Healthy stuff aside – these “Man Chow” posts will pop-up from time-to-time simply talking about tasty, not gourmet, food that most guys can easily learn to make & master while adding their own spin to it. Just for kicks we’ll also try to mention how you can make the dish a little bit healthier if you REALLY want to.
So let’s go…
Have you ever had Ro-Tel Dip? Maybe you have, but it was called another name like cheese dip, queso, queso dip or something like that. People do have different names for Ro-Tel in different regions after all, but at the end of trhe day it’s just a mixture of cheese(s), beef, taco seasoning and a specially seasoned brand of tomatoes… at least how I make it.
Whatever you call it – here are the ingredients you need:
- A 1lb. block of Velveeta Cheese (whatever kind of cheese tickles your fancy)
- 2 of the smaller cans of Ro-Tel brand diced tomatoes (whatever level of spice you like)
- 1-2 lbs beef ground beef
- Seasoning of your choice (for the beef) – I personally just use a packet of Williams Taco Seasoning
Prep Work
Cut your cheese block up into small cubes so that it can melt better when added. Also begin to drain off one can of your Ro-Tel tomatoes — leave the other one as is.
Step 1
Brown your ground beef and tear it up the same way that you would typical taco meat. Once it’s browned – drain the grease off of your meat.
Step 2
Put your drained meat back into whatever you’re cooking your meat in and mix your seasoning into the browned beef. Some people prefer to season the meat themselves – like I said, I prefer to just use store-bought Taco Seasoning.
Step 3
Once you’ve thoroughly mixed in your seasoning, it’s time for the tomatoes. Pour both cans, the drained and undrained, into your seasoned brown beef and mix it in fully throughout your meat.
Step 4
Once that’s all mixed up – it’s almost Ro-Tel. That cheese that you cut upcanto small cubes earlier — dump it into your meat & tomato mixture… all of it. Once you’ve done that stir it into your mixture.
Step 5
Lower the heat. Cover your pot & let it cook on low heat until the cheese is fully melted. Take care to stir the pot occasionally so that your cheese doesn’t burn.
Once all of the cheese is melted, and it all has a hot pudding-like consistency (lumpy of course because of the meat and stuff) – you have Ro-Tel. You should be able to spoon the mixture onto things, or easily dip into the Ro-Tel and scoop with nacho chips or something. Ro-Tel is great with nacho chips in fact and some jalapenos on the side. This is a great party dip – or just good to eat alone 
If you have to make this man dish healthy – here’s some tips:
- Use light cheese (it does exist) with lower calories & fat content.
- Use ground turkey instead of beef.
- Eat it with baked chips of some wheat based salty snack.
- Add other vegetables into the mix.
- Kick it up by adding fresh garden salsa into your mix.
I don’t know if those tips will ruin the flavor (just being honest) – but they are potential ways to make this meal/snack a little healthier.
What do you call Ro-Tel? How do you make it? Did you know some people add milk into their mix? How would you make this Man Chow Dish healthier? Tell me your thoughts on this simple but delicious snack in the Comment Section below.
Peace and thanks for reading.
