Light and Creamy White Cauliflower Queso Dip

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Light and Creamy White Cauliflower Queso Dip is a delicious, no-fuss, cheesy dip that is an easy win on any big game appetizer table or Super Bowl blowout. Spicy, creamy white queso with steamed cauliflower florets, Rotel tomatoes with green chiles and onions, fresh jalapeños, white cheeses, and Mexican spices easily come together to create a lighter, queso Rotel dip. 

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS CAULIFLOWER QUESO DIP

This creamy dip has fewer calories than traditional queso. You can eat more!

Completely low carb and only 6 WW points for 1/2 cup.

It would be wonderful as a spicy cauliflower cheese sauce for tacos, enchiladas, burrito bowls, or even as a cream sauce on top of pasta.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR THIS CAULIFLOWER QUESO RECIPE

Ingredients

Cheese – White Velvetta Queso Blanco or White American Cheese

Whipped Cream Cheese – Whipped Garlic and Chive Cream Cheese or whipped jalapeno cream cheese. Whipped has air whipped in so it’s less dense. 

Broth – Chicken or vegetable broth.

Evaporated Milk – Evaporated milk, whole or 2%. Substitute no-fat evaporated milk for an even less WW points.

Vegetables – Cauliflower, onions, jalapenos, can of Original Rotel tomatoes, onions and peppers. Red onions can be used instead of white onions. Red Bell Peppers could also be added for more color and veggies.

Spices – Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.

Toppers – Reserved drained Rotel Tomatoes, onions and peppers, and fresh cilantro on top.

Pro Note: This is not a vegan queso recipe.

HOW TO MAKE WHITE CAULIFLOWER QUESO

STEP ONE: Place the jalapenos and onions in a large pot such as a Dutch oven. spray with oil, and sauté until the peppers and onions are soft. Take out 1/3 of the soft veggies and reserve for toppings.

STEP TWO: Add the cauliflower and chicken broth to the onion and pepper mix, cover and let it all steam/simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is fork-tender.

STEP THREE: Place peppers, onions, and steamed cauliflower along with all the broth in a food processor or high-powered blender.  Add the cheeses and spices, secure the food processor lid, and pulse 5-10 times. Through the liquid funnel on top, stream evaporated milk while it blends continuously.

Quick Tip: the mixture will be warm and runny but will thicken up once you reheat it and then let it sit.

STEP FOUR: After processing queso in the food processor, pour it back into the large saucepan you cooked the pepper and onion in. Stir in red pepper flakes. Heat on medium until hot.

Quick Tip: To prevent burning, stir the bottom of the pan while heating.

STEP FIVE: Add a little bit more seasoning to taste. Hot Sauce, salt and pepper, Cajun, and/or Mexican Spices can be added at this stage. Top with drained Rotel tomatoes, the remaining sauteed onions and peppers, cilantro, and more red pepper flakes. 

RECIPE TIPS & OPTIONS 🍴

• Add or substitute green chilis or poblanos (any kind you like actually) for the jalapenos. 
• Omit cauliflower and make it full-on traditional White Queso.
• Almond milk, soy milk, or coconut milk can be used instead of the evaporated milk. Use the same amount as the 10 oz can.
• Leftover taco meat would be great in this spicy queso cauliflower dip.
• Add drained pinto or black beans for more veggies.
• Add 1/2 cup of grated pepper jack, Monterey jack, or a combo of both.
• Add a small can of green chilis for more heat.
• Reheat on low heat in a saucepan on top of the stove. Add a little chicken broth or salsa to thin it up before reheating. It’s actually better on the second day.
• To make it “by the book” Vegan cauliflower queso omit the cheese and replace it with nutritional yeast. Here is a https://elavegan.com/easy-vegan-cheese-sauce-recipe/ that explains how to do this. 

HOW TO SERVE WHITE CAULIFLOWER QUESO 🥣

• Tortilla chips and veggies go best with this dip and are the easiest to serve for a crowd!
• Serve with French Fries as a dipping sauce.
• Use it instead of one of your favorite cream sauces over spinach, pasta, or steamed vegetables.

HOW TO STORE WHITE CAULIFLOWER QUESO

White cauliflower queso dip is best stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3-4 days. 

MUST HAVE KITCHEN GEAR ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

MORE GREAT QUESO AND APPETIZER RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE✨

There are so many ways to use this queso sauce other than an appetizer dip.

Light and Creamy White Cauliflower Queso Dip

Creamy White Queso Dip, spicy jalapeno, healthy cauliflower come together to create a lighter low carb, weight watcher dip

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American, Mexican

Servings 16

Calories

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 16 ounces White Velveeta Cheese or White American cubed
• 8 ounces whipped garlic & chive cream cheese jalapeno or plain can be subbed
• 1/2 head cauliflower or whole small
• 1 can 2% evaporated milk
• 2 med jalapenos – divided chopped, reserve 1/3 for topping
• 1/2 med onion – divided chopped, reserve 1/3 for topping
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 can Rotel tomatoes, onions, green peppers drained
• sprinkle Red Pepper Flakes & chopped cilantro

Instructions

 

• STEP ONE: Place the jalapenos and onions in a heavy bottom deep pan, spray with oil, and saute until the peppers and onions are soft. Take out 1/3 of the soft veggies and reserve for toppings.
• STEP TWO: Add the cauliflower and chicken broth to the onion and pepper mix, cover and let it all steam/simmer over medium heat for about 15 minutes or until cauliflower is fork-tender.
• STEP THREE: Place peppers, onions, and steamed cauliflower along with all the broth in a food processor. Add the cheeses and spices, secure the food processor lid, and pulse 5-10 times. Through the liquid funnel on top, stream evaporated milk while it blends continuously.
• STEP FOUR: After processing queso in the food processor, pour it back into the pepper and onion pan. Heat on medium until hot and bubbling. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.
• STEP FIVE: Queso should be thicker and flavors melded together. Add more seasoning to taste. Salt and pepper, Cajun, and/or Mexican Spices can be added at this stage. Top with drained Rotel tomatoes, Red Salsa, Green Chili Salsa, rest of the sauteed onions and peppers, cilantro, and more red pepper flakes.

Notes

If you are omitting cauliflower then bring the pepper and onions to a low simmer for about 5 minutes.

After you blend the mixture in the food processor, it will be warm and runny but will thicken up once you reheat it and let it sit.

Do not rinse out the heavy bottom pan used for peppers and onions. The residual flavor will enhance the Queso’s flavor. 

Keyword cauliflower, low carb, queso dip, weight watchers

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