Pretzel Tot Queso Fundido

5 from 2 votes

Pretzel Tot Queso Fundido is a glorious combination of delicious soft pretzels and spicy cheesy goodness. Chewy homemade soft pretzels are baked in a cast iron skillet with the center filled with melty cheese and pickled jalapeños. This recipe takes some time to make but it’s sure to be a hit at your next tailgating or game day party served with Baked Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches and a Strawberry Lemonade Sangria.

Prep Time20

Cook Time25

Rising Time1

Total Time1 45

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American, Gameday, Mexican

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: Servings

Author: Adrianna Adarme

Cost: $9

Equipment

1 (4-quart) Dutch oven
1 (9-inch) cast iron skillet or oven-proof baking dish
1 Stand-up Mixer fitted with the paddle attachment

Ingredients

Pretzel Tot Dough:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon Instant Yeast or Active Dry Yeast (see notes below)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Queso Fundido Cheese Dip:

2 cups shredded cheese (I used a blend of Monterey Jack, Cheddar and Mozzarella)
1/3 cup sliced jalapeños roughly chopped

For Boiling the Tots:

4 cups water
1/3 cup baking soda
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon water
Flaky sea salt for garnish

Instructions

To Make the Pretzel Tots:

In the bowl of a stand-up mixer with the paddle attachment, add the flour, sugar, instant yeast and kosher salt. Give it a mix until combined.
***NOTE: if you don’t own a mixer, you can do this in a large bowl with a spatula. If you’re using active dry yeast (instead of instant yeast), you’ll need to activate it in the warm water until it’s nice and foamy. If doing so, begin the recipe with the warm water in the stand-up mixer and then mix the yeast into the water and allow it to activate. AND then, add the melted butter and dry ingredients.***
In a small sauce pan, add the butter and cook until melted. When melted, remove it from the heat and pour in the water. Give it a mix and then pour it in the stand-up mixer and mix on low speed until well combined. Change to medium speed and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the side of the bowl, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, clean the bowl and then oil it well with neutral oil. Return the dough to the bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel and sit in a warm place for approximately 50 to 55 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
When the dough is done rising, divide it into 8 equal pieces and roll those pieces into balls, tucking the dough underneath.

To Make the Queso Fundido Cheese Dip:

In a bowl, combine the shredded cheese and diced jalapeños. Set aside.

To Boil the Tots:

Place a clean kitchen towel on a plate or baking sheet. Fill up a medium saucepan up with the 4 cups of water and baking soda. Bring it up to a gentle simmer. Drop each of the balls of dough into the water and cook for about 30 seconds. Immediately transfer to the clean kitchen towel to drain.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet or oven-proof baking dish. Place the boiled pretzel tots all along the outside of the skillet or baking dish. In the center, pour in the cheese mixture and press it into an even layer.
Brush the tops of the pretzel tots with the egg wash mixture and a sprinkling of sea salt. Transfer to the oven to bake for 12-13 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the tops of the tots are golden brown.

Notes

Tips and Tricks

Boiling pretzels – Only boil the pretzels tots for 30 seconds MAX. Otherwise the baking soda will give them a weird unpleasant metallic taste.
Don’t have a stand-up mixer? You can make the pretzel dough in a large bowl with a spatula.
Yeast – There is a difference in method depending on if you are using Instant Yeast or Active Dry Yeast. Instant yeast can be added to the dry flour ingredients, but active dry yeast needs to be activated in warm water until it’s foamy, which usually takes 5 - 10 minutes. From here, you can stir in the melted butter and the rest of the dry ingredients.
Hot peppers – If you don’t like spicy foods you can leave them out or add sweet peppers for a different flavor.

Nutrition