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Hot Hamburger Dip Recipe (Only 3 Ingredients!) 

Are you getting ready to host a game day party with all the trimmings? Or maybe you’ve been asked to bring a side dish, like hamburger dip, to a family gathering. Whatever the upcoming event, you’ll love this easy, 3-ingredient hamburger dip recipe. 

Made from ground beef, cheese and spicy tomatoes, this simple yet flavorful recipe only takes moments to make. Follow this simple recipe, and you’ll have a hearty, cheesy dip ready for tortilla chip-dipping in a matter of 20 minutes!

Sides and dip.

This tasty dip is so versatile, too. You can easily add additional ingredients, make substitutions and vary the flavor using the suggestions at the end of the article. Or, think up your own substitutions and alterations. It really is a basic enough recipe that you can play around with the ingredients without compromising the results. 

Difficulty: Easy 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
Total Time: 15-20 minutes
Yield 16 servings

Nutrition Facts

Calories per serving: 170
Total Fat: 14 grams 
Saturated Fat: 7 grams 
Protein: 9 grams 
Carbohydrates: 3 grams 

Getting Ready

  1. Prep your ingredients first to save time. If your ground beef is frozen, make sure you give it enough time to thaw thoroughly before you begin cooking it. 
  2. Cube the cheese into pieces around 1 inch square. This will help the cheese melt faster when you’re making the dip. 
  3. Gather and measure any other ingredients that you have decided to use, such as those suggested in the variation section at the end. 

Ingredients:

  • 1 Pound ground beef
  • 10 Oz Rotel tomatoes
  • 16 Oz processed cheese

Velveeta is a favorite cheese to use in recipes like this, but you can really use any processed cheese. The important factor in this type of cheese is that it will easily melt and create a creamy dip texture. 

Rotel tomatoes are ideal in this recipe because they add a little spiciness to the dip without any effort. Instead of measuring spices or trying to guess how spicy your dip will be, the work is done for you by adding a can of Rotel tomatoes. If you prefer, you can substitute the tomatoes with a jar of salsa. See the variations section at the end for more substitution ideas. 

Method:

  1. Begin by browning the ground beef in the bottom of a large skillet or cooking pot. Set the stovetop burner to a medium heat and gently stir the meat once in a while as you cook to aid in even cooking and prevent sticking. You could also add more flavor in a pellet smoker.
  2. When the meat has finished cooking, add the entire can of Rotel tomatoes. Stir in the tomatoes thoroughly. 
  3. Turn the burner down to between low and medium. Add the cubes of cheese and stir continuously until the cheese has thoroughly melted, and all of the ingredients are well combined. 
  4. Transfer your dip to a serving bowl, and you are ready to eat! 

Slow Cooker Method

If you would rather use your slow cooker to make this hamburger dip recipe, follow these easy instructions. This is also a great way to keep the dip hot so that you don’t have to keep warming it up. 

  1. Brown the ground beef as above and then put it in your slow cooker. 
  2. Add the Rotel tomatoes and cubes of cheese, and set the slow cooker to a low heat. Allow the cheese to melt thoroughly, stirring occasionally. 
  3. Simply let your slow cooker sit on a low heat for as long as you want to keep the dip hot and ready to eat. You could also transfer it on another bowl and have it on a hot plate to keep it warm.

How To Serve Your Hamburger Dip

Now that you have a tasty, cheesy hot hamburger dip, what do you eat it with? How do you serve it? 

Put your dip into a large, colorful serving dish and provide a small ladle or a large spoon so people can ladle the hot, cheesy dip over a plate of chips. Or, if you prefer, let your guests dip their tortilla chips directly into the serving bowl. 

Need ideas on what else to dip? There are endless possibilities for chips, crackers and even breads that can be served with this delicious dip recipe. Try slices of garlic bread, veggie chips, mini pretzels or Triscuits for different textures and flavors. 

Dip Recipe Variations

Experiment with the meat you use. You can use spicy sausage or even pre-cooked cubes of chicken in place of the ground beef. It’s also easy to make this recipe vegetarian by replacing the beef with black beans, vegetarian chili or any number of meat substitutes. 

Try swapping out the Rotel for a cup of your favorite salsa. You can even use non-tomato based salsas, such as those with black beans, in this recipe. 

Try different cheese, such as cheddar or pepper jack. Hard cheeses generally require creating a roux, or white sauce, into which you can melt grated cheese, but they can still be used in this recipe. m

For added flavor, toss in some garlic powder, chopped jalapenos or chili powder. 

There are really endless possibilities when it comes to hamburger dip. Try adding any of your favorite veggies, chopped finely, such as onions and green peppers. 

Can you freeze hamburger dip?

Yes, you can freeze your hamburger dip, and it will keep well for up to 3 months. The consistency and taste of the dip won’t be exactly the same when reheated from frozen, but the convenience of having pre-made dip in the freezer can outweigh the fresh dip option in certain circumstances. 

Dipping a chip.

To freeze your dip, put it in a Tupperware container, or any other container with a lid that seals tightly. The cheese texture will be compromised less on reheating if the container is air tight. 

When you’re ready to defrost your dip, put it in the microwave, uncovered, on the defrost setting. Make sure to set the time for the suggested length based on the total weight of the dip. For instance, if you are defrosting the entire recipe, this will be just over 2.5 pounds. 

Next, microwave the dip using the regular heat setting for 5 to 10 minutes, or for however long it takes to thoroughly heat through.