Poblano Queso Dip – delicious & creamy!

Creamy poblano queso dip, studded with flavorful roasted poblano peppers, is pleasantly spicy but not fiery. Enjoy it as a dip or a topping for tacos or nachos.

I’ve been on a poblano kick lately. Much like roasted red peppers, roasting these dark green gems really makes a difference. Roasting mellows and intensifies the flavors at the same time, softening the flesh and loosening the skins.

You can use roasted poblanos in a variety of ways. I love southwestern farro salad with roasted poblanos and chile relleno soup with chicken. And, of course, I love the addition of roasted poblanos to this queso dip. The chunks of flavorful roasted peppers really up the flavor profile of plain queso dip. 

You may be wondering if poblano peppers make the dip spicier. I’ve noticed that there can be quite a lot of variation in the spiciness of poblano peppers. Sometimes the peppers have quite a bit of heat, and sometimes they are really quite mild. The peppers all look the same on the outside but you’ll have to take a little taste to test how hot they are.

None of them are super hot, though, if you’re worried about that. Poblano queso dip is not going to singe your tongues or make your eyes water. 

Enjoy this poblano queso with tortilla chips as an appetizer. Try it as a topping for nachos or tacos – it’s so good drizzled on these cauliflower nachos or crispy sweet potato tacos. Top homemade French fries or roasted sweet potatoes with poblano queso for a real treat.

About this poblano queso:

Creamy poblano queso isn’t a difficult recipe to make. It takes a little time, especially if you need to roast the poblanos first. I like to roast a bunch of the peppers all at once, and then use them in a variety of recipes.

Tip: You can freeze roasted peppers, for future use in recipes. It’s a great meal prep idea, and it makes sense to just do a bunch of peppers if you’re already taking the time to do it.

Once you have the poblanos prepared, you’re ready to go. You’ll begin by sautéing chopped onions in a skillet, then adding minced garlic and the poblanos. 

Next, add chili powder, cumin, and a few tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the pan, and stir this mixture around a few minutes as it heats and covers the vegetables in the pan. This creates a roux or a thickener for your queso. Slowly add milk to the pan, stirring constantly until the sauce is thickened and hot. 

A lot of stirring, I know, but we’re almost there now! Cheese time! Lower the heat, and stir in a block of cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese, stirring until the cheese is melted.

Sprinkle the dip with fresh chopped cilantro and your poblano queso dip is ready to serve! Somebody grab the chips and let’s get eating. Oh, I guess you could put the poblano queso dip into pretty bowl first, if you want to get fancy.

Poblano queso and chips would go really well with a glass of Dos Equis or Bell’s Oberon, or another one of your favorite beers. Just sayin’! Don’t forget the orange wedge!

Note: Queso will solidify slightly as it cools. Keep warm over low heat on the stovetop or in a slow cooker set on the “warm” setting, so it stays warm and melty. 

How to make this queso your own:

• Spice level: like I mentioned above, poblano peppers seem to vary in heat. Taste your dip and if you feel that it’s not spicy enough, stir in additional chili powder, or ground cayenne. Chopped jalapeño peppers would be tasty, too. 
• Watching your calories? Well, I have to say, this isn’t a low-fat recipe. Is queso ever really a diet food? Probably not, but you can substitute low-fat milk or lower fat cream cheese. Just a warning, though, these substitutions will affect the texture of your dip. Better yet, stir the chopped poblano peppers into this better-for-you queso recipe that’s made with frozen butternut squash. It’s really good!
• Instead of cheddar cheese, try a Mexican blend, Monterey Jack, or Colby-Jack cheese.
• Substitute roasted red bell peppers for the poblano peppers. Or skip the roasting part, and sauté chopped peppers of your choice, right with the onions. 

Storage and Reheating Tips

Cover leftover poblano queso dip tightly, and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.

That’s assuming it hasn’t been left on your counter for several hours while everyone’s been dipping chips into it. I wouldn’t recommend saving that leftover dip, but you know what? I bet there won’t be much left over anyways, it’s too good. The bowl will probably be scraped clean.

To reheat, slowly warm over low heat on the stovetop while stirring frequently.

Love queso and southwest style dips?

Queso isn’t the only kid on the block. Try a few of my favorite Mexican style dips:

 

• Jalapeño ranch dip – great for veggies, chips, or to drizzle on your favorite Tex-Mex dishes
• Mexicali dip – similar to the dip found in grocery store delis
• Homemade salsa verde – green salsa that is 100% better than canned or try homemade restaurant style salsa
• 7-layer dip – one of my most popular recipes
• Mexican corn dip  – the flavors of Mexican street corn on the cob
• Mango avocado salsa with pineapple – so refreshing, perfect with shrimp or fish tacos
• Queso blanco in the slow cooker
• Mexican spinach dip – a warm cheesy dip that’s irresistible
• Black bean dip – good for you, and good as a sandwich spread too

Verdict: I can’t resist a good cheesy dip.
Husband’s take: Everyone loves queso, and this is a really good queso! Ben is no exception.
Changes I would make: None at all!
Difficulty: Easy!