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Queso Fundido

Queso fundido with chorizo and jalapeños is made by melting a blend of Oaxaca, Chihuahua, and Cotija until smooth and glossy, then serving it bubbling straight from the skillet. This party dip stays stretchy and stringy when you scoop it with tortilla chips.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cheese base
  • 2 cup shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Chihuahua or asadero cheese
  • 0.5 cup Cotija cheese, crumbled
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 0.25 cup diced white onion
  • 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tbsp heavy cream
Chorizo and peppers
  • 0.5 lb chorizo, casing removed
  • 0.5 cup diced jalapeños
Serving
  • 1 Tortilla chips for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Brown the chorizo
  1. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, then cook the chorizo, breaking it apart as it cooks, until browned.
  2. Add the minced garlic and diced jalapeños and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until fragrant.
Melt the cheeses
  1. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the Oaxaca, Chihuahua, and Cotija cheeses along with the heavy cream, stirring frequently.
  2. Continue cooking until the cheese is completely melted and smooth, about 5-7 minutes, with visible bubbling at the edges.
Finish and serve
  1. Sprinkle in the diced onion and chopped cilantro, stirring just until evenly distributed.
  2. Serve immediately in the cast iron skillet with warm tortilla chips for dipping, keeping it gently bubbling over low heat so it stretches when scooped.

Notes

Pro tip: keep the heat at medium-low once the cheeses go in—too hot can separate the fat and make it grainy. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days; rewarm gently on the stovetop or in a slow cooker, stirring until smooth. Freezing isn’t recommended due to cheese texture changes. If you want it lighter, use reduced-fat cheese blends and add the heavy cream only if needed for smooth melting.