Last updated on December 4, 2016 by Liza Hawkins
Actually, my post title is a bit misleading. I’ve never purchased a can of RO*TEL diced tomatoes.
Like, ever.
Yet, when I asked the (a)Musing Foodie Facebook page fans, “What three pantry items can’t you live without?” several answered with diced tomatoes.
But not just any old can of diced tomatoes – specifically, RO*TEL diced tomatoes. So, help me out readers!
There’s a comment section with this blog, where you can…make comments.
Heh.
Tell me, what’s so great about RO*TEL, and why I should become a RO*TEL convert?
Like you I’ve never purchased Rotel, not because I haven’t tried. I just can’t find any in my community. I have found Delmonte diced tomatoes with jalapenos that are fabulous. I always have them in my pantry now. I look forward to your readers’ comments so I’ll know if I am really missing out by not being able to get Rotel. 😉
My son makes awesome taco filling using meat simmered with Rotels and I use them in enchiladas, and chili and many other recipes. You should give them a try!
I think it might be a bit of a Texas thing. I use it instead of salsa in recipes (it’s less than half the price!) especially for Mexican casseroles, etc. Also great with a little chicken broth to stick some chicken in the crock pot all day for enchiladas. You can also do a spin on lots of Italian recipes for a little TexMex by switching regular diced tomatoes to RoTel. Add it to your nacho cheese to make queso dip. So many possibilities…
Sometimes I can’t find any tomatoes with diced chiles EXCEPT RoTel, which may explain the brand loyalty.
They dial it up a notch.
They help you skip a step(you don’t have to add seasonings like you would with unseasoned tomatoes)
My grocery has a store brand tomatoes with green chilies. I don’t think they are quite as good. I am a store brand shopper.
They aren’t the only ones in my pantry, because sometimes I need a larger can.
@Donna I have totally seen them at my grocery store, I just never go for them!
@Best I’ll have to pick up a can to compare!
@Jess Maybe it *is* a Texas thing, but I know my grocery store sells it. I make a Texas-style chili, and I bet these would be really good in it! I’ve been lucky that we have a few other brands that have diced green chiles included.
@Maggie I use the larger can a lot too, but now I’m tempted to try RO*TEL….
I don’t know what it is about Rotel exactly but I use it a LOT. I add it to vegetable soups, almost any casserole that has cheese and chicken (it seems) and so many other things.
My sister-in-law makes this absolutely wonderful chicken spaghetti with Rotel, cream of mushroom, Velveeta, chicken and a bit of milk to make it creamy and mixed with spaghetti noodles that is so yummy. OK, it’s not real good for you maybe with the Velveeta but it is good.