FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Crock Pot Queso Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Make Crock Pot Queso
• My Recipe Tips
• Serving Ideas
• More Cheesy Dip Recipes
• My Mini Crock Pot For This Recipe
• Crock Pot Queso (Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

I first got inspired to make this Crock Pot queso after a holiday potluck at work (before I started working for myself!). Someone brought a warm, cheesy queso in a mini slow cooker, and I was hooked. I immediately had to get one of those mini Crock Pots for myself, and couldn’t wait to try my own version of slow cooker queso at home. And now it’s your turn. Make this super easy Crock Pot queso dip with me—it’s only a few minutes of prep, and the slow cooker does the rest!

Why You Need My Crock Pot Queso Recipe

• Creamy and cheesy – I love the melty, cheesy flavor and a little kick. And you’ve got options to make it smooth or with some texture. It’s the kind of dip everyone will rave about!
• Incredibly easy – This is a set-it-and-forget it recipe. Just throw 3 simple ingredients (that you can find at any grocery store) in the Crock Pot and you’re all set!
• No mystery ingredients – Store-bought queso has added oils, starches, and preservatives. Why get it when making your own is so easy and tastes 1000x better? I also don’t use processed cheeses here, like Velveeta or American cheese.
• Perfect for any gathering – Whether it’s a game day recipe , Taco Tuesday, or a holiday potluck, my Crock Pot queso is always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my slow cooker queso recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Cream Cheese – Cutting the cream cheese into cubes helps it melt faster for a smooth finish. I used regular, but light is also fine.
• Salsa – I love using my homemade salsa verde here, but for these pictures I used store-bought to make it even easier. Any salsa will do! You can even use fresh salsa , or canned tomatoes with green chilies (a.k.a. Rotel).
• Shredded Cheese – I went with Monterey Jack cheese, but Colby Jack, queso blanco, cheddar, or pepper jack cheese would work, too.

How To Make Crock Pot Queso

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Combine the ingredients. Just stir them together in a mini Crock Pot .
2. Slow cook until melty. Cook on Low for 2 1/2 hours, stirring and whisking every 30 minutes to get rid of any lumps. You can leave the Crock Pot queso in the slow cooker on the Low setting to keep it warm, and just stir occasionally.

My Recipe Tips

• For the best texture, choose a salsa that isn’t too chunky. If you want the texture extra silky smooth, blitz the queso dip in a blender at the end, or just blend the salsa alone before pouring it into the slow cooker.
• Drain your salsa if it’s watery. This will prevent your dip from being too runny.
• Want to make it in a full-size slow cooker? My Crock Pot queso recipe is too small for that, but you can just double or triple the recipe to use a full-size Crock Pot. Simply adjust the number of servings on the recipe card below.
• Prefer to use your stovetop? Just melt the cheese in a double boiler (a glass or metal bowl fitted over a saucepan with boiling water) and stir often.
• Want extra heat? You can choose a hotter salsa, or up the spiciness to your taste with hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chili powder, minced jalapenos, or even taco seasoning .
• Want to make it meaty? Add a cup of cooked ground beef or sausage, or even seasoned taco meat , for a vibe similar to my Rotel dip .

Serving Ideas

My Crock Pot queso goes with all kinds of dippers, as well as other Mexican dishes ! Here are some of my faves:

• Raw Veggies – I used mini bell peppers when I took these pictures, and they’re perfect for scooping. Celery, cucumber slices, or carrot sticks work great, too.
• Tortilla Chips – You can grab store-bought, but my homemade tortilla chips taste even better. Top with ground beef, tomatoes, and red onions for epic nachos!
• Tacos – Try my carne asada or chicken fajitas with this queso. You could also drizzle the cheese sauce over a taco skillet , or swap the shredded cheese in my taco casserole with this creamy slow cooker queso dip for a major upgrade!
• Fries – Drizzle it over crispy air fryer French fries , or make a loaded version with toppings like crumbled bacon , jalapenos, and green onions.
• Bowls – Use rice or cauliflower rice as a base, then pile them high with barbacoa , or ground meat, guacamole , fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and queso.

More Cheesy Dip Recipes

I love a good cheese dip! If you like my Crock Pot queso, you’ll probably also enjoy my other dips:

My Mini Crock Pot For This Recipe

I have this simple mini Crock Pot — I love the simplicity and it’s the perfect size for this recipe. But if you want one with a temperature dial, this one is great and just a little bigger.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 8 oz Cream cheese (cut into cubes) ▢
• 1 1/2 cups Salsa verde ▢
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Mix the cream cheese, salsa, and shredded cheese together in a mini slow cooker .
2. Cook on Low for 2 1/2 hours , stirring every 30 minutes to get rid of any lumps.
3. Optional: If you want even smoother dip, you can puree it in a blender at the end.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 cup

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above for getting the best texture, adjusting the heat or spices, and alternate methods for the stovetop or a full-size slow cooker.
• Store: Pop any leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-5 days. They’ll get firmer in the fridge, but will get melty again when you reheat. I don’t recommend freezing this Crock Pot queso dip — unlike the kinds with processed cheese, the texture will be ruined.
• Reheat: Just scoop your queso in the Crock Pot again and heat on low until warm. If you’re in a rush, the microwave works, too.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Fall Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.

Crock Pot Queso

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Crock Pot Queso (Easy 3-Ingredient Recipe)

Make my creamy Crock Pot queso in your slow cooker with just 3 ingredients! It’s perfect for parties, and stays warm and melty for hours.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/how-to-make-queso-dip-in-a-crock-pot-3-ingredients/

Ingredients

• 8 oz Cream cheese (cut into cubes)
• 1 1/2 cups Salsa verde
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)

Instructions

1. Mix the cream cheese, salsa, and shredded cheese together in a mini slow cooker .
2. Cook on Low for 2 1/2 hours , stirring every 30 minutes to get rid of any lumps.
3. Optional: If you want even smoother dip, you can puree it in a blender at the end.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1/4 cup

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above for getting the best texture, adjusting the heat or spices, and alternate methods for the stovetop or a full-size slow cooker.
• Store: Pop any leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for 3-5 days. They’ll get firmer in the fridge, but will get melty again when you reheat. I don’t recommend freezing this Crock Pot queso dip – unlike the kinds with processed cheese, the texture will be ruined.
• Reheat: Just scoop your queso in the Crock Pot again and heat on low until warm. If you’re in a rush, the microwave works, too.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Fall Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. :)