Queso Fundido

Queso Fundido means “molten cheese” in Spanish. This appetizer is super cheesy, full of flavor and super delicious. It consists of baked cheese that’s mixed with softened onions, garlic and peppers. Serve it with crispy chips and a margarita! Yum!

I love a good queso fundido. It’s the simplest, most delicious appetizer that couldn’t be easier to throw together.

Why is this recipe for Queso Fundido fire!

I mean, it’s not a tough sell when there’s melted cheese involved. This recipe is super easy to throw together. And it’s kinda flexible; use chorizo, or use soyrizo (the vegetarian alternative). You can either use diced pepper pepper, 1 jalapeño (if you’re into spice) OR you can use canned green chilies (that’s what I used).

How to Make Queso Fundido

1. Cook the soyrizo or chorizo. In an oven-proof skillet, remove the sausage from its casing and break it up with a spatula. Cook it until cooked and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Remove it from the skillet and set it aside.
2. Cook the onions and garlic. Add a few more teaspoons of oil to the skillet and then pour in the onions, garlic and a pinch of salt. And then add the peppers.
3. Add the chorizo/soyrizo back to the skillet. And mix everything together, placing it in one even layer.
4. Pour the cheese on top. And spread it out into an even layer.
5. Add the milk and give it a gentle mix.
6. Transfer to the oven to bake. This bakes in about 5 minutes so be sure to get your toppings together quickly.
7. Once it comes out of the oven, top it with the remaining chorizo/soyrizo, some sliced avocado and a sprinkling of cilantro. Yum!

Tips and Tricks

• Use blocks of cheese vs. pre-shredded cheese. Cheese that is pre-shredded usually is coated in stabilizers in order to prevent clumping. I find that blocks of cheese results in a much cheesier queso fundido.
• To shred cheese quickly, use a food processor with the cheese grater insert. It grates in literally under 1 minute. It’s amazing. Of course, if you don’t own a food processor, you can use a box grater, too.
• This recipe goes so quickly, especially toward the end, so be sure to have all of your toppings, drinks and chips prepped and ready.

If you make this recipe, let me know on Instagram or leave a comment below!

Looking for more fun recipes to make? Here are some favorites: 

• Strawberry Shortcake Biscuits
• Best Caesar Salad
• Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
• Pigs in a Blanket 
• Acorn Squash Queso Fundido
• Birria Tacos

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe

Queso Fundido

Author: Adrianna Adarme

This queso fundido appetizer is super cheesy, full of flavor and super delicious. It consists of baked cheese that’s mixed with softened onions, garlic and peppers. Serve it with crispy chips and a margarita! Yum! 

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Mexican

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 12 minutes mins

Total Time: 22 minutes mins

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients

Olive oil

• ▢ 6 ounces soyrizo OR pork chorizo removed from casing
• ▢ 1/4 cup red onion peeled and minced
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves peeled and minced
• ▢ 1/4 canned green chiles chopped (OR 1/2 green bell pepper, diced)
• ▢ 8 ounces monterey jack cheese shredded
• ▢ 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
• ▢ 3 tablespoons milk optional

Garnish:

• ▢ 1/2 avocado sliced
• ▢ 1 handful cilantro roughly chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• To a skillet, set over medium heat, cook the soyrizo or chorizo, breaking it up into crumbles until cooked and fragrant. Remove all of it and transfer it to a small bowl. If needed, add a teaspoon or two of olive oil. Next, add the diced red onion and minced garlic to the skillet; add a pinch of salt and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add most of the chorizo/soyrizo back to the skillet (reserving about 1/4 cup for the topping) to the skillet. Mix it all up and spread it into an even layer.
• Pour in the shredded cheese and milk. Give it a loose mix and spread it into an even layer.
• Transfer to the oven to bake for 5 to 7 minutes, until cheesy and melty.
• When it comes out of the oven, top it with the remaining chorizo/soyrizo, avocado and sprinkling of cilantro. Serve with chips.

Notes

Tips and Tricks:

• Use blocks of cheese vs. pre-shredded cheese. Cheese that is pre-shredded usually is coated in stabilizers in order to prevent clumping. I find that blocks of cheese results in a much cheesier queso fundido.
• To shred cheese quickly, use a food processor with the cheese grater insert. It grates in literally under 1 minute. It’s amazing. Of course, if you don’t own a food processor, you can use a box grater, too.

Equipment:

Le Creuset Cast Iron Skillet | Food Processor | Box Grater | Measuring Cups | Measuring Spoons | 

Nutrition

Calories: 437kcal (22%) | Carbohydrates: 6g (2%) | Protein: 28g (56%) | Fat: 34g (52%) | Saturated Fat: 19g (119%) | Cholesterol: 96mg (32%) | Sodium: 667mg (29%) | Potassium: 252mg (7%) | Fiber: 2g (8%) | Sugar: 2g (2%) | Vitamin A: 874IU (17%) | Vitamin C: 4mg (5%) | Calcium: 730mg (73%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you make this recipe? Tag me today!

Tag @acozykitchen on Instagram & hashtag it #acozykitchen