Preheat Your Traeger: Set it to 450°F (232°C).

Roast Tomatoes: Brush halved tomatoes with olive oil and sprinkle salt over them. Place them on a grill-safe pan or cast iron skillet, cut side down.

Grill for 10-12 minutes: You want them to get a slight char without burning. Once done, let them cool before roughly dicing them up. Set aside for the dip.

Cook the Sausage: In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the ground sausage until browned and cooked through. Break it into smaller bits with your wooden spoon as it cooks. Once done, drain excess fat if necessary.

Sauté Onions & Jalapeños: In the same skillet, toss in the diced onions and jalapeños (if using). Sauté them until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Create a Roux: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the flour, whisking constantly until it’s a smooth paste and lightly golden (about 2-3 minutes).

Add Milk & Cream: Slowly pour in the whole milk and heavy cream, continuing to whisk until the mixture begins to thicken. This takes around 3-4 minutes.

Add Cheese & Seasonings: Lower the heat and add the grated cheddar cheese one handful at a time, stirring until fully melted. Mix in garlic powder, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Remove from heat.

Combine Everything: In a large cast-iron skillet, mix the sausage mixture, fire-roasted tomatoes, cheese sauce, shredded Monterey Jack cheese, and sour cream until well combined.

Get the Traeger Ready: Lower your Traeger to 225°F (107°C). We’re going low and slow to infuse that smoky flavor.

Smoke the Queso: Place the skillet on the Traeger and let it smoke for about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep the consistency creamy and avoid any cheese from sticking or clumping up. Keep an eye on it, but let the Traeger do most of the work!

Garnish: Once you pull the skillet off the grill, sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro on top. Feel free to add a few extra diced jalapeños or even a drizzle of hot sauce if you’re feeling bold.

Serve Hot: Serve it up immediately with thick tortilla chips, or try dipping soft pretzels or tater tots for a next-level experience.