Are you ready to dive into a bowl of the ultimate, cheesy, and completely irresistible comfort food? A dish so simple, so fast, and so deeply satisfying, it will become an instant family favorite for busy weeknights and fun weekend gatherings? This incredible, one-pot “Creamed Tacos” recipe is that perfect meal! We’re talking a rich, velvety, and perfectly seasoned chili cheese dip, loaded with savory ground beef and hearty beans. Served with crunchy tortilla chips for dipping, it’s the perfect, fun, and easy dinner for any night of the week.
This isn’t just another dip recipe; it’s a guide to a beloved, nostalgic classic that is pure, unadulterated comfort in a bowl. We’ll show you the simple secrets to a flawless, impossibly smooth and creamy cheese sauce that never breaks or separates. This is a satisfying, soulful, and deeply comforting meal that is perfect for game day, a party, or any time you need a simple and impressive dish.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate One-Pot Comfort Food
What makes this Creamed Tacos recipe so spectacularly delicious is its incredible, comforting flavor and its wonderfully simple one-pot preparation. This recipe is a masterpiece of classic American comfort food. It’s essentially a hearty, main course version of a classic chili cheese dip or queso. The flavor foundation is built by browning savory ground beef, which is then simmered with flavorful, shortcut ingredients like canned chili beans and diced tomatoes with green chiles. The true star of the show, however, is the processed cheese (like Velveeta®), which melts into the hot mixture to create an unbelievably smooth, creamy, and luscious sauce that is simply iconic.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 20 minutes |
| Active Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 6-8 |
The Simple Staples: The Essential Ingredients
This iconic dish uses a handful of smart shortcuts and high-quality pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.
- The Velveeta Magic (The Secret to Creaminess!):
- Processed Cheese: This is the non-negotiable secret to the signature, perfectly smooth and creamy texture of this dish. A block of a high-quality processed cheese, like Velveeta®, contains special emulsifying salts (like sodium citrate) that are the key that allows it to melt into an incredibly smooth, glossy, and stable sauce that will never break, separate, or become greasy, even when it’s reheated.
- The Shortcut Superstars:
- Chili Beans: Using a can of chili beans (which are typically pinto beans that have already been simmered in a mild chili-spiced sauce) is a brilliant shortcut that adds an instant, complex, and savory flavor to the dish with zero extra effort.
- Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles: A can of diced tomatoes with green chiles (like the famous Rotel® brand) is another fantastic shortcut that provides the flavor of tomatoes, onions, and mild chiles all in one convenient can.
- The Meat: A classic, simple pound of ground beef is the perfect, savory base for this hearty dish.
Step-by-Step to the Best Creamed Tacos
This delicious, one-pot meal is incredibly simple to prepare.
Step 1: Cook the Ground Beef, Beans, and Tomatoes
In a large pot or a 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, cook your 1 pound of ground beef over a medium heat, using a wooden spoon to break it up into clumps, until it is no longer pink. This will take about 5 to 8 minutes.
Drain off and discard most, but not all, of the rendered fat from the pot. A little bit of the fat will add a ton of delicious, savory flavor to the final dish.
Add your 2 cans of chili beans (do not drain them!) and your 1 can of diced tomatoes and green chilies to the pot. Give everything a good stir and let the mixture come to a gentle simmer.
Part 2: Melt the Cheese and Serve
Step 1: Once the pot is simmering, add your 1 pound of cubed processed cheese.
Step 2 (The Secret to a Smooth Sauce!): Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir the mixture constantly until the cheese is completely and totally melted. This will not take long!
Pro Tip: It is crucial to melt your cheese over a low heat. This will prevent the sauce from scorching on the bottom of the pot and will ensure a perfectly smooth and velvety result.
Step 3: Reduce the heat to low or move the pot off the heat. Give the sauce a taste and add 1 or 2 teaspoons of chili powder, if you think it needs an extra kick of flavor.
Serve the hot, thick, and creamy tacos immediately in warm bowls, with a generous helping of your favorite toppings.
Creamed Tacos (The Ultimate Chili Cheese Dip!)
An easy, one-pot recipe for a hearty and cheesy dish called ‘Creamed Tacos.’ This dip-style meal is essentially a chili cheese dip, perfect for a casual weeknight dinner. The recipe involves browning ground beef in a large pot, then stirring in canned chili beans and diced tomatoes with green chiles. The signature creaminess comes from melting in a pound of processed cheese, like Velveeta. The thick, savory mixture is served in bowls with tortilla chips for scooping, and can be topped with fresh lettuce and tomatoes.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 (15.5-ounce) cans chili beans, undrained
- 1 (10 to 14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
- 1 pound processed cheese (such as Velveeta), cubed
- 1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder (optional)
- Tortilla chips, for serving
- Shredded lettuce, for serving
- Diced tomatoes, for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the ground beef for 5 to 8 minutes, breaking it up into clumps, until it is no longer pink.
- Drain off most of the excess fat from the pot.
- Add the undrained cans of chili beans and diced tomatoes with green chilies to the pot. Stir and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Once simmering, add the cubed processed cheese. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir constantly until the cheese is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Reduce the heat to low. Taste and stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons of chili powder if you want more of a kick.
- If the mixture is thicker than you’d like, stir in a little water or milk to reach your desired consistency.
- Ladle the ‘creamed tacos’ into bowls and serve immediately with tortilla chips, shredded lettuce, and fresh diced tomatoes for topping.
Notes
- This is an incredibly fast and easy one-pot meal, making it perfect for a busy weeknight.
- Using processed cheese like Velveeta is the key to achieving the signature super-creamy, smooth texture that won’t separate or become greasy.
- Stirring constantly while the cheese melts over low heat is important to prevent the mixture from scorching on the bottom of the pot.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to four days and are easily reheated.
The Ultimate Toppings Bar
A hearty bowl of creamed tacos is the perfect canvas for all sorts of delicious and classic toppings!
- Creamy & Cooling: A large dollop of sour cream or a plain Greek yogurt.
- Fresh & Crunchy: Some fresh, diced tomatoes, finely shredded iceberg lettuce, or some chopped onions and cilantro.
- For Dipping: A big bowl of salty, crunchy tortilla chips or corn chips is absolutely essential for scooping up every last, delicious bite!
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Storage and Reheating Tips
- Make-Ahead: For a super-fast and impressive meal, you can get a head start by preparing the entire dish up to 3 days in advance.
- Storage: Store any leftover creamed tacos in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: The best way to reheat this dish is to do so gently in a saucepan on the stovetop over a low heat. You may need to add a generous splash of milk or water to loosen the sauce and bring back its original, creamy consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a super creamy and smooth cheese dip that never separates or gets greasy?
The secret is to use a processed cheese, like Velveeta®. Unlike natural cheeses (like cheddar or mozzarella), processed cheese contains special emulsifying salts that are the key that allows it to melt into an incredibly stable, perfectly smooth, and glossy sauce that will never break or become oily, even when it is reheated.
Q2: Can I make this dip ahead of time for a party?
Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead party dip! You can prepare the entire recipe and then simply transfer it to a slow cooker set on the “warm” or “low” setting to keep it hot and perfectly creamy throughout your entire party.
Q3: Can I freeze this dip?
Yes! Because of the stability of the processed cheese, this dip freezes surprisingly well. Let it cool completely, and then you can store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat it gently on the stovetop.
Q4: Can I make this recipe with a different kind of meat?
Yes, absolutely! This recipe is wonderfully versatile. It would also be fantastic with about 1 pound of browned and crumbled ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a spicy chorizo sausage.
Q5: Can I make this recipe with a different kind of cheese?
You can, but the final texture will be very different. If you would like to use a natural cheese, like a sharp cheddar, it is highly recommended that you first create a simple béchamel sauce (a white sauce made from a butter and flour roux with milk) and then melt your shredded cheddar cheese into that base.