Queso fundido is hot, melted cheese baked in a skillet over browned pork chorizo, onion, and garlic. I use stretchy Oaxaca cheese (mozzarella works too) with a little Monterey Jack, bake it at 375°F until it bubbles, and bring it to the table with tortilla chips or warm tortillas. It takes 30 minutes and makes enough for 8 people to share as a dip.
You’ll love this recipe if you enjoy Caramelized Onion Dip, Chili Cheese Dip, and 7-Layer Dip.
Queso fundido means “melted cheese” in Spanish, and this version needs one skillet and a handful of ingredients.
You’ll start by softening the onion and garlic, then browning the chorizo in the same skillet. Next, sprinkle a mix of Oaxaca (or mozzarella) and Monterey Jack over the chorizo and bake it until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Finish with your favorite garnishes, like fresh cilantro or sliced jalapeños, and serve with tortilla chips or warm tortillas.
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To make queso fundido, you brown crumbled pork chorizo with onion and garlic, cover it with shredded Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheese, and bake it at 375°F for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve it right away with warm tortillas or chips while the cheese is still stretchy. It comes together in 30 minutes and serves 8.
💛 Why you’ll love this recipe
- Quick and easy to make.
- Ready to serve in only 30 minutes.
- Customizable with your favorite toppings.
- Made for sharing at parties and game nights.
➡️ Ingredients
⏲ How to make this queso fundido recipe
This is an overview of the recipe’s instructions. The full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Cook Onion and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat on the stovetop. Add onion and cook until it’s translucent, about 3-4 minutes, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
- Cook Chorizo: Add the chorizo to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully cooked and browned, about 5 minutes.
- Combine Cheeses: In a bowl, mix the shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese and the shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
Recipe Tip: Pre-shredded cheese sometimes has a coating that can prevent it from melting smoothly. Shred cheese blocks for the best melt.
- Add Cheese to Skillet: Sprinkle the cheese mixture evenly over the cooked chorizo in the skillet.
- Melt Cheese in Oven: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 10 minutes.
Recipe Tip: Keep a close eye on the cheese while it’s in the oven. It should be melted and bubbly, but not browned. Take it out as soon as you see bubbles to keep it stretchy.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and top with optional garnishes. Serve hot with tortilla chips and/or warm tortillas.
👉 Ingredient substitution suggestions
- Chorizo: Ground beef or turkey sausage can be swapped in.
- Monterey Jack: Pepper Jack adds a spicier kick.
- Olive Oil: Any neutral oil works.
✨ Variations
- Extra Heat: Add sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
- Cheese Mix: Add cheddar or Colby for extra flavor.
- Bacon: Crumble in cooked bacon for an extra layer of flavor.
- Veggie Boost: Add roasted poblano peppers or roasted red peppers to the cooked chorizo before topping with cheese.
〰️ How to serve
- Dip: Serve it hot from the skillet with tortilla chips.
- Tacos: Fold it into tortillas for a light meal.
- Veggie Slices: Try with crunchy veggies like bell peppers, carrots, or celery.
- With Sides: Serve with refried beans, guacamole, or fresh corn salad.
💬 FAQs
How do you make queso fundido?
Brown crumbled chorizo, top it with shredded Oaxaca and Monterey Jack cheese, and bake at 375°F for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve it right away with warm tortillas or chips.
What cheese is best for queso fundido?
I use Oaxaca cheese because it melts smooth and stretchy, with a little Monterey Jack mixed in. Mozzarella is an easy substitute for Oaxaca.
Do you have to use chorizo in queso fundido?
Chorizo is traditional and adds most of the flavor, but you can leave it out for a vegetarian queso fundido and you still get a skillet of hot, melted cheese.
Why did my queso fundido get stringy or firm?
Queso fundido firms up quickly as it cools, so serve it straight from the oven while the cheese is still hot and stretchy.
How can I make this ahead of time?
Cook the onion, garlic, and chorizo ahead and store the mixture in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, reheat it, top with cheese, and bake as directed. Add garnishes right before serving.
How should I store leftovers?
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until cheese is melted and bubbly again. For the best results, reheat in an oven-safe dish.
📚 More recipes to try
🍽 Recipe
Round out the meal with my chipotle chicken skewers or honey mustard pork chops.
For a party spread, my Whipped Ricotta Cheese Toast is another good one to put out.
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Queso Fundido (Easy Mexican Cheese Dip)
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ pound pork chorizo, casing removed and crumbled
- 2 cups shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Optional Garnishes:
- Chopped cilantro
- Diced tomatoes
- Sliced jalapeños
- Pico de gallo
- Chopped onions
- Crumbled queso fresco
- Sliced avocado
- Lime wedges
- Pickled red onions
- Chopped chorizo
For Serving:
- Tortilla chips
- Warm tortillas
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Cook Onion and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat on stovetop. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds.
- Cook Chorizo: Add chorizo to skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully cooked and browned, about 5 minutes.
- Combine Cheeses: In a bowl, mix shredded Oaxaca or mozzarella cheese and shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Add Cheese to Skillet: Sprinkle cheese mixture evenly over cooked chorizo in skillet.
- Melt Cheese in Oven: Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 10 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove skillet from oven and top with optional garnishes. Serve hot with tortilla chips and/or warm tortillas.
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