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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.
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!
Other recipes you might love…
- Paleo Cauliflower Nacho Cheese
- Paleo Nacho Casserole
- Caramelized Onion and Bacon Dip (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
- Whole30 Buffalo Chicken Dip (Paleo, Keto)
- Paleo Crab Dip (Whole30, Keto)
Dairy Free Queso Dip with Ground Beef (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I don’t think I can have the nutritional yeast. I know it has a cheesy effect.
Would it be worth trying it without the yeast?
It’ll just be a warm dip then, but I bet it’ll still be good!
Hubby has dairy allergy and we are eating keto. This was great, we loved it!! Especially loved that it did not taste healthy, felt like we were cheating, Thanks so much for sharing! Will be making again, looking forward to the leftovers too!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!! Thank you so much for leaving a review.
Can I use riced cauliflower instead of the florets? Thank you!
Yes!
OMG I am SO grateful for this recipe. Been missing cheesy dips since avoiding dairy/eating Paleo. This REALLY hit the spot. Made it to take to an outdoor gathering with friends/family who actively avoid anything new or healthy (seriously they refused to eat pasta salad made with orzo once b/c it didn’t “look normal”). Figured they’d at least be open to eating queso dip. Made them try it before telling them it was dairy free, full of veggies & much healthier than the conventional stuff. I’ve already made another batch for quick/healthy meal/snacks (paired with veggies and Siete cassava chips for dipping ). I use coconut milk and increased the spices by about 1/3 (33%) to reach our preferred level of seasoning for the beef. Thank you, Jean! ❤️
Thank you so much!!! That’s why I created it. Thanks for leaving a review.
Hi! Just wanted to point out that ghee is derived from dairy therefore the recipe is not dairy free as stated. I strongly recommend to remove the dairy free tag.
It says in the instructions “or your favorite cooking oil” if you can’t use ghee.
For a times saver, can organic, raw unsalted cashew butter be subbed for raw cashews? (Artisana). If so, what quantity?
Yes. About 1/3 cup will work.
Your note about eating this straight with a spoon is no joke! This is AMAZING! I stood over the Tupperware with leftovers, having every intent to put some on eggs for breakfast, but I ended up finishing the whole thing – still cold! A fervent, 5 out of 5, delicious, uses-ingredients-I-tend-to-have-on-hand, A+ recipe.
Omgoodness, this is the best review ever! Thank you so much, haha. Makes me so happy you love it as much as I do!!
How long would this keep in the fridge? Thank you for sharing this recipe!
I would eat it within 3-4 days. Enjoy!
This queso looks amazing!!
I have your cookbook which is full of wonderful things to make, and I appreciate you sharing other recipes on Instagram and through your blog!
Aw you are so sweet. Thank you so much!
This looks excellent! Grabbing ingredients today… Do you think if I leave out the tomatoes, it will still be tasty? My husband is allergic to tomatoes 😩
PS- Please keep sharing these awesome recipes!
Yay! Hope you enjoy!!! Yes, you can leave out the tomatoes. It won’t have as many “chunky bits” in it but I think it’ll still be tasty.
Because I’m doing the AIP, I can’t do tomatoes either, so I like to sub roasted red peppers instead, so still nice and chunky😋