Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (2024)

Home Course Appetizers and Dips

By: Kathy McDaniel

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4.41 from 20 reviews

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Queso Fundido is one of those dips everyone looks forward to having at any Mexican restaurant. The good news is that the ooey-gooey, melty and cheesy party dip is very easy to make at home and it only takes about 10 minutes to be ready to serve.

If you are looking for great classic Mexican recipes to serve at your next fiesta, dinner party or game night check our favorite homemade tortilla chips, guacamole and Mexican salsa!

Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (1)

Our Favorite Queso Fundido

I used to work for a chef named Bobby Flay many years ago. You may have heard of him or not (where is the lol emoji on this thing?). Besides being a nice boss, he also makes some of the best Tex-Mex / Southwest food I’ve ever had.

If you wonder why he usually always wins on competitions, let me tell you a secret, he actually prefers to lose but his recipes are so crazy good that he usually ends up winning.

This Queso recipe is my version of a cheese appetizer I had at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill restaurant. I was blown away by their rich and tasty queso dip and I was determined to make it at home. Although this is not your typical queso made with cheese and chorizo, I promise you, this recipe is amazing!

What makes this cheese dip recipe different is the addition of crumbled goat cheese. You may think, goat cheese in queso? Trust me, the combination of warm melty Monterrey Jack cheese with the subtle hint of tangy goat cheese is amazing! Definitely a fun version of the always popular queso.

Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (2)

What is Queso Fundido

Queso Fundido translates to “melted cheese” and it’s the quintessential Mexican restaurant dip and one of the first appetizers to disappear at any gathering. There is nothing quite like sinking a crispy tortilla chip in a pool of deliciously warm melted cheese. Most queso fundido recipes are made with cheeses such as Monterey Jack, Mozarella, Queso Oaxaca, Asadero or Panera.

This recipe is closely related to Queso Flambé or Queso Flambeado in which liquor is poured and burnt off table side.

Queso Fundido Ingredients

  • Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter.
  • All-Purpose Flour: This is to make a roux that will thicken the dip a bit.
  • Milk: I use whole milk for creaminess and richness.
  • Monterey Jack Cheese: It melts better when is freshly shredded instead of pre-shredded.
  • Roasted Jalapeños: You can roast jalapeño chiles on an open fire or simple use canned chiles (I prefer mild but if you like spicy foods use hot chiles)
  • Goat Cheese: This is not one of the traditional cheeses used for this recipe but it works! It adds a bit of sophistication and elevates the humble party dip.
  • Salt and Pepper: I use sea salt or Kosher salt.
  • To serve: Chopped cilantro as garnish and tortilla chips for serving.
Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (3)

How To Make Queso Fundido

  1. Make A Roux: For this queso recipe, I start by making a simple roux. A roux is the combination of flour and a fat (in this case butter). It serves as a thickening agent. Roux is the base of many sauces like the cheese sauce on mac and cheese.
  2. Add Milk: whisk in the milk and cook this mixture for a couple of minutes or until slightly thicken.
  3. Add Monterey Jack Cheese: Then, I mix in the Monterrey Jack Cheese and roasted jalapenos (or canned chilis). The cheese sauce will become creamy and you will have a hard time from dipping a piece of bread or tortilla chip in it! Self control is of the most importance here!!
  4. Add Goat Cheese: Next, fold in the goat cheese crumbles. You want to keep some of the crumbles intact for little pops of flavor. Do a quick stir to prevent the goat cheese from completely blending with the Monterrey Jack cheese.
  5. Bake: Next, bake or broil the dip in the oven until the top is golden brown. Garnish with chopped cilantro (or parsley) and serve.

How To Make Queso Fundido with Chorizo

  1. Heat a 9 or 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Mexican chorizo and cook until crumbly and crispy. Remove about 1/4 cup of the chorizo to use as topping then, drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat rendered. If you don’t have enough fat from the chorizo, add enough butter to have about a tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  2. Add flour to the skillet and cook for about a minute stirring constantly.
  3. Whisk in the milk and cook for about 3 minutes or until slightly thickened,
  4. Remove from the heat and immediately add the shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. Mix and season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped roasted jalapenos.
  5. Crumble the goat cheese on top and mix it gently. Don’t over mix. Top with the remaining chorizo.
  6. Bake or broil until the top is golden brown. Garnish with chopped cilantro (or parsley) and serve.
Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (4)

What Is Queso Fundado Made Of?

Authentic queso fundido is usually made by melting Queso Asadero or Oaxaca however, these two options are not always easy to find outside of Mexico. Commonly, Monterey Jack cheese is used and some recipes suggest using a combination of this cheese with Mozzarella, Queso Panera or Queso Chihuahua.

Other Variations

Cooked crumbled Mexican chorizo is also a common addition to this dip. I wanted to keep this queso vegetarian but if you’d like, you can easily add chorizo to this recipe. You can find more details below.

Other common ingredients added to the cheese are chopped sautéed onions and poblano chiles. As for the toppings, chopped tomatoes, cilantro and pico de gallo are the most common.

What Is the Best Cheese To Use For Queso Fundido?

In my opinion, outside of Mexico I really like the flavor of Monterrey Jack cheese to make this recipe. However, picking one cheese over the other is like picking a favorite child. An impossible task!

Storage and Reheating

Queso Fundido is best eaten fresh but it will keep stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave in small intervals until heated through. You can also warm it up covered, in a pre-heated 325º F oven until heated through.

Queso Fundido Recipe Tips

  • Use whole milk for this cheese dip recipe. Whole milk makes this party dip richer and creamier than low fat milk. However, if low fat milk is all you have, go ahead and use it. Just remember the result won’t be as decadent and rich.
  • Use a log of goat cheese and crumble it yourself. Sometimes already crumbled goat cheese is a bit dry (great for a salad but not so much for a warm dip.)
  • When mixing the melted Monterey Jack cheese queso with the goat cheese, do not over mix. A quick stir is all you need!
  • If you use the broiler, keep an eye on the dip as it broils. It gets golden brown pretty fast!
  • This recipe uses chopped roasted mild canned jalapenos. If you would like this queso spicy, add hot jalapenos.
  • Use a skillet that is oven safe!

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4.41 from 20 reviews

Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (5)

Queso Fundido

By: Chef Kathy McDaniel

This Queso Fundido Dip is made with only a few ingredients and ready in 10 minutes! This gooey, melty and delicious queso dip is one of the easiest party dips ever!

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 12 ounces Monterey Jack cheese,shredded
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons chopped roasted jalapenos or canned chiles
  • 4 ounces goat cheese
  • Chopped cilantro for garnish
  • Tortilla Chips to serve

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit OR preheat the broiler

  • In a 9 or 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium heat melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and cook for about one minute. Whisk in the milk and cook for about 3 minutes or until slightly thickened.

  • Remove from the heat and immediately add the shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. Mix and season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped roasted jalapenos. Crumble the goat cheese on top and mix it gently. Don’t over mix.

If Baking:

  • Place the pan in the preheated 400 degrees oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the top starts to get golden brown

If Broiling:

  • Put the pan under the broiler and broil until the top is golden brown. Watch it! It won’t take long!!

  • Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve hot with tortilla chips for dipping.

Chef’s Tips

  • If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, use an oven-safe skillet or a sauce pan. You can always pour the queso into a baking dish before baking/broiling.

Queso Fundido with Chorizo

You will need 8 ounces of Mexican chorizo. Skip the butter and use the chorizo drippings. If you don’t have enough drippings then add enough butter to have about 1 tablespoon total.

  • Heat a 9 or 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Mexican chorizo and cook until crumbly and crispy. Remove about 1/4 cup of the chorizo to use as topping then, drain all but 1 tablespoon of the fat rendered.
  • Add flour to the skillet and cook for about a minute stirring constantly.
  • Whisk in the milk and cook for about 3 minutes or until slightly thickened,
  • Remove from the heat and immediately add the shredded Monterrey Jack cheese. Mix and season with salt and pepper. Add the chopped roasted jalapenos.
  • Crumble the goat cheese on top and mix it gently. Don’t over mix. Top with the remaining chorizo.
  • Bake or broil until the top is golden brown. Garnish with chopped cilantro (or parsley) and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 462kcal (23%)Carbohydrates: 5g (2%)Protein: 28g (56%)Fat: 36g (55%)Saturated Fat: 23g (144%)Cholesterol: 102mg (34%)Sodium: 732mg (32%)Potassium: 149mg (4%)Sugar: 3g (3%)Vitamin A: 1170IU (23%)Vitamin C: 4.1mg (5%)Calcium: 743mg (74%)Iron: 1.2mg (7%)

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

Course:Appetizer

Cuisine:American, Tex Mex

Keyword:Fundido

Did you make this?I love seeing what you’ve made! Tag me on Instagram and don’t forget to leave a comment & rating below!

Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (6)

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. AJ says

    This could have been all we ate for dinner. It was that good.

    Reply

  2. Kylee from Kylee Cooks says

    This looks incredible, Kathy. The goat cheese is genius for taking this to a gourmet level!

    Reply

    • Kathy says

      Thank you! It’s definitely a gourmet queso 🙂

      Reply

Queso Fundido Recipe - Lemon Blossoms (2024)

FAQs

What cheese is queso fundido made of? ›

Ingredients You'll Need for Queso Fundido

Milk – You want a dairy milk for this or heavy cream would also work. Blocks of cheese – I find these melt the best. I went with Pepper Jack and Monterey Jack. Diced chiles – I love the canned ones for convenience.

What's the difference between queso dip and queso fundido? ›

Queso Fundido: A Mexican variation of queso dip that typically includes melted cheese mixed with cooked chorizo (spicy sausage), mushrooms, or other savory ingredients.

How do you thin out queso fundido? ›

How do you thin out queso fundido? If you find your queso is too thick after cooking, you can add a few tablespoons of whole milk to thin it.

Which queso is for melting? ›

Queso Oaxaca

It's soft and creamy, and melts well, which makes it perfect for dishes that require melted cheese like quesadillas and stuffed chilis. It is also used often as a garnish for tostadas, beans and soup.

What kind of cheese is best for queso? ›

What Types of Cheese Do Mexican Restaurants Use for Queso
  • Queso de Oaxaca. Queso Oaxaca is probably the most popular choice of cheese for melting. ...
  • Asadero Cheese. ...
  • Quesadilla Cheese. ...
  • White or Yellow American Cheese. ...
  • Monterey Jack. ...
  • Chihuahua Cheese. ...
  • Fresco Cheese. ...
  • What Is Queso Blanco Vs.
Sep 18, 2023

Which Mexican cheese melts the best? ›

Asadero. Also known as queso quesadilla, asadero cheese is great for melting. Try it with these Hatch Chiles Rellenos and in this delectably melty grilled Queso Flameado.

What do Mexicans call queso? ›

Literally Spanish for “cheese,” as in, a quesadilla—queso typically refers to a hot cheese dip that is frequently eaten with tortilla chips. Mexican and Tex Mex restaurants often feature it on their appetizer menu, having figured out that many people enjoy eating straight cheese before, during, and after a meal.

Why is it called queso fundido? ›

Queso Fundido literately translates to molten cheese, and is universally accepted as Mexican in origin. Not to be confused with the Tex-Mex Queso which is basically a bowl of runny, hot cheese (kind of like a spicy mornay sauce). Queso Fundido has the added additions of spicy pork chorizo and roasted peppers folded in.

What is queso fundido in english? ›

What Is Queso Fundido? Possibly one of God's greatest gifts to mankind, the literal Queso Fundido translation is “melted cheese” (aka perfection). This dish is also referred to as queso flameado (the flambéed version made with liquor) and is served as an appetizer in many restaurants throughout Mexico.

What does cornstarch do to queso? ›

Cornstarch — this helps thicken the homemade queso, making it perfect for dipping! Evaporated milk — make sure to buy evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. The two cans look similar but are different.

Will milk make queso thinner? ›

To make a thinner cheese dip, you can add more milk a little bit at a time until you reach the desired consistency. This is great scooped up with some tortilla chips, but it is also great for making nachos or burritos!

Can I use milk to thin out queso? ›

Place cheese, milk, and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Stir until cheese is melted. Add green chilies, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper; stir until smooth. Thin with more milk if sauce is too thick.

Is Velveeta real cheese? ›

Since 2002, Velveeta has been labeled as a "pasteurized prepared cheese product." What does that even mean? Because of the ingredients and the way it is prepared, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider it real cheese.

What cheese melts like Velveeta? ›

Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar or mild cheddar cheese can be a great substitute for Velveeta. It melts well and has a rich flavor.

What cheese do Mexican restaurants use for tacos? ›

Queso fresco has a bolder, tangier flavor than mozzarella cheese but is smoother and saltier than that of goat cheese. It is used in several classic Mexican dishes such as tacos and bean dishes. Using queso fresco cheese on any dish can give it a cheese accent making it tastier.

What kind of cheese is Mexican queso? ›

QUESO OAXACA

It's a type of white string cheese that is quite soft. It melts very easily, making it a popular choice for fillings – it's another queso variety that you'll often see in my recipes! My Enchiladas Rojas wouldn't be the same without it, nor would my Chili Relleno!

What is Mexican queso cheese made of? ›

Queso Blanco: Made from skimmed cow's milk, the consistency of queso blanco is typically associated with a blend of cottage cheese and mozzarella and is commonly incorporated in enchiladas. Queso Fresco: Spongier and crumblier than queso blanco, queso fresco is typically made with a combination of cow and goat milk.

Is queso oaxaca and mozzarella the same? ›

Oaxaca is a semi-soft cheese that originated in Mexico with a flavor like a young monterey jack but a texture like mozzarella or string cheese. It's named after the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, where it originated. Oaxaca cheese is made with the same Italian string cheese process that is used to make mozzarella.

What type of cheese is queso de hoja? ›

Queso de Hoja (sheet or layer cheese) is a traditional staple of the Dominican Republic. This cow's milk cheese, somewhat similar to Mozzarella in appearance, has a delicate taste and soft, moist texture. Its name is derived from the sheets or layers that make up the cheese and can easily be peeled away by hand.

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