Healthy Queso Recipe with Parmesan Cheese & Veggies
This healthy queso recipe with broccoli, bell peppers, and Parmesan cheese is the perfect party appetizer. Serve it with lots of crunchy veggies-I promise you, no one will miss the chips!
This post is sponsored by The a2 Milk© Company. All content and opinions are 100% my own. I love sharing products and brands that fit with my nutrition philosophy, and that I think you will enjoy as well!
This healthy queso dip is the appetizer everyone loves at potlucks and holiday parties. Broccoli, bell peppers, a2 Milk®, and Parmesan cheese come together into a warm, cheesy dip that’s ready in about 20 minutes.
Unlike traditional queso loaded with processed cheese, this recipe is lower in saturated fat because it leans on veggies and real Parmesan instead, so you can enjoy it without the heavy, greasy feeling of the traditional version.
Need it low FODMAP? I’ve got you covered with simple swaps in the recipe notes below.
🧀 How to Make Healthy Queso Dip
- Prepare the veggies. Steam the broccoli, and sauté it with the shallot, garlic, and bell peppers in olive oil.
- Make the cheese mixture. Heat the a2 Milk® in a saucepan, add cornstarch to thicken the mixture, and stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- Make the queso dip. Combine the sautéed veggies with the cheese mixture and stir well to combine.
What To Serve With Queso Dip
Since we’re calling this recipe Healthy Queso Dip, I advise you go heavy on the veggies.
- Think baby carrots, additional broccoli florets, cauliflower, and bell peppers. They all make a nourishing and colorful cheese dip platter.
- If you want a more traditional queso, break out the tortilla chips!
- You could also top off pasta with this easy cheese dip for a healthy twist on macaroni and cheese-especially if you use chickpea or lentil pasta. Yum!
Healthy Queso Recipe with Parmesan Cheese and Veggies
Ingredients
- 2 cups broccoli florets, optional, plus extra for serving
- 1 shallot, chopped (see notes for Low FODMAP option)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (see notes for Low FODMAP option)
- 1 red, orange, or yellow bell pepper + (optional) extra for serving
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher sea salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 3 1/4 cups whole a2 Milk®, (see notes for low FODMAP option)
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
- For serving: Extra veggies, see above + crackers (gluten-free or regular) if desired.
Instructions
- Place broccoli florets in a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high power for 2 minutes, or until lightly cooked. Carefully remove to a chopping board and lightly chop. Dice the shallot. Chop the bell pepper into ~1/8 inch pieces. Mince the garlic.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add bell peppers and sauté for 2 more minutes, then add chopped broccoli, salt and pepper, and sauté for 1 more minute.
- Stir the cornstarch into a small bowl with a 1/4 cup of a2 Milk®. Pour the remaining 3 cups of the a2 Milk® into a medium size saucepan, and heat on high until gently boiling. Turn down heat to medium, and stir in the cornstarch/milk mixture. Continue stirring constantly for about 5 minutes, or until mixture thickens. Stir in Parmesan cheese, and cook mixture, again stirring constantly, for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked vegetables to the cheese mixture, and stir well to combine. Place in serving dish and enjoy with additional chopped veggies, plus crackers, if desired, while queso dip is warm.
Notes
- Omit shallot and minced garlic. Use garlic infused olive oil, if desired, in place of plain olive oil.
- Swap A2 milk with lactose free milk.
Nutrition
Now that you’ve got the recipe, here’s a little more on why I love using a2 Milk® in this healthy queso dip, and how it’s different from regular cow’s milk.
What is a2 Milk®?
If you’re not familiar with a2 Milk®, let me give you the scoop…
Regular cow’s milk in the United States comes from cows that produce 2 types of beta-casein protein: A1 and A2 milk protein. While a2 Milk® contains only A2 beta-casein protein.
Research shows that A1 protein may cause digestive discomfort in some people, while A2 protein is more easily digested.
Although lactose, the main sugar in milk, is typically a cause of some of this discomfort, lactose intolerance may not be the only culprit. Research published in the Nutrition Journal found that all participants were able to drink a2 Milk© without digestive issues even though it contains lactose. (1)
a2 Milk® is not genetically engineered. It comes from cows that only produce A2 protein. You can also feel good knowing the cows that produce a2 Milk are not treated with growth hormones (rBST), and the milk is antibiotic-free. In addition, a2 Milk® is Validus Certified, an award given to farms that follow stringent animal welfare guidelines.
Bottom line: a2 Milk® is an equally nutritious and delicious alternative to regular cow’s milk. It tastes exactly the same and may be better tolerated by people sensitive to A1 beta-casein protein. Even more important, it tastes absolutely delicious in this healthy queso dip recipe. Grab some veggies and dig in!
Did you enjoy this post?
Please leave your comments or questions and share this post with your friends and family. I truly appreciate your support!
This is an incredible recipe, I would really love to try this at home. Thanks for sharing this one, I pinned it on my Pinterest. I Cant wait to see your next recipe coming up! keep it up 🙂
This is yum! Can I try this? This look very healthy and yummy. My kids will love this plus they will get the nutrition their body needs.
Ha, ha! I do so love Cheese too 🙂 Glad you learned a little something about a2 milk!
Enjoyed reading the post. And great recipe loaded with veggies and using the A2 milk. Nice for a dip and thinking of it in a tweaked soup version.
Thanks so much Roxana! I love your idea of a soup version-it would be so easy to do. If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turns out. Cheers!
YUM!!! This dip sounds so tasty!! Love a2 milk too!
Thanks so much Lindsey! I hope you have a happy, healthy New Year!!
HUGE FAN OF a2!!! But, I think you knew that :). This recipe looks lovely and I think it’s great you pointed out about the lactose, because yes, it does have lactose!! Great recipe EA, always expect FABULOUSNESS from you and you never disappoint!!
Oh, yes. I knew that 🙂 Thanks so much for all your support Liz! Wishing you a FABULOUS 2017!!!
Thanks so much Jessica! I’ve been a little lax getting in a lot of veggies lately, so this was a good motivation for me to jump start my new year with more veggies 🙂 I hope you have a healthy, happy, joyous 2017!!!
This looks so delicious EA! I love all the veggies you’ve packed in here. Would be a great app to set out at a New Year’s Eve party!