Cowboy crack has been the answer to my prayers. If you are anything like me, you want to overshadow your cousins at the family potluck. However, you don’t have a lot of time to throw something together and the means to transport it anywhere. Enter cowboy crack corn dip.
It is an easy dish to make and even easier to transport. The combination of meaty, creamy, and cheesy tastes, along with a few bags of tortilla chips, will make it the star of your potluck.
Together with the corn, this dip is pretty and a great option for anyone. Children love it, adults love it, and your cousins will immediately start trying to find the recipe. You don’t have to do a lot and it gets perfect every time: I have smaller versions of the recipe to make just for me at home.
Cowboy Crack Dip Recipe
Cowboy crack gets its name because once you’ve made it one time, you will want to make it again and again. You will be addicted. I also think it is called “crack” because you cannot just take one chipful and think that’s enough. It is irresistible: I’m glad that I don’t usually get the chance to take any of it home after an event or I’d gorge myself on it.
The origins of this dip are somewhat confusing. Some people say that it comes from the south, others say the midwest. Whatever the origins, it will perfectly meld into many different situations.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cowboy Crack Dip
Cowboy crack is absolutely one of the easiest meals I’ve ever made. I throw it into the slow cooker about 2.5 hours before I’m going to leave the house and it gets perfect. You can leave it on the heat much longer, just be careful about it sticking to the sides. The longer you let it sit, the more it will meld together and it might not be as beautiful.
Servings: 8 (I’ve quadrupled this recipe and it was just as easy!)
Ingredients For Cowboy Crack Dip:
- 2 Packages Cream Cheese (8 Ounces)
- 1 Pound Spicy Sausage (Browned And Drained)
- 3 Cups Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
- 1 Cup Frozen Corn (You Can Use Fresh Corn Or Canned Corn, Just Be Sure To Drain It)
- 2 Cans Rotel
Cowboy Crack Appetizer Dip Steps:
- Combine all of the ingredients (cream cheese, spicy sausage, shredded cheese, corn, and Rotel) in your slow cooker.
- Turn on low heat. Break up some of the cream cheese.
- Cook for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
You can serve this with tortilla chips, regular chips, kale chips, or even veggie sticks and it will be great. I’ve even seen someone throw it over a piece of bread and eat it that way. While that isn’t my preferred way, it’s good to know that people like it that much! Pretty much anything crunchy will set it off. You can also add this dip to a taco salad instead of using a dressing or sour cream.
One of my best tips for this recipe is to not use pre-shredded cheese. Those bags of shredded cheese are extremely expensive and add an anti-caking agent that you probably don’t need to put in your body. Instead, buy blocks of cheese and shred your own. It is a little more work, but it will make all of the difference when it comes to your recipe.
Make Cowboy Crack Dip Your Own
Sometimes, I’ll experiment with adding some extra ingredients to see how it turns out. So far, I’ve enjoyed adding some jalapeno or hot sauce to give it a kick. If not everyone likes spice, you can serve these on the side as well. I’ll add sour cream to make it creamier or if I need to stretch the dip for more people. The sour cream can also take the edge off of the spicy sausage.
If the recipe is already too spicy for your crowd, you can sub out the spicy sausage for a regular sausage or even ground beef. I’ve been known to add bacon as well.
Probably the easiest thing to swap out is the cheese. I’ve used sharp cheddar, provolone, bleu cheese, and even Swiss cheese in this recipe. I’d go half and half with the regular cheddar and these other cheeses. You still want to get some of that stretch and gooeyness.
Tips For Cowboy Crack Corn Dip
If you’re like me, making things in my slow cooker sometimes fills me with dread. I’m always worried that I’m going to make something wrong. The biggest mistake you can make here is to allow your cream cheese to curdle. Once your dip is cooked, turn it to warm or turn it off as soon as possible.
If you are going to a potluck, make sure to check on it regularly. You should also stir it every so often just so it doesn’t stick to the sides. When you stir, try to bring it into the middle because some separation is natural.
Cowboy appetizer dip is perfect for a cookout, birthday party, Super Bowl party, or just for dinner with your family. You should amp up the ingredients if you are making it for a group of people, just so everyone doesn’t fight over the leftovers.
Sometimes I will serve it with pico de gallo, but it really is just a great dish all by itself.
To reheat, you can put it into the microwave or throw it in the oven for a few minutes. It may get a bit crispier on top, but those crisps are quite good as well. If you do reheat, make sure to give it a good stir before you heat it up.
Bring this to your next potluck and see how quickly you (or your food) will become the star of the show.
