This fabulously cheesy Sausage Dip recipe is creamy and flavorful, packed with Italian sausage, corn kernels, sweet bell pepper, and tomatoes. It’s a hearty dip that’s easy to make – perfect for the holidays, game day, or any casual gathering!

A white bowl of cheesy corn sausage dip is garnished with Rotel and corn chips.


 

Easy and Cheesy Sausage Dip Recipe

Every day’s a great day for dipping! My easy, cheesy Sausage Dip recipe is creamy and delicious with pops of corn, sweet pepper, and tomatoes. The Italian sausage adds even more flavor, plus heartiness – so much so, that we often serve this as a fun little meal-in-a-bowl with a side of crunchy tortilla chips. It’s an easy appetizer that’s perfect for holiday parties and game day snackin’ – and especially good during the summer corn season, using fresh sweetcorn kernels!

Why You’ll Love This Corn and Sausage Dip

Dips are the star of any gathering. Here’s why you’ll love this sausage dip:

  • A great appetizer. Serve this dip along with other appetizers, for a variety of flavors. You can serve it in a small slow cooker so that the cheese stays warm and melty.
  • Or turn it into a meal! Meat and cheese together count as a meal, am I right? That’s how our family rolls! This hearty dip makes for a fun movie night or game day meal in front of the TV.
  • Adaptable. It’s easy to change up the heat level with this dip. If you like spice, add some minced jalapenos, use a spicy Italian sausage, and/or use a hot variety of Rotel diced tomatoes. Find more variation suggestions below for how to make this Rotel sausage dip!
The ingredients to make cheesy corn sausage dip are shown portioned out: cheese, corn, Rotel, sausage, pepper, and sour cream.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this Rotel sausage dip. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.

  • Italian sausage – Use mild or hot, whatever you like.
  • Bell pepper – Our family likes red bell peppers best, but you can use any color you like.
  • Velveeta – This easily meltable cheese product gives great flavor and creamy texture.
  • Sour cream – This adds a little flavor tang and extra body to the dip.
  • Seasonings – I keep it simple with garlic powder and black pepper.
  • Rotel – Try Rotel “mild” diced tomatoes and chilies or choose “hot” if you like more heat.
  • Corn – You can use canned corn – but if you’re able, I highly recommend fresh sweetcorn kernels, cut from the cob.

How to Make Corn Sausage Dip

Follow along with my method below – this dip is easy to make! Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.

Sausage browns in a skillet with red bell pepper.
Corn and Rotel tomatoes are added to a skillet full of cooked sausage and melted cheese.
  • Cook the sausage and bell pepper. Brown the sausage, along with the bell pepper, breaking the sausage into small bites. Drain any grease away.
  • Add everything else. Stir in the Velveeta and let it melt. Then stir in the sour cream, garlic powder, and black pepper, followed by the Rotel and corn.
A white bowl of cheesy corn sausage dip is garnished with Rotel and corn chips.
  • Serve! Serve while it’s warm and melty, with corn chips for dipping.
A bowl of cheesy corn sausage dip is topped with corn, tomatoes, and green onions.

Tips & Variations

You can certainly mix things up a little with different ingredients. Here are a few variation ideas plus some tips for how to make it:

  • Serve it warm. For the best texture and flavor, serve this dip warm and melty. I like to use a mini crockpot.
  • Use fresh sweetcorn. Whenever possible, I always use fresh corn kernels in this dip. It seems like I can find fresh sweetcorn almost year ’round these days – and it’s especially fun to serve this during our local MN sweetcorn season!
  • Make it thicker or thinner. To add a bit thicker consistency, add a little more Velveeta. To make it thinner, stir in some of the reserved juice from the Rotel.
  • Make it spicy. Stir in some minced jalapenos, use a spicy Italian sausage, and/or use a hot variety of Rotel diced tomatoes. You could also sprinkle in some cayenne pepper or stir in your favorite hot sauce.
  • Swap in ground beef or turkey. Italian-flavored sausage adds a ton of flavor to this dip. However, you can substitute ground beef or turkey for the sausage if you like – but then I’d add in some Italian seasoning!
  • Offer fun toppings. For even more deliciousness, offer additional toppings on the side – like sour cream, sliced green onions, chopped tomatoes, diced jalapeno, fresh cilantro, and avocado or guacamole.
A hand dips a corn chip into a bowl of cheesy corn sausage dip.

What to Serve with Rotel Sausage Dip

I like to serve this dip with corn tortilla chips or Fritos Scoops for dipping. Here are a few serving suggestions:

Cheesy corn sausage dip is topped with tomatoes, green onions, and tomatoes with bowls of corn chips for dipping nearby.

Proper Storage

If you have leftover Rotel sausage dip, here’s how to store it:

  • Fridge – Store any leftover, cooled dip in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
  • Freezer – Store leftover dip in a freezer-safe container or baggie for up to 3 months. Thaw the dip in the fridge before reheating.
  • To Reheat – Reheat the dip in a microwave-safe bowl, covered, in the microwave at 1-minute intervals until hot and the cheese is melted. Or, place it in a saucepan over medium-low heat and, stirring regularly, heat until the dip is warmed and melty throughout.

More Savory Dip Recipes

A white bowl of cheesy corn sausage dip is garnished with Rotel and corn chips.

Cheesy Corn Sausage Dip

Yield: 6 servings
prep time: 5 minutes
cook time: 20 minutes
total time: 25 minutes
This fabulously cheesy Sausage Dip recipe is creamy and flavorful, packed with Italian sausage, corn kernels, sweet bell pepper, and tomatoes. It's a hearty dip that's easy to make – perfect for the holidays, game day, or any casual gathering!
5 Stars (2 Reviews)
Print

Ingredients

  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage use a hot variety if you especially like heat
  • 1 cup diced red bell pepper
  • 12 ounces Velveeta cut into 1″ cubes
  • 1 cup regular sour cream
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 can 10 ounces Rotel “mild” diced tomatoes & chilies (use “hot” if you like more heat) – drain and save the juice
  • 1½ cups fresh sweetcorn kernels cut from the cob (or substitute 1 15-ounce can drained whole kernel corn)

Instructions

  • In large skillet over medium heat, brown sausage along with the bell pepper, breaking the sausage into small bites. Drain any grease away.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in Velveeta cubes. Once melted, stir in the sour cream, garlic powder, and black pepper.
  • Fold in the Rotel and sweetcorn kernels. Cook until heated through, stirring every minute or two. If you'd like the dip to have a thinner consistency, stir in some of the reserved Rotel juice.
  • Serve hot, straight from the skillet over lowest heat. Or transfer the dip to a small slow cooker set to warm. This is great with corn chips (such as Fritos "scoops") or tortilla chips.

Notes

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 Calories: 434kcal Carbohydrates: 20g Protein: 20g Fat: 31g Saturated Fat: 15g Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g Cholesterol: 83mg Sodium: 756mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 12g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment below. And share a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #afarmgirlsdabbles or tag @farmgirlsdabble!
© Brenda | A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizers

This post was originally published in 2014, then updated in 2023.