Grab a bag of tortilla chips and dig into this Instant Pot/Slow Cooker Arkansas Cheese Dip for the most addicting snack of your life.
Arkansas Cheese Dip
Each week in 2020 I’m sharing a recipe inspired by one of the 50 states. So far I’ve covered Alabama, Louisiana, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii, South Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Alaska, New Mexico and West Virginia. (If you want to see all the “state recipes” listed in one place you can go here). Today I’m sharing a recipe inspired by The Natural State–Arkansas.
Funny thing…I’ve never actually been to Arkansas. Greg and I like to travel around and see different areas of the country. We had a trip planned in May to Arkansas along with some surrounding states but as of now that’s not looking like it will end up happening. Sad day. I’ll have to reschedule in the future.
When I think of Arkansas I think of Little Rock. And specifically that song “Little Rock” by Collin Raye. You know the one?
“I think I’m on a roll
Collin Raye
Here in Little Rock
I’m solid as a stone
Wait and see
I got just one small problem
Here in Little Rock
Without you
Baby I’m not me”
I also think of the show Counting On on TLC, Walmart, Bill Clinton, the Razorbacks and good southern folks. Did you know Maya Angelou and Johnny Cash are from Arkansas?
So today’s recipe is cheese dip! According to the internet, “Invented in 1935, cheese dip was created by the owner of Mexico Chiquito restaurants, Blackie Donnelly. The popularity of cheese dip grew, and it is now available at most restaurants across the South. To this day, the World Cheese Dip Championship is held in Little Rock each year.” I don’t know exactly what happens at the world cheese dip championship but I’m pretty sure that I want to attend!
My recipe for cheese dip tasted so good that Greg and I could barely take a picture before we ate up everything on the plate. It goes beyond the normal Velveeta-Rotel dip. With the seasonings and other additions like peppers, tomatoes and cilantro the dip is brought to a whole new level. Now I’m not saying I would win the cheese dip championship or anything but I’d win the cheese dip at home quarantine championship at my house for sure.
More dip recipes you’ll love…
Slow Cooker Velveeta Rotel Dip
Instant Pot Chocolate Peanut Butter Hummus
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Arkansas Cheese Dip
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 25 servings 1x
Description
Grab a bag of tortilla chips and dig into this Instant Pot/Slow Cooker Arkansas Cheese Dip for the most addicting snack of your life.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 2 pounds velveeta cheese, cut into cubes
- 2 cups grated pepper jack cheese
- 3 (4 oz) cans green chiles
- 3 roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 jalapeno, pith and seeds removed and minced
- 1 poblano pepper, pith and seeds removed and minced
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp chili powder
Instructions
- Turn your Instant Pot to the slow cooker setting and adjust it to “more” or if using a slow cooker turn it to the high setting.
- Add in the milk, velveeta and pepper jack cheese. It will start melting as you add in and prepare the rest of the ingredients. Stir every few minutes. Add in the green chiles, tomatoes, jalapeno, poblano, garlic powder, cumin, pepper and chili powder. Stir. Cover the pot and let the cheese get completely melted for 10 minutes (or as long as it takes). Stir.
- Once the dip is melted turn the pot to the warm setting. Serve the dip with tortilla chips.
- Category: Dip
*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I’m from Arkansas and just moved back from being in Austin Texas for 20 years. I like this because it’s a cross between Arkansas cheese dip and Texas queso. Just plain old Velveeta and Rotel is just gross. My mom makes the Mexico Chiquita dip which, in my opinion, is not at all good. My son in law IS Texican and he likes your version too, of course, he adds his grandpa’s famous south Texas hot sauce to it to give it more heat. Thank you!
★★★★★
Oooh! I want to try the famous hot sauce! Hot fun! Thanks for the 5 stars Ginger.
No offense but I’m from Little Rock, and no one makes cheese dip this way, so dubbing it Arkansas Cheese Dip is a bit of a misnomer. I made your recipe, of course, and it’s delicious! But you’d never find it at a potluck or tailgate here.
Literally, everyone I know makes it with a 16 oz. block of Velveeta and a 10-oz. can of Ro-Tel tomatoes & green chiles. That’s it. I add cumin and oregano because I like the flavor boost, and sometimes a rinsed can of black beans, but that’s as fancy as it usually gets.
★★★★
I’m from Arkansas and I never realized our dip was special until I moved out of the South! This was delicious! Do NOT skip the peppers. I know some people worry about the spice but it isn’t at a level worth worrying, it’s so good! Follow Karen’s directions to a T. It’s perfect. My diet is screwed but I feel less homesick!
★★★★★
Haha! I love it! Thanks for the 5 stars.
Could this be made with beer instead of milk?
Does it freeze ok?
Thanks— looks delicious, and I’m trying to recreate a spicy beer cheese dip from a restaurant we like
I think it could! I’m not 100% sure. I bet it would freeze fine.
too many peppers
I respectfully disagree 😊
Looking forward to making this for our camping trip this weekend. Question though. I want to make it a day ahead. How does this cheese reheat? Is it a good idea to do so, or is it better served right away?
It’s great the next day and the day after that too!
Really got excited when I read the headline “Arkansas Cheese Dip”, thinking y’all had the recipe for Mexico Chiquito’s cheese dip. But no, you have a doctored up version (albeit a good one) of Velveeta cheese dip. Mexico Chiquito’s is the ORIGINAL and best cheese dip ever! You really DO need to come visit and sample the dip and their fruit punch which is equally good! And google the song “Arkansas, You Run Deep In Me”!
★★★★
I will come and try it!!!! You’ve talked me into it.
Would it be as hood without the peppers? I don’t do spicy 😬. WooPigSooie lol I’m from Arkansas
It’d still be tasty!
This recipe is magnificent! Thank you! We recently learned about Arkansas Cheese Dip on a podcast called “Gravy” and this is the recipe we picked to try it and it’s so delicious! We’re hooked forever and ever.
★★★★★
Haha! I will have to listen to the podcast. Sounds like something up my alley!
that sound good to
Love repice
Thanks Misty!
yourvwelcome