Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (2024)

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Step up your appetizer game with this Skinny Queso Dip. At just 70 calories a serving, you can indulge in some cheesy goodness without the guilt!

Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (1)

Cooler weather. MLB and NBA postseason. College football Saturday. NFL Sunday. This is the kind of atmosphere that screams for cozy blankets and fireside nibbles. I’m a sucker for warm dips, but most are packed with calories and fat.

Not this Skinny Queso Dip! This version has so much cheddar flavor and is half of the calories/fat of store-bought brands. Jeff is obsessed with the Tostitos canned queso, and even he likes this version better.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a can of cheese now and then. But since you’re using real, whole ingredients in this recipe, the flavor is so much more satisfying than the jarred stuff. Make it on the weekend and eat through it all week!

Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (2)

What ingredients do I need to make skinny queso dip?

It might seem like a lot of ingredients go into making this recipe, but most of them are shelf-stable or keep in the refrigerator for a long time.

Here’s what you need:

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Jalapeno (optional)
  • Tomato
  • Reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
  • Reduced-fat cream cheese
  • Almond milk
  • Cornstarch
  • Canned green chilis
  • Cumin
  • Chili powder
  • Salt and pepper
  • For garnish: chives or green onions (optional)

The one ingredient that might seems a bit strange is the cream cheese, and only 2 tablespoons at that. I though the sauce needed a little boost of creaminess. That’s why I included it in the recipe.

Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (3)

I always have cream cheese on hand, so it’s not a big deal for me. If you don’t usually buy cream cheese, you could leave it out and just let the sauce cook more to thicken. Or you could use the leftover cream cheese to make my Penne alla Vodka later in the week and thank yourself later!

Stock up your pantry and fridge so you can make this dip whenever the craving hits!

What can i do with the leftovers?

The leftovers heat up really well! Some cheese sauces can get super clumpy or separate, but this one does fine in the microwave for about a minute.

Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (4)

If you’re making this for just yourself, cut the recipe in half and use the leftovers during the week for some delicious, low-point meals!

Our favorite is baked potatoes topped with steamed broccoli and queso. So freaking delicious, and a super easy weeknight meal. You could also use the dip for nachos, or as the cheese in a bean and cheese burrito. Serve any of those up with a side salad and you’re good to go!

I’d love to hear from you if you make this recipe! It makes my day when you share your pics on Instagram and tag me (@litecravings). Don’t forget to use #litecravingsrecipes to make sure I see it. If I don’t get a chance to scroll through my tags quickly enough, I won’t see your post. I always make a point to look through the hashtags, though, so I’ll see it there.

Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (5)

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5 from 5 votes

Skinny Queso Dip

Step up your appetizer game with this Skinny Queso Dip. At just 70 calories a serving, you can indulge in some cheesy goodness without the guilt!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Servings: 16

Calories: 69kcal

Author: Geri

Ingredients

  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-2 jalapenos, seeded and minced (optional)
  • 1 1/4 cup unsweetened, plain almond milk
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 large tomato, diced (with juices)
  • 1 4-ounce can diced green chilis (with juices)
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 2 cup reduced fat cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 tbsp reduced fat cream cheese (1/3 less fat)
  • kosher salt and pepper, to taste
  • minced chives or green onions, for garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium-sized saucepan, over medium heat, sauté onion, garlic, and jalapenos until soft, about 5-7 minutes.

  • In a separate bowl, whisk together almond milk and cornstarch. When veggies are soft, slowly add milk/cornstarch mixture to saucepan. Increase heat to medium high until the mixture begins to boil.

  • Reduce heat to medium low. Whisk in cumin and chili powder. Add in canned chilis and tomato with all of their juices. Simmer until sauce is slightly thick, about 4-5 minutes.

  • Whisk in cream cheese until it completely melts through the sauce. Remove sauce from heat.

  • Slowly fold in cheddar cheese, about 1/4 cup at a time, until all cheese has completely melted into the sauce. If you try to add all the cheese in at once, it might clump together.

  • Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

  • If the queso is too thin, return to medium-low heat and simmer until thicker. If too thick, thin out out a few splashes of almond milk.

Notes

Click hereto determine your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe (if you are logged in to your WW app, it should calculate for you automatically). Serving size is 1/4 cup.

WW Green, Blue, and Purple SmartPoints:

2 for 1/4 cup

3 for 1/3 cup

4 for 1/2 cup

Nutrition calculated for 1/4 cup

Nutrition

Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sugar: 1g

Skinny Queso Dip | Lite Cravings | WW Recipes | Low Calorie (2024)

FAQs

What can I use to thin out queso dip? ›

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm. If the queso is too thin, return to medium-low heat and simmer until thicker. If too thick, thin out out a few splashes of almond milk.

How many calories are in homemade queso dip? ›

Calories in Queso

Mexican cheese dip is a calorie-dense food. Two tablespoons of Mexican cheese dip (or 30 grams) contains 42 calories, according to the USDA.

What to dip in queso besides chips? ›

Of course, there's nothing wrong with the classic nachos, but Queso For All suggests trying out some other dippers for your queso besides corn chips. Consider dunking pretzels, homemade bread, sausages and vegetables to get a different flavor from your dip.

Is cheese dip good for a diet? ›

Considering how most store-bought cheese dips are made with artificial flavors, they don't provide many nutrients, and they can be relatively high in sodium and fat, adding cheese dips to your diet if you are focused on your heart health isn't the best practice.

How to make queso thinner? ›

To make a thinner cheese dip, you can add more milk a little bit at a time until you reach the desired consistency. This is great scooped up with some tortilla chips, but it is also great for making nachos or burritos!

How do you make Velveeta queso dip thinner? ›

You can melt Velveeta in the microwave or in a double boiler. You'll want to cut the cheese into chunks and add a little milk before you start melting though. About 1/4 cup milk for each half pound of cheese seems about right.

How many calories are in 2 tablespoons of queso dip? ›

2 tbsp of queso dip (Wegmans) contains 60 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 14% carbs, 64% fat, and 21% protein. This has a moderate calorie density, with 200 Calories per 100g.

How many calories are in a cup of queso dip? ›

Moe's Southwest Grill Cup Of Queso (1 serving) contains 15g total carbs, 15g net carbs, 39g fat, 18g protein, and 460 calories.

How many calories are in white queso dip? ›

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Container13
Serving Size2 Tbsp (About 32g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories45
Calories from Fat27
11 more rows

What else can you eat queso with? ›

Make delicious queso meals every day of the week, with these tantalizing recipes to keep you full and your taste buds happy.
  • Pressure Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese.
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Rice.
  • Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza.
  • Crunchy Breakfast Queso Wraps.
  • Chicken Queso Soup.
  • Rockin' Nachos.
  • Ultimate Nachos.
  • Queso Macaroni and Cheese.

What can I eat instead of dip and chips? ›

  • Kale Chips. Kale chips are made by baking kale until it becomes crispy. ...
  • Apple Slices with Nut Butter. Apple slices with nut butter are a dietitian-approved snack that is healthy and satisfying. ...
  • Baked Zucchini Chips. ...
  • Roasted Chickpeas. ...
  • Baked Banana Chips. ...
  • Baked Green Bean Chips. ...
  • Baked Apple Chips. ...
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

What is a substitute for queso cheese? ›

Other soft, fresh Mexican cheeses labeled "queso de frier" or "queso de parilla" (cheese for frying or grilling, respectively) can be used as a substitute if you can't find queso blanco or queso fresco. Other frying cheeses, such as paneer and halloumi, may also be used for this purpose.

Should you avoid cheese when trying to lose weight? ›

The Secret to Eating Cheese and Still Losing Weight

What you want to pay attention to is which have the most fat and salt. These include cheddar and other hard cheeses. It is best to stay away from them. There are plenty of delicious cheeses that are low in both fat and salt.

Which is healthier, salsa or queso? ›

Salsa is lower in calories, with no fat and has many beneficial vitamins. Our recommendation? Don't avoid queso or guacamole in moderation (they're delicious!), but if you want a flavorful, low-calorie snack you can fill up on without added guilt, grab some salsa.

What to do if queso is too thick? ›

If you find it's getting too thick, whisk in a couple of tablespoons of whole milk to thin it. Serve it straight from the pan kept over low heat on your stove or transfer the queso to a slow cooker set on warm.

How do you fix queso that's too thick? ›

If the dip is too thick, add more milk; if it's too thin, add more cheese. Eat it with tortilla chips.

How do you make queso dip more liquidy? ›

(Even though I enjoy as the recipe is written.) If you're into a thinner dip, add the 1 1/2 cups to start out with, and after all the cheese is incorporated, if it's still too thick for you, slowly stir in another 1/4 cup (or more) of cream until it's thin enough for you.

What makes queso liquidy? ›

Sodium citrate allows any cheese to melt evenly, which means it's also useful for, say, macaroni and cheese or a fondue, if you're feeling fancy. Chances are you've actually already had sodium citrate in cheeses like Velveeta or American cheese—it helps both melt evenly without separating.

References

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