Cheese dip is a beloved appetizer and party food across the United States, but no state has embraced the cheesy, irresistible dip quite like Arkansas. Cheese dip is deeply ingrained in Arkansas culture and cuisine. From tailgating at Razorback football games to church potlucks and backyard barbecues, you’ll find cheese dip being served up and devoured across the Natural State. But why is this humble appetizer so strongly associated with Arkansas? There are several factors that have contributed to cheese dip becoming a signature Arkansas dish over the past several decades.
The History of Cheese Dip in Arkansas
While hot cheese dips have existed in various forms for centuries, the specific recipe for the cheese dip beloved in Arkansas today can be traced back to the mid-20th century. In 1935, a Mexican-style restaurant called the Mexico Chiquito opened in Hot Springs, Arkansas and served a hot cheese dip appetizer made from processed cheese blended with roasted green chilies. This dip, known as “arte queso” or “queso compuesto,” was a hit with customers and it became a signature menu item at the restaurant. Over the following decades, the recipe spread from Hot Springs across Arkansas, with home cooks and restaurants putting their own spins on the original Mexico Chiquito version. The dish reached new levels of fame in Arkansas in the 1970s and 80s thanks to two Arkansas companies:
- In the 1970s, Mountain Valley Spring Company began including a powdered instant cheese dip mix in their spring water shipments as a promotion. This allowed home cooks across the country to easily whip up the iconic Arkansas dip recipe.
- In the 1980s, the Mexican restaurant Taco Tico standardized a recipe for cheese dip across all their Arkansas locations. This company-wide consistency helped cement cheese dip as a staple menu item in the state’s Mexican restaurant scene.
By the 1990s, cheese dip was emblazoned in the state’s identity, becoming an essential part of Arkansas tailgating culture, picnics, and parties. The dip’s popularity continues today, with Arkansas restaurants putting their unique spin on the traditional queso recipe.
Why Cheese Dip Caught On in Arkansas
But why did this cheesy delicacy specifically take hold in Arkansas versus other states? Several key factors helped cheese dip become a phenomenon across the Natural State:
Abundant Cheese Production
Arkansas has a robust dairy industry and has historically been one of the top producers of cheese in the United States. In the early 1990s when cheese dip was on the rise, Arkansas produced over 45 million pounds of cheese per year. The ample local supply of cheese gave home cooks and restaurants easy access to the key ingredient needed to make the appetizer. Cheese dip relies heavily on processed cheeses like Velveeta and Cheez Whiz, and these mass-produced cheese products were readily available from Arkansas dairy farms and facilities. The rich, smooth texture that Arkansas cheese lent to the dip helped cement its appeal.
Influence of Mexican Immigration
Mexican immigration to Arkansas began in earnest in the 1920s as migrant workers came to work in Arkansas fields and farms. By the 1980s, over 35,000 Mexican immigrants lived in Arkansas, bringing their cuisine and culture with them. The state’s proximity to Texas and Mexico also led to Tex-Mex style foods growing in popularity across Arkansas. Recipes like queso mixed smoothly with existing Arkansas culinary traditions. The rising Latin American population helped introduce and popularize cheese dip by eating it at home, opening restaurants, and sharing it at community events.
Tailgating Culture
Sports culture is huge in Arkansas, especially college football fandom. Arkansas has no professional sports teams, so Razorback football reigns supreme. Tailgating at games is a cherished tradition, where fans gather hours beforehand to eat, drink, and be merry. Hearty dips and finger foods are tailgating essentials, since they travel well and feed a crowd. The state’s infamous tailgating scene relied heavily on cheese dip as the perfect pre-game appetizer. Fans dipped into cheesy queso while calling the Hogs. Tailgating cemented cheese dip as the official snack of Arkansas athletics.
Celebrity Endorsements
Famous Arkansans have also bolstered cheese dip’s popularity over the years. In the 1970s, President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton served hot cheese dip at both of his gubernatorial inaugurations, introducing attendees from across the state to the appetizer. In the 1980s, the coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks football team, Lou Holtz, often served cheese dip at press conferences which helped further link the dip to Arkansas culture. Endorsements from famous figures rooted cheese dip firmly in the state’s identity.
Convention Center Promotions
To highlight local cuisine, cheese dip was often served for free at events at the state’s Hot Springs Convention Center in the 1970s. Convention attendees from around the country got their first taste of the cheesy delicacy and helped spread its fame outside of Arkansas. Promoting the dish at the convention center cemented cheese dip as a statewide symbol of Arkansas pride.
Regional Variations
While all Arkansas cheese dips contain the key ingredients of cheese, peppers, and spices, the specific recipe varies from cook to cook and region to region. Here are some of the main regional variations found across the state:
| Region | Style |
|---|---|
| Texarkana | Thicker and spicier with more cayenne pepper |
| Central Arkansas | More milk-based with pickled jalapeños |
| Northwest Arkansas | More cheese, less spice |
| Delta | Thinner and more tomato-based |
Regardless of regional variations, all cheese dips in Arkansas contain plenty of gooey melted cheese for dipping tortilla chips, veggies, or anything your heart desires!
Popular Arkansas Cheese Dip Brands
While many Arkansas restaurants and home cooks have their own treasured cheese dip recipes, store-bought dips have also become popular options for serving up queso at parties and game days. Here are some of the biggest mass-produced cheese dip brands based out of or popularized in Arkansas:
- Mountain Valley Cheese Dip: As mentioned, this powdered cheese dip mix helped spread cheese dip across the U.S. in the 1970s after being promoted by Mountain Valley Spring Water.
- Mid-South Spice Ranch Queso: This gourmet dip mix contains aged cheddar, green chilies, and spices.
- Cormac Coney Cheese Dip: A zesty coney cheese dip sold around Arkansas and Memphis.
- Aldi’s Texarkana Taco Dip: This bargain brand ricotta cheese dip is sold at Aldi stores in the Texarkana region.
- Ballpark Cheese Dip: Crafted by the Arkansas-based Ballpark brand, this classic cheese dip is a standard at many grocery stores.
Where to Enjoy Cheese Dip in Arkansas
From Bentonville to Little Rock, Texarkana to Jonesboro, every corner of Arkansas is teeming with amazing hot cheese dip. Here are some of the most popular places to sample authentic Arkansas queso:
Restaurants
- Mexico Chiquito (Hot Springs – Original Home of Cheese Dip)
- Taco Tico (Statewide Chain)
- Stoby’s (Conway)
- Casa Manana (Little Rock)
- La Hacienda (Redfield)
- Gusano’s Chicago-Style Pizzeria (Statewide Chain)
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores across Arkansas sell fresh and packaged cheese dips from local dairies and dip brands:
- Ballpark Cheese Dip
- Mid-South Spice Ranch
- Mountain Valley Cheese Dip Mix
- Cormac Coney Cheese Dip
- Local dairy cheeses for homemade dips
Tailgating
Arkansas Razorbacks tailgating events are cheese dip central. Fans whip up pots of queso to share at pre-game parking lot parties.
Festivals
Several Arkansas cities host annual cheese dip festivals, like the World Championship Cheese Dip Competition in Little Rock and the Cheese Dip Championship Cook-Off in Hot Springs. These events celebrate the state’s queso obsession.
How to Make Classic Arkansas Cheese Dip
Want to whip up some authentic Arkansas queso right in your kitchen? Use this traditional recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds processed cheese (Velveeta), cubed
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes and green chilis
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Tortilla chips, for serving
Instructions:
- In a slow cooker or heavy pot, combine the cheese, tomatoes and chilis, half and half, garlic powder, and cumin.
- Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until cheese is fully melted and mixture is combined and warm throughout.
- Transfer to a serving bowl and serve hot with tortilla chips for dipping.
For a smoother texture, blend the dip once the cheese is melted. Top with extras like pickled jalapeños, diced onions, or ground beef. Enjoy this Arkansas classic!
The Future of Cheese Dip in Arkansas
Cheese dip has come a long way from a restaurant novelty in Hot Springs to an indispensible Arkansas tradition. The appetizer is firmly cemented in Arkansas culinary culture, and it continues gaining popularity as new generations discover its addictive cheesy charms. Arkansas restaurants put creative spins on classic cheese dip, coming up with innovative flavor twists and ingredients combinations. Food bloggers drive interest by highlighting the dish online. Annual festivals celebrate the dip and keep it at the forefront of the Arkansas consciousness. Cheese dip appears poised to continue thriving as the state’s unofficial mascot food for decades to come. Tourists flock to Arkansas just to sample the original, authentic queso. The Natural State’s love for its quintessential appetizer is stronger and cheesier than ever.