Creamy Jalapeño Shrimp Queso Dip is cheesy, spicy, and oh-so-delicious! Peppers, onions, and the perfect amount of kick will make this appetizer dip the talk of the party!
If you’re looking for other great dip recipes: check out this Chorizo Queso Dip and this Hot Crab, Spinach, and Artichoke Dip is the ultimate party dip! They are both perfect for game day and entertaining!
For the love of dips – especially Queso Dip!
I love appetizer dips, and let me just say — this creamy shrimp dip is Hot, Hot, Hot! Not just because it’s spicy, but because it’s on my top ten list of favorite dips. I decided to make this dip for a get-together with friends and I was happy to oblige. In the future, I will definitely add this Shrimp Dip to my holiday/special and occasion-party “what to bring” list. In addition, I’ll be making this dip for one of our family gatherings coming up. After you taste it, you’ll want to do the same!
Ingredients for Creamy Jalapeño Shrimp Queso Dip:
- Shrimp, tail off: You want to use raw shrimp (not cocktail), about small to medium-ish size. After cooking, you will cut them into chunks. You can even reserve a few whole shrimp for the dip. It’s like a treasure hunt!
- Melting Cheese: You want it cheesy! Use a Queso Quesadilla, Oaxaca, or asadero cheese to give you that immaculate cheese pull that everyone loves!
- Cream Cheese: I love my dips creamy and cream cheese provides just that!
- Vegetables: White onion, jalapeños, green bell pepper, and fresh garlic are my go-to veggies for this dip! I like it spicy, so the jalapeños blend in perfectly with the blackened seasoning.
- Boursin (or Mayo): I absolutely love Boursin cheese in this dip, but mayonnaise is just as delicious in this recipe.
- Seasonings: I like using blackened seasoning on my shrimp to take the spice level up a notch. Also, I add garlic powder and black pepper, and you will not need salt unless you choose not to use blackened seasoning. But by all means, adjust to your liking!
- Tortilla Chips: You can use store-bought chips, but listen, frying up your corn tortilla chips is worth the extra step!
If you make a few swaps…
What’s even better is if you make a few swaps for this queso dip: reduced fat sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese, etc., it’s JUST AS good! I know because I made this dip when I was on WW years ago. I’m not the food police, I just want you to know that if that’s your jam, you can make simple swaps and it will still be just as good! Either way, this dip is simply AH-MAZING and filled with creamy deliciousness! Also, for those who want to make it dairy-free, check out my tips and recs section.
Check out how I made this Creamy Jalapeño Shrimp Queso Dip!
Tips and Recommendations
- For this Queso Dip, I like to use Off-the-Block cheese from your local grocery store deli. Use a box grater to shred your cheese. In my opinion, the quality of the cheese tastes better than prepackaged when you shred it yourself. Either way, the dip will be delicious, but try it!
- If you’re dairy-free: swap the cheddar and queso cheese for your favorite plant-based cheese that will melt well when baked. You can also use dairy-free cream cheese.
- If blackened seasoning is too spicy for your tastebuds, you can opt for salt and pepper.
- Reserve a few whole shrimp for your dip for an element of surprise in addition to the rough, chopped shrimp.
- Want it spicier? Throw in your favorite peppers that pack the heat!
Other recipes to enjoy!
Bacon Wrapped Grilled Okra with Lemon Garlic Aioli
Hot Crab, Spinach, and Artichoke Dip
Cheddar, Gouda, and Pimento Cheesy Potato Bake
Bacon & Blue Cheese Brussels Sprouts
I hope you enjoy this delicious recipe as much as we did! If you make it, leave a star rating as well as a comment. For more food content, you can find me at @myprettybrowneats on Instagram and TikTok, as well as, “My Pretty Brown Eats” on Facebook and Pinterest! You can also find me under the #myprettybrowneats hashtag as well as tag a recipe you’ve made. I hope to see you soon!
Creamy Jalapeño Shrimp Queso Dip
Equipment
- Box Grater
- Casserole Dish, 2-Quarts
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1 pound shrimp, tail off
- ½ teaspoon blackened seasoning, for extra spice (divided) or to taste (I like to add blackened seasoning to the dip as well)
- 2-4 chopped jalapeños, seeds removed you can keep a few if you like the heat
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped fine
- 1/2 large white onion, chopped
- 1/2 large green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, off the block
- 1 cup Melting Cheese: shredded queso blanco cheese, queso quesadilla, Oaxaco, or asadero cheese
- 4 ounces Boursin, Garlic & Herb OR 2 heaping tablespoons of mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese regular or reduced fat
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (optional)
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt, fine (optional) not necessary but you can add it!
- tortilla chips for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F.
- Heat olive oil in a medium to large skillet on medium heat.
- Add shrimp then add blackened seasoning or salt and pepper (to taste) if you don't used blackened seasoning.
- Cook shrimp in skillet until they are pink (opaque) and fully cooked.
- Next, rough chop shrimp into pieces (reserve a few whole/uncut shrimp for the dip), then add to a large mixing bowl.
- Add fresh chopped jalapeños, garlic, onions, and bell peppers to the bowl with the shrimp.
- In another mixing bowl, combine cheddar cheese, queso blanco cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise (or Boursin cheese), cream cheese, garlic powder, and blackened seasoning.
- Fold in cheese mixture with the shrimp and vegetables.
- Once mixture is well combined, pour mixture into your baking dish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
- Serve with tortilla chips and ENJOY!
Notes
- Publix, Winn Dixie, and Walmart usually carry some type of queso shreds or you can buy a block and shred with a box grater.
- A 12 oz bag of shrimp (minimum) will also work for this recipe.
- If you would like to lightly saute your vegetables before adding them to dip and baking in the oven, you can. The fresh vegetables added to the mixture and then baked taste absolutely divine!
- If you don’t like spicy you may want to leave out the fresh jalapeños and double the bell peppers. Perhaps, add red bell peppers for added sweetness.
- If you can’t find Queso Quesadilla, Asadero, or Oaxaca, use 1 cup of mozzarella shredded cheese, or your favorite melting cheese in its place.
Yes, Gawd honey! I have been eagerly awaiting for you to post this recipe! When you were nice enough to let me be your taste tester, this was the best treat after leaving the gym! It was sooo good! I didn’t even share with my husband! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much girl!!! I’m glad you enjoyed it and thanks for being my taste-tester. Now you know you’re gonna have to make it for your Hubby and he might make you prepare twice in a row like somebody else we know! Haha!
This looks so good! Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you! Let me know how you like it!
(I’m pinning this lol.)
Which brand of chips did you use? Those don’t look like Tostitos.
lol! I like the $2 bag of Santitas (white corn)! I use them or the Tostitos Multigrain, Regular, or Scoops. Let me know when you make it and thank you! :)
Umm, my hubby would just eat this out of the bowl. I pinned it for further use. I’ve been looking for a good dip recipe. I was getting tired of my taco dip. This looks so good.
Thank you so much, Crystal! I hope you enjoyed it!
This shrimp dip is calling my name. It looks amazing and I’m making it this weekend for movie night. And then probably for all the holiday parties. Thank you!
This was AMAZING!!!! We’re big crab dip lovers in this house, but this was over the top delicious. Thank you for the amazing recipe!!
What a fun twist on a typical queso dip! We’re doing taco night tomorrow night and this would be a great appetizer to serve alongside dinner!
This was so creamy and delicious! The shrimp added such a nice flavor that we finished it all in no time!
This was such a unique and unexpected recipe! Easy, delicious and elegant; looking forward to serving this again for Christmas this year!