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This dairy free queso dip with ground beef is made with cauliflower and cashews, but you’ll never know it by its amazing taste and texture! Perfect for the Super Bowl or any game day get-together.

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There’s nothing I love more than game day recipes during this time of the year. I just can’t get enough and they are some of the most addicting dishes on the planet. I mean, what’s not to love about chips and dips and all the wings? Absolutely nothing.

When I didn’t realize that I was sensitive to dairy years ago, beef nachos were my go-to when my husband and I would go to soccer games. There’s just something magical when ground beef and cheese come together, and I knew I had to recreate that flavor with this beef queso dip.

Dairy Free Queso Dip with Ground Beef Recipe

Not only is this cheesy dip dairy free, it’s a paleo and keto queso recipe packed with veggies that you can’t even taste. Hey, if I’m going to be indulging in an addicting dip that I can’t stop eating, might as well make it a bit healthier. I promise, you can’t detect all the veggies that are in this cauliflower queso and I love that it doesn’t make me feel bloated afterwards.

Tips for Making This Paleo Queso with Ground Beef

The most important part of this cauliflower queso is the texture. To make it taste like the real ooey gooey cheesy queso, I suggest you follow these simple tips:

  • Using a high powered blender will yield the best results. If you don’t own one, I recommend you soak the cashews overnight than just an hour. Otherwise, the texture of this paleo queso might turn slightly gritty.
  • I recommend using 85% or 90% lean ground beef. If you have a higher fat content than this, there will be too much liquid that drains out during the cooking process and may alter the texture of the beef queso dip.
  • Turmeric powder is completely optional and you won’t taste it much. I like to add it for the yellow cheesy color that it gives, but you can just leave it out to make a white queso with ground beef. The nutritional yeast will give it a slightly yellow hue as well to make it look yummy.
  • This keto queso recipe makes a big batch and you’ll end up with about 7 cups of it. I don’t mind leftovers and I can never get sick of this stuff, but if you are serving it for a smaller party, you can just halve the recipe.

What to Serve With Dairy Free Queso with Ground Beef

If you are in the middle of your Whole30 challenge, these are some ways you can enjoy this yummy paleo queso with ground beef:

  • Dip raw veggies in it like baby carrots, zucchini sticks, cucumber slices, jicama sticks, celery sticks, and more.
  • Serve over baked potatoes or sweet potatoes.
  • Dip kale chips in it.
  • Drizzle over eggs, YUM.
  • Eat it straight with a spoon! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

If you aren’t doing the Whole30, you can enjoy this cauliflower queso with ground beef with your standard chips! For paleo and grain free options, I love Siete Foods tortilla chips or plantain chips.

Hope you serve this yummy and “cheesy” beef queso dip for your next game day get-together. I guarantee it’ll disappear in no time!

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5 from 2 votes
Servings: 14 servings – makes about 7 cups

Dairy Free Queso Dip with Ground Beef (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)

This dairy free queso dip with ground beef is made with cauliflower and cashews, but you'll never know it by its amazing taste and texture! Perfect for the Super Bowl or any game day.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Cashew soaking time: 1 hour
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Ingredients 

  • 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 1 hour to overnight
  • 2 tsp ghee, or your favorite cooking oil, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups cauliflower florets, about 1 medium cauliflower head
  • 3 cups almond milk, or your favorite non-dairy milk
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, optional, for color
  • 1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 4 oz can of diced green chili
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • Cilantro, for garnish, optional

Instructions 

  • Before you begin cooking, make sure to soak cashews for at least 1 hour to overnight.
  • Heat 1 tsp of ghee over medium high heat in a medium saucepan with a lid.
  • Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
  • Add in cauliflower florets and almond milk, and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until the cauliflower is tender.
  • Remove from heat and transfer to a high powered blender. Add in soaked and drained cashews and nutritional yeast, and blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
  • In the same saucepan, heat 1 tsp of ghee over medium high heat.
  • Add onion and cook stirring until soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Add in ground beef, sea salt, mustard powder, chili powder, cumin, and turmeric, and cook for about 10 minutes until the meat is browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
  • Pour in the blended cauliflower, drained diced tomatoes, green chili, and apple cider vinegar, and stir together.
  • Let the whole thing simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes until thickened to your liking.
  • Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired, before serving

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving – about 1/2 cup, Calories: 102kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 444mg, Potassium: 277mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 42IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 79mg, Iron: 1mg

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

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or tag @whatgreatgrandmaate!
What Great Grandma Ate / Jean Choi is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Jean Choi

Iโ€™m a food lover and recipe developer living in Southern California. I love to share simple and approachable gluten-free recipes that are healthy but never sacrifice on flavor.

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23 Comments

  1. Nikki says:

    This dip was fantastic! Everyone couldn’t get enough we hardly had any leftovers! Could this be frozen? That way we’d have plenty in stock whenever we get a craving & with how good this was it could happen a lot ๐Ÿ™‚

    1. Jean Choi says:

      Amazing. Thank you so much! You can definitely freeze it. It won’t be as creamy once defrosted but should still be delicious! It can freeze for up to a month.