Queso Fundido with Chorizo
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Queso fundido with chorizo is a melty, stretchy, hot cheese dip. This Mexican appetizer features savory cheeses and sausage crumbles with diced green chiles folded in. It’s garnished with a scattering of cilantro and pico de gallo. Spoon it into warm corn tortillas, or scoop with crispy tortilla chips. Enjoy this restaurant-quality recipe at home.
Serve this cheesy appetizer on Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday, or for backyard gatherings all summer long. For parties, pair it with Mexican street corn dip, a bowl of tasty guacamole, and spicy strawberry jalapeño Margaritas.
For several smaller servings, divide the cooked chorizo mixture between 4 round mini servers (small cast-iron skillets). Then proceed with the recipe as directed. This method is perfect for for serving queso fundido at Game Day gatherings.
🛒 Ingredients
For Queso Fundido con Chorizo
- Oaxaca Cheese: Has a mild flavor similar to Monterey Jack but with a more buttery taste. It also melts way better than Jack cheese. When melted and bubbly you’ll get those beautiful, long cheese pulls. If you can’t find this Mexican cheese, use mozzarella cheese instead.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: This block of Jack cheese is studded with spicy jalapeños, habañero chilies, red peppers, garlic and spices. If desired, you can use Monterey Jack, Colby Jack, or mozzarella cheese instead.
- Dried Oregano: This robust herb with a sweet peppery bite is used in many Mexican recipes. It adds a delicious, earthy/musty taste to this deeply savory dish. Crumble the dried oregano between your fingers to release its full flavor and aroma.
- Chili Powder: An aromatic savory spice blend that’s mild to moderately spicy. It lends color and flavor to the queso fundido with chorizo.
- Mexican Pork (or Beef) Chorizo: Ground sausage with a savory spicy flavor. There are notes of cumin, garlic and chili peppers. It also has a signature deep red color. If you can’t find chorizo at the market, use a spicy breakfast sausage like Jimmy Dean hot premium pork sausage.
- White Onion: Lends a classic taste to this Mexican recipe. In grocery stores on the Pacific coast of Mexico, it’s the most commonly-available variety. They’re sweeter and more mild than yellow onions. But if you can’t find a white onion at the market, use a yellow onion instead.
- Fire-roasted Diced Green Chiles: Look for these in a can, and drain them well as we don’t want the liquid mixing in with the cheese. In California I use Ortega brand fire-roasted diced green chiles. In Mexico I roast a poblano pepper over an open flame (either on the BBQ or on a gas stovetop), then remove the skin and seeds and dice it up.
For Pico de Gallo Garnish
- Cherry Tomatoes: Or feel free to use grape tomatoes (or seeded and diced Roma tomatoes) instead.
- White Onion: Finely diced. If no white onion, use yellow onion instead.
- Fresh Cilantro: Leaves (no stems) finely minced.
- Lime Juice: Squeezed from Mexican limes (same as Florida Key limes).
- Kosher Salt: To taste
For Serving the Dip
- Small Corn Tortillas or Flour Tortillas: Homemade or store-bought. Warm until soft and bendable, then store in a tortilla warmer.
- Corn Tortilla Chips: Crisp, sturdy restaurant-style chips that don’t break easily. Queso fundido is thick and stringy – so only sturdy chips will do!
📖 Recipe Steps
RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- In a large bowl, toss the 2 types of cheeses together with the dried oregano and chili powder. Set the bowl aside.
- Prep the pico de gallo. Add tomatoes, onion, cilantro and salt to a small bowl. Toss briefly to combine.
- Cook chorizo in a wide, shallow, cast-iron skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles with a spatula. Once fully cooked, about 8 to 10 minutes, reserve 3 tablespoons for later. Do not drain off grease from the pan. However, if the chorizo has a lot of excess grease, blot some of it off with a paper towel. Add onion and chiles to the pan. Cook until the onion is soft and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Distribute cheese over the chorizo in an even layer. Lightly sprinkle some chili powder over the top. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. But don’t over-bake or the cheese can develop a chewy texture.
- Garnish the hot dish with the reserved chorizo, a scattering of cilantro, and pico de gallo. Serve with warm tortillas or very sturdy corn tortilla chips. Enjoy immediately.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the BEST-tasting Queso fundido dip and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
A hot and melty Mexican cheese dip. Some recipes include ground Mexican sausage (chorizo) or chopped grilled chicken. Queso fundido is made and served in a hot cast-iron skillet. This appetizer is scooped with sturdy tortilla chips, or spooned into the middle of warm tortillas.
Any Mexican cheese that melts well. Try Oaxaca, Manchego, Asadero, or Chihuahua. You can make a delicious blend by pairing a Mexican cheese with Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, mild cheddar cheese or mozzarella.
In most border states in the USA, Mexican cheese is easy to find at any large supermarket. Look for it in the refrigerated cheese section. Many cities also have specialty Mexican markets. Look for it there.
Transfer the cheesy dip to a crockpot. Keep it warm and melty on a low-heat setting. Keep the crockpot lid condensation free by periodically wiping it down with a lint-free cloth. This is to avoid water droplets mixing in with the cheese. We want to protect the texture of the dip.
🧑🏼🍳 More Cheesy Dips
If you love queso fundido, you’ll be head over heels excited about these super cheesy recipes. Each dip is a crowd pleaser and very easy to make.
- Loaded Cream Cheese Dip
- Cheesy Rotel Bean Dip
- Cajun Crab Dip
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Dip
- Cheesy Caprese Queso Dip
- Spicy Feta Dip
- Jalapeño Pimento Cheese
Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers rated this the BEST queso fundido with chorizo. They loved the flavor of the Mexican sausage, and were amazed by the gorgeous cheese pulls. They enjoyed the pico de gallo garnish and the scattering of cilantro.
If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Queso Fundido with Chorizo
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Queso fundido with chorizo is flavorful Mexican appetizer – a melty, stretchy hot cheese dip. It features savory melted cheese and Mexican sausage crumbles with diced green chiles folded in. Spooned into warm tortillas it’s eaten like hot cheese tacos.
Ingredients
For Queso Fundido with Chorizo
- 2 cups Oaxaca cheese, shredded on a box grater
- 2 cups Pepper Jack cheese, shredded on a box grater
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 (9-ounce) roll Mexican pork or beef chorizo*
- 1/4 cup white onion, finely minced
- 1 (4-ounce) can Ortega fire-roasted diced green chilies, well drained
Pico de Gallo Garnish
- 12 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 1/2 tablespoons white onion, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon lime juice, from 1 Mexican lime (same as Florida Key lime)
- Kosher salt, to taste
For Serving
- Small corn or flour tortillas (warmed) 👉🏻 highly recommend tortillas
- Or very sturdy corn tortilla chips – that don’t break easily
Instructions
RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- In a large bowl, toss the 2 types of cheeses together with the dried oregano and chili powder. Set the bowl aside.
- Prep the pico de gallo. Add tomatoes, onion, cilantro and salt to a small bowl. Toss briefly to combine.
- Cook chorizo in a wide, shallow, cast-iron skillet over medium heat. While cooking, break the sausage into crumbles. Once fully cooked, about 8 to 10 minutes, reserve 3 tablespoons for later. Do not drain off the grease from the pan. However, if the sausage has a lot of excess grease, use a paper towel to blot some of it off.
- Add onion and chiles to the pan. Cook until the onion is soft and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Distribute the cheese over the chorizo in an even layer. Lightly sprinkle some chili powder over the top. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. But don’t over-bake or the cheese can develop a chewy texture.
- Garnish the hot dish with the reserved chorizo, a scattering of cilantro, and pico de gallo. Serve with warm corn or flour tortillas (spoon it into the tortillas), or very sturdy tortilla chips. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
*Substitute for chorizo: If you can’t find Mexican chorizo sausage at the market, look for a roll of Jimmy Dean hot breakfast sausage, or use spicy Italian sausage (with casings removed).
Shred the cheese by hand: For any melted cheese recipe like this queso fundido, it’s important to grate the cheese by hand. Pre-shredded cheese has a coating on it that keeps the individual pieces from sticking together. Unfortunately, this coating also prevents the cheese from melting smoothly.
Dried oregano: To release the full flavor and aroma of this dried spice, crush and crumble it between your fingers before adding it to the mix of cheeses.
For smaller servings: Divide the cooked chorizo mixture between 4 round mini servers (small cast-iron skillets). Then proceed with the recipe as directed. This method is perfect for Game Day gatherings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dip
- Method: Stovetop, Oven
- Cuisine: Mexican
Queso Fundido With Chorizo 👉🏻 Join the Convo
Have you ever tried queso fundido con chorizo at an authentic Mexican restaurant? Was it served with tortillas or chips? Share your thoughts on this cheesy appetizer in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.
This would be a perfect appetizer for a party or movie night. It looks so warm and cheesy. Love it!!
I can hardly wait for you to try this Mexican appetizer! It’s fantastic for parties because it’s so festive AND super easy to make. Thanks so much Kimberly for stopping by and leaving a comment. :-)
This not only looks incredible to eat your presentation is fantastic too! I love any and all Tillamook cheeses I have yet to try the pepper jack. Pinning this recipe too!
Thanks so much Andrea for your sweet comment! Tillamook makes an awesome pepper Jack – I know you’ll really enjoy it. And thanks a million for pinning this Queso Fundido recipe to Pinterest. I really appreciate it!
Yum – I like queso fundido at mexican restaurants, but I’ve never made it. This sounds amazing!
Thanks so much Lisa! I know this yummy Queso Fundido dip will quickly become a favorite for you, your family and friends! Many wishes of happiness for a wonderful week. :-)
This look sooo good! I haven’t had this in so long, so I’m glad to see your recipe. I like that you’ve added sausage to make it hearty!
Yay! Patricia, I’m so happy you love this Queso Fundido recipe. If you enjoy just a tiny bit more spice and increased Mexican flavor, using Chorizo will kick things up a notch!
This queso looks so delicious! I love how you cooked it in the cast iron skillet too. I can’t wait to try this — queso always scares me to make but this looks so easy!
Alicia, thanks so much for stopping by to visit me here on Confetti and Bliss. Using cast iron makes stovetop to oven easy! And as for aesthetics, cast iron makes this Mexican Queso Fundido appetizer look and feel very rustic and traditional. :-)
You always have the best recipes and they always make me hungry! This one is making my Texan heart so happy! I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!!! :)
Aww…Samantha, I feel so honored that you love the recipes I share. We Californians and Texans know how to make the best border food ever! Have a great weekend. :-)
Oh wow! This looks like it would be a perfect treat on the deck with LOTS of nachos :)
Amanda, that sounds like such a great idea! Delicious Queso Fundido outside on the deck. If you’re getting really festive, blend up some frosty Margaritas. Salt the rims with a combination of Margarita salt and Mexican Tajin.
Can’t wait to try this with chorizo!
Mike, it will be super good! Try serving it with warm corn or flour tortillas. Enjoy!
This looks so heavenly! I can’t wait to give it a try!
xx, Taylor (thesprinkle.tayloramead.com)
Taylor, I’m so happy you found my Queso Fundido recipe! Many good wishes for a great weekend. :-)
Good thing I haven’t gone to the store yet, today. Now I can get the ingredients to make this awesome appetizer.
Hello Quinn, I hope you have a super fun weekend! Whenever I make this Queso Fundido recipe it’s like a fiesta in my kitchen.
Yum! I could have used this recipe for my Cinco de Mayo dinner party.
Lynn, thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you discovered this versatile Queso Fundido recipe. :-)