If you’re thinking, “They put WHAT in queso ???”– hear me out.

Although it might appear odd in the beginning look, sweet potato questo is actually rather tasty. Queso is a difficult thing to make in your home– it’s either too gloopy, too runny, or too stiff. This much healthier version– which still has a lot of tacky goodness– is the ideal consistency, thanks to the sweet potato, which adds some healthy fiber to an otherwise nutritionally weak meal.

Far from making it sweet, the orange-hued mashed sweet potato rounds out the savory tastes, and assists the cheeses meld into a smooth dip that you’ll keep going back for. Complete of taste and prepared in minutes, they’re much better for you than a bag of regular tortilla chips.

Components
2 bacon pieces, sliced

1/4 cup carefully chopped yellow onion (from 1 small onion).

1 Tbsp. carefully chopped garlic (from 3 garlic cloves).

1 tsp. ground cumin.

1 tsp. kosher salt.

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika.

1 1/2 cups whole milk.

2 tsp. cornstarch.

1 cup pureed or mashed cooked sweet potato (from 1 little sweet potato).

1 (7-oz.) can chopped green chiles.

6 oz. American cheese, shredded (about 11/2 cups).

Thinly sliced jalapeño chile.

Fresh cilantro leaves.

Homemade Tortilla Chips (recipe follows).

Instructions.
Prepare bacon in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium, stirring often, up until crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, scheduling drippings in frying pan.

Add onion to drippings in skillet; cook over medium, stirring often, up until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, cumin, salt, and smoked paprika; cook, stirring typically, till mix is aromatic, about 30 seconds.

Include milk mixture to onion mixture in skillet; cook, stirring typically, till bubbly and somewhat thickened, about 4 minutes. Add sweet potato and green chiles; blend till smooth, about 1 minute. Include cheese, and whisk up until melted, about 1 minute.

Homemade Tortilla Chips.
Stack tortillas, and cut into quarters; organize in a single layer on 2 big rimmed baking sheets. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 tsp. Bake till crisp and gently golden, about 13 minutes, turning baking sheets between leading and bottom racks midway through bake time.