If you’re looking for a smash hit appetizer that’s easy to make and feeds loads of people, try this recipe for unctuous Queso Fundido. This simple Mexican melted cheese and sausage dip can silence even the rowdiest table because everyone’s too busy stuffing their face to do much more than grunt in approval.
What’s The Difference Between Queso and Queso Fundido?
Though the name of this traditional Mexican comfort food translates to “melted cheese,” don’t confuse it with its Tex-Mex cousin, Queso. In their simplest forms, Queso is just a bowl of melted yellow cheese, while Queso Fundido is white cheese melted over a second major component: chorizo.
Ingredients for Queso fundido
You only need two ingredients to make a traditional Queso Fundido: Mexican Chorizo and white Mexican melting cheese. Then, garnish it with green onions, tomatoes, or cilantro. Serve it with soft tortillas or thick tortilla chips. If you’re not a fan of Mexican Chorizo, you can substitute it with any other sausage. You can even make this dish vegetarian by using soy-based chorizo.
What cheese can I use to make Queso Fundido?
The best cheeses for this dish are Queso Asadero, Queso de Oaxaca, Queso Quesadilla, or Queso Chihuahua AKA Menonita. You can also use shredded Mexican cheese blend, Monterey Jack, or Mozzarella. Steer clear of Queso Fresco, Cotija, or Ranchero, which don’t melt well.
How to Store Leftover Queso Fundido
Place any leftovers in an air-tight container. Make sure there is a little breathing room left in the container, and press a sheet of plastic on the surface of the dip before sealing it. This helps prevent a thick skin from forming. Refrigerate for up to three days. Freeze for up to three months.
How To Reheat Queso Fundido
If reheating from frozen, thaw the Queso Fundido overnight in the fridge. To reheat, place the Queso Fundido in a non-stick pan and set it over medium heat. Stir until the cheese warms and loosens. It might separate, with a pool of water forming at the top of the dip. That’s ok. Just keep stirring. If the consistency is too thick, you can thin it with a few tablespoons of heavy cream or whole milk.
Queso Fundido
Servings 8 servingsIngredients
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.04)
- 1 lb. Mexican chorizo, beef or pork ($4.58)
- 20 oz. queso quesadilla, shredded ($5.98)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Remove the chorizo from its casing (if any) and grate the cheese on the largest holes of a box grater.
- Set an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, and add the tablespoon of oil. Cook the chorizo for 7 to 8 minutes, until the fat renders and the sausage is bubbly.
- Drain the fat from the skillet, reserving 3 tablespoons of chorizo for garnish. If it's very greasy, place it on top of paper towels to get as much fat off of it as possible before putting it back in the pan. Top the chorizo with the grated cheese.
- Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Place the skillet on a heat-proof surface, garnish with reserved chorizo, and serve immediately.
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Nutrition
How to Make Queso Fundido – Step by Step Photos
Preheat oven to 300°F. Remove the chorizo from its casing (if any) and grate the cheese on the largest holes of a box grater.
Set an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, and add the tablespoon of oil. Cook the chorizo for 7 to 8 minutes, until the fat renders and the sausage is bubbly. Chorizo tends to stick, so stir the pan frequently and don’t turn up the heat.
Drain the fat from the skillet and reserve about 3 tablespoons of chorizo for garnish. If the chorizo is very fatty, place it on top of paper towels to get as much fat off of it as possible before putting it back in the pan. Top the chorizo with the grated cheese.
Place the skillet in the oven and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Don’t overcook the cheese, as it will clump. Place the skillet on a heat-proof surface, garnish with reserved chorizo, and serve immediately. If you wish, you can also garnish with sliced green onions, diced tomatoes, or chopped cilantro leaves.
Great Salsas To Serve With Queso Fundido
Serve Queso Fundido with sour cream, pickled jalapeños, flour or corn tortillas, tortilla chips, and your favorite salsa. Try:
Amen!!! Many Mexican restaurants in Austin serve the real deal Queso Fundido, with or without chorizo. Guess which of the 2 dishes I like best!
Our favorite queso fundido is minus chorizo, but with lots of strips of sauteed or roasted poblano peppers and onion. This is NOT restaurant style “queso,” which is a dip, but traditionally a melted cheese dish that is scooped into warm tortillas, preferably corn, wrapped and gobbled up as a gooey, cheesy, spicy treat.
This chorizo version is delicious, too!
“Soupy” stuff also called “chili con queso”. Lots of recipes on web.
Delicious and super easy!
Thanks Jordan!
First time making this. The cheese melted but not like we get at our favorite restaurant, theirs is “soupy”. How can i get it like that?
I’m unsure. They might use a heavy cream in the mix to loosen the cheese, but as I have not tried the Queso at your favorite restaurant, I can’t really tell you for sure. If you are willing to experiment, add a few tablespoons of cream and mix until incorporated, and see if that helps with the texture you are looking for. xoxo
Queso fundido is a totally different dish from the soupy queso you order at most Tex Mex restaurants. (And I like the soupy stuff). I think the queso fundido is closer to what you might order in Mexican restaurant in, say, Mexico. (Or at Fonda San Miguel, if you are in Austin!). The soupy stuff is often made with a can of Rotel tomatoes plus velveta.
Amen!!! Many Mexican restaurants in Austin serve the real deal Queso Fundido, with or without chorizo. Guess which of the 2 dishes I like best!
I’ve never eaten “soupy” queso fundido–ever. I think you’re confusing this recipe with the omnipresent queso dip, which can also contain chorizo. One of our favorite Dallas restaurants serves their queso with big scoops of guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, and if you order it, chorizo–so delicious! We were introduced to queso fundido con rajas 40 years ago at a well known Austin restaurant, and it’s a popular dish in that city. Rajas, are grilled or sauteed strips of pepper and onion, most often here in the US poblano pepper, but sometimes hotter chilis. Queso fundido, with or without rajas or chorizo, is served with warm corn tortillas, queso with tortilla chips. Both of these recipes are SO delicious!
Plan to try this soon. I will post my results.
Hi,
made this last night and it was amazing. Me and my family loooovvvveee it. This is my first time leaving a comment, it was so good. I love your site and use many of your recipes. I know people hate when changes are made but I did make a change. I added frozen chopped spinach, that’s it. It came out fabulous.
Thank you
Hi, Lurena! Thanks for being a part of our community! No worries about making changes. We all have different preferences! We try to make our recipes as adaptable as possible for that very reason! ~Marion :)
I love Queso Fondido but have never made it. Trying to eat less meat so will give this a try with Soy Chorizo; bet no one will notice the difference. Thanks for another great recipe!
I LOVE a good Quest Fundido (and had no idea you could freeze it successfully!). I’m so eager to try this and really appreciate the veg suggestion. I have the unfortunate problem of having moved far from Trader Joe’s, my original source of soy chorizo. Any brand recs or should I just try making my own from a recipe?
Hi, there! Unfortunately, the TJ’s brand soy chorizo would have been our brand recommendation. However, you should try it out with whatever brand you can find or try making it yourself as you mentioned! You could even reference a regular chorizo recipe and simply mix the spices called for in the recipe into crumbled tofu. Good luck! ~ Marion :)
Thanks for the reply! I’m excited to experiment with making my own and trying out this recipe.
That’s so exciting! Let me know how it goes!
Love the recipes here! The print button isn’t working on the final recipe. Thanks!
Hazel
Nice try, that’s clearly one serving! Oh wait, that’s just me eating the whole thing because it’s so good.
Soy chorizo is a great sub for vegetarians, cooks very fast.