Rotel Sausage Dip

5 from 15 votes
Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Made with just three simple ingredients, this Rotel Sausage Dip is perfectly creamy with just a little kick. When prepared in the crockpot, it stays warm for hours, making it perfect for entertaining or adding to a game-day party menu.

Looking for more delicious creamy dips? Don't miss my recipes for Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip, Chip Dip, and Refried Bean Taco Dip

Sausage Dip made with ground sausage, cream cheese, and Rotel tomatoes in blue serving dish next to tortilla scoops.

Kristen's Keys for Rotel Sausage Dip

A few small details make a big difference with a short-ingredient recipe like this one.

  • Use raw, savory sausage. Use ground bulk sausage or ground Italian sausage, not breakfast sausage, as the sweetness can throw off the balance. Pork, turkey, or chicken ground sausage all work equally well.
  • Start with room-temperature cream cheese. Cold cream cheese takes longer to melt and can leave your dip a bit lumpy, rather than creamy and smooth. Let it sit out for 30-60 minutes prior to making this dip for best results.
  • Choose your Rotel wisely. Mild, original, or hot diced tomatoes with green chiles all work, but you will want to match it to your crowd's spice tolerance.
  • Use the slow cooker to hold the dip warm for hours. While you can prepare this sausage dip start to finish on the stovetop, using the Crockpot allows the dip to stay warm and creamy for hours.

5-Star Reader Review

I've made this 3 times in one month- and we are making it again Sunday to watch football!! So easy and yummy. -Trish

How to Make Rotel Sausage Dip

While this dip is incredibly easy to make, this section will walk you through the process, giving you a few tips along the way.

Step One: Brown the Sausage

Cook the sausage over medium heat until no pink remains, breaking it up as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain the grease well to prevent the dip from separating or being overly greasy.

Browned sausage in skillet next to wooden spoon.

Step Two: Add Cream Cheese and Rotel Tomatoes

At this point, you have two options. You can add the diced tomatoes and cream cheese directly to the pan and cook over low heat, stirring often, until the cream cheese has fully melted and the dip is warmed through.

Alternatively, transfer the cooked sausage to the base of your slow cooker. Add the cubed cream cheese and diced tomatoes, then cook on low for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cream cheese has melted and the dip is smooth.

👉🏻If using the slow cooker: Once the cream cheese has fully melted into the sausage and Rotel, switch the setting to warm to keep the dip creamy and at the perfect serving temperature for up to 4 hours.

Browned sausage in skillet with Rotel Tomatoes and Cubed cream cheese.
Cream cheese, rotel tomatoes and sausage in saute pan.

Step Three: Serve Warm

This dip is best warm, when it's creamy and easy to scoop. Serve immediately after preparation or hold warm in a crockpot up to 4 hours. Serve with tortilla chips, crackers, toasted bread, or even celery sticks for balance.

Cheesy sausage dip in slow cooker after cream cheese has melted.

Note on Leftovers

If you have leftovers (rare, but possible), store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on low heat, stirring often until warmed through and creamy.

Save this Recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
5 from 15 votes

Rotel Sausage Dip

Servings: 10
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Rotel Cream Cheese Sausage Dip in blue serving dish next to tortilla scoops.
Made with 3 simple ingredients, this sausage dip is creamy, spicy, hearty, and always a party favorite!

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound bulk ground sausage, turkey, chicken or pork
  • 1 (10 ounce can) diced tomatoes with green chiles, AKA Rotel tomatoes
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature and cubed

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it browns. Once fully cooked and no pink remains, drain off any excess grease. Return the sausage to the skillet or transfer it to the base of a small slow cooker.
    Browned sausage in skillet next to wooden spoon.
  • Add the cubed cream cheese and undrained diced tomatoes to the browned sausage. If cooking on the stove, cook over medium-low heat, stirring often, until the cream cheese is melted and creamy. If preparing in the slow cooker, combine the sausage, cream cheese, and rotel in the base of the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, until the cream cheese has melted and the dip is creamy.
    Cream cheese, rotel tomatoes and sausage in saute pan.
  • Once the cream cheese has melted and the dip is warmed through, serve immediately OR keep the dip warm in the slow cooker (on the warm setting) for up to 4 hours.
    Cheesy sausage dip in slow cooker after cream cheese has melted.

Notes

Sausage: You can use pork, chicken, turkey ground sausage. Bulk sausage (like Jimmy Dean regular) is best for this recipe. While Italian sausage can be used, do not use breakfast sausage. 
Cream Cheese: You can use full fat or reduced fat, but do not use fat-free cream cheese, as it will separate when cooked. 
Diced Tomatoes with Green Chiles: Use mild, regular, or spicy Rotel based on your spice preference.
Storage: Store leftover dip in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in a saucepan over low heat or in a heat-safe dish in the microwave in 30-second intervals until the dip has warmed through. 
Nutrition has been calculated based on turkey sausage and full-fat cream cheese. 

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 10gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 376mgPotassium: 175mgSugar: 1gVitamin A: 159IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @amindfullmom or tag #amindfullmom!

About Kristen Chidsey

Kristen is a wife, busy mom of two, and creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. From breakfast to dinner to dessert, it is her passion to share tried-and-true recipes that are big on flavor, made with easy-to-find ingredients, and family-approved!

You May Also Like

5 from 15 votes (5 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 Comments

      1. curious, some same 1 package 8 oz cream cheese, other recipes are 2. Have you made it both ways and prefer just the 1 package?

      2. I wonder if they are using more sausage and rotel tomatoes than this recipe calls for? We have always made this with one package. I don't see how 2 packages would hurt, but may be less flavorful.

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! I'm going to make this for family gatherings. So simple with only 3 ingredients and so easy to put together.

  2. 5 stars
    Basically I love sausage and Rotel. Never thought of adding cheese and making it a dip! Great idea for a New Year's Eve party!

  3. What is "bulk" sausage? We make our own breakfast and Italian sausage from ground pork, but I am unfamiliar with other sausage flavor types. If I had an idea of some of the spices, I could tailor a batch especially for this dip. So timely with all the celebrations right around the corner!!

    1. Hi! The best way to describe bulk sausage is to use an example--Jimmy Dean Regular Sausage is what I would consider bulk sausage. Any sausage marked regular sausage is best for this recipe. You can certainly use Italian sausage, but not breakfast sausage that would be too sweet. The Italian sausage will give it a bit spicy, Italian flair--but still tasty.