 minutes, turning occasionally. Or roast husked ears at 400°F for 15–20 minutes, or sauté kernels in a skillet until they begin to brown, about 3–5 minutes.
Yes. Combine all ingredients and chill in a covered container. Serve cold or reheat later if you prefer it warm.
Yes. Assemble in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate for up to a day. Bake when ready to serve.
Serve with tortilla chips, corn chips, crackers, pretzels, vegetable sticks, or crostinis.
📚 Related recipes
- Rotel Sausage Dip — a creamy, cheesy Southern-style dip with hot sausage and tomatoes.
- Jalapeno Popper Corn Salad — fire-roasted corn, fresh jalapeños, shredded cheese, and bacon in a creamy dressing.
- Mississippi Sin Dip — a cheesy baked dip with ham and layers of flavor.
🍽️ Serve with…
Create crostinis from a homemade baguette or serve with sturdy chips and vegetables for scooping up this rich dip.
Crispy oven-baked chicken wings pair well with this dip for a full game-day spread.
Finish the meal with a simple dessert like a white buttermilk Texas sheet cake topped with toasted pecans.
📞 The last word
This hot, cheesy dip is so satisfying I could easily make it a meal. It’s perfect for grazing, potlucks, and parties. Adjust the servings in the recipe card to scale the quantities up or down as needed.
If you love this recipe, please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️