Description
Spicy sausage beer cheese dip delivers a knockout punch of flavor for game day gatherings. Rich, creamy, and packed with zesty kick, this crowd-pleasing appetizer guarantees you’ll be the MVP of any party spread.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (450 g) hot Italian sausage, casing removed
Cheeses:
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup (250 ml) beer (lager or pale ale works well)
- 1 cup (250 ml) whole milk or heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Pepper
- Green onions or chives, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the spicy sausage by sizzling it in a spacious skillet over medium heat. Break down the meat into fine crumbles until it achieves a rich, golden-brown color, approximately 5-7 minutes. Eliminate any excess grease and reserve the cooked protein.
- Utilize the same skillet, creating a flavor-building roux by incorporating flour into the remaining sausage drippings. If the pan appears dry, introduce a touch of olive oil. Toast the flour for 1-2 minutes, whisking continuously to prevent burning.
- Gradually stream in the beer, followed by milk or cream, creating a velvety base. Stir persistently as the liquid transforms and slightly thickens, roughly 3-4 minutes. Enhance the mixture with Dijon mustard, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and optional cayenne for an extra kick.
- Reduce the heat to low, integrating shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. Fold in the cheeses handful by handful, allowing each addition to melt smoothly before adding the next.
- Reintroduce the crispy sausage into the molten cheese sauce, gently folding to ensure complete integration. Taste and calibrate the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Transfer the bubbling dip to a serving vessel or maintain its temperature in a small slow cooker. Embellish with freshly chopped green onions or chives for a vibrant finishing touch.
- Present the dip alongside an array of dipping companions such as soft pretzels, crisp tortilla chips, rustic baguette slices, or a colorful medley of fresh vegetables.
Notes
- Choose spicy or mild sausage based on your heat preference, allowing customization for different palates.
- Use low-sodium cheese and sausage if watching salt intake, preventing overly salty results.
- Swap beer with chicken broth for alcohol-free version, maintaining similar depth of flavor profile.
- Experiment with different cheese combinations like pepper jack or smoked gouda for unique taste variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks, Drinks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg