Indulge in the irresistible goodness of our Queso Fundido recipe (sometimes called Queso Flameado), a flavorful fiesta of hot melted cheese, spicy chorizo, peppers and onions. Served hot and bubbly, queso fundido is typically scooped up with warm tortillas or chips, making the ultimate party appetizer.
What Makes This Recipe a Favorite
- Fresh ingredients.
- Four kinds of hot melted cheese – yes, please!
- Perfect as a shareable appetizer or as a meal.
- It looks as good as it tastes!
- Bakes in minutes.
Ingredients
- Chorizo sausage or spicy breakfast sausage – Adds a spicy kick and crumbly texture to the dip
- Onion – I like using yellow onions for this recipe.
- Poblano peppers – When roasted, they add a wonderful smokiness.
- Cheese – I use four high-quality kinds of cheese for this dip: Queso Blanco, Oaxaca, Sharp Cheddar, and Pepper Jack. I buy it in blocks so that I can grate it myself as it melts much better that way.
- Milk – Added after baking to ensure a smooth and velvety cheese blend.
- Cilantro – Enhances the overall flavor profile, but you can leave it off if you’re not a cilantro fan.
- Tomato – Adds freshness and a vibrant color to the dish.
- Tortilla chips – Choose a thick, hearty chip to stand up to the dip. Or you can serve warm tortillas and spoon the queso fundido inside.
How to Make Queso Fundido
Step 1: Place poblano peppers on a cookie sheet and put under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until black and blistered. Let cool, then dice.
Step 2: In a large skillet, cook chorizo or spicy breakfast sausage until brown, crumbling it as it cooks. Remove to paper towel to drain off excess grease. Discard all but a tablespoon or two of the grease remaining in the skillet. Cook onion in the leftover grease until soft and translucent. Add meat back to skillet and mix. Set aside.
Step 3: Grate the cheese and combine in a bowl.
Step 4: Divide the cheese into thirds and the sausage in half. In an 8 or 9-inch cast iron skillet, layer 1/3 of the cheese and 1/2 the sausage. Repeat and top with the remaining cheese.
Step 5: Bake in the oven for 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to bubble. Keep an eye on it! Remove from oven before the cheese starts to brown.
Immediately after removing from the oven, fold in 1/4 cup milk and stir gently until the cheese is blended and smooth. You want to do this quickly. Top with chopped peppers, diced tomatoes and cilantro. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or warm tortillas for dipping.
Recipe FAQ
Absolutely! Queso fundido is versatile; you can experiment with various cheeses to suit your taste. Keep in mind cheese is the key, so choose high-quality melting cheese.
Warm tortillas, chips, baguette slices, or even vegetables like bell pepper strips work well for dipping.
While it’s best served fresh, you can prepare some components in advance and assemble just before serving.
Add diced jalapeños, red pepper flakes, or a spicy sausage like chorizo for an extra kick.
While you can, using freshly shredded cheese typically results in a smoother and creamier texture.
Queso Fundido
Ingredients
- 1 pound chorizo or spicy breakfast sausage
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 2 poblano peppers
- 1 cup Real California Queso Blanco cheese shredded or crumbled
- 1 cup Real California Oaxaca cheese shredded or crumbled
- 1 cup Sharp Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Pepper Jack cheese shredded
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons cilantro
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- tortilla chips, for dipping
Instructions
- Turn on oven broiler. Place poblano peppers on cookie sheet and put under broiler for about 5 minutes or until black and blistered. Let cool, then dice.
- In large skillet, cook sausage until brown, crumbling it as it cooks. Remove to paper towel to drain off excess grease. Discard all but a tablespoon or two of the grease remaining in skillet. Cook onion until soft and translucent. Add sausage to skillet and mix together. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Grate the cheese and combine in a bowl. Divide the cheese into thirds and the sausage in half. In an 8 or 9-inch cast iron skillet, layer 1/3 of the cheese, 1/2 the sausage. Repeat and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake in oven 4-5 minutes or until cheese is melted and starting to bubble. Keep an eye on it! Remove from oven before the cheese starts to brown.
- Immediately after removing from oven, fold in 1/4 cup milk and stir gently until cheese is blended and smooth. You want to do this quickly. Top with chopped peppers, diced tomatoes and cilantro. Serve immediately with warm tortillas or chips for dipping.
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