Jalapeño Queso Fundido Recipe (2024)

5 from 2 votes

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July 28, 2020

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This Jalapeño Queso Fundido recipe is seriously the best plus it’s ready to eat in a snap. It’s the easiest and yes, the cheesiest thing you will ever enjoy!

I’ve been having melty cheese daydreams and I finally did something about it and made this Jalapeño Queso Fundido. Did you know Queso Fundido is just melted cheese? Like, literally. Melt some cheese in a pan and that’s Queso Fundido. It’s seriously the best thing ever…plus ready to eat in a snap. And if you accidentally get the edges a little brown, you get crispy cheese! My favorite guilty pleasure in all the world.

But First, What is Queso Fundido?

Queso Fundido is an appetizer made up of hot melted cheese! Dip bread, tortilla chips, or pretzels into it. How could you not love it? (Sorry lactose intolerant people 🙁 )

Queso Fundido Recipe

You are only going to need 7 ingredients to make this cheesy dip! Queso fundido here we come!

  • Olive Oil –this is used to saute the onions and jalapeno which helps remove some of their potency.
  • Salt and Pepper –always remember to salt and pepper while cooking and to taste.
  • Jalapeño –if you don’t like as much spice, make sure to remove the seeds and chop very small. Or leave it out altogether.
  • Onion –I used a yellow onion but a red or white onion would work just as well.
  • Sharp Cheddar Cheese –use freshly grated cheese for best melty results.
  • Jack Cheese –you could also use freshly grated mozzarella as well.
  • Cilantro –this is used as a garnish and can be left out if you hate the taste of cilantro.

Jalapeño Queso Fundido Recipe (2)

Variations

One of the best things about this queso fundido recipe is how adaptable it can be with these simple variations!

  • Want it spicier?Consider adding red pepper flakes or sub out the jalapeño for a spicier pepper.
  • Want to add protein?Chorizo is a super great option to add to this recipe. Simply cook with the jalapeno and onion. Or for a simpler protein, add in some cooked shredded chicken.

Jalapeño Queso Fundido Recipe (3)

How to Make Queso Fundido

My husband pretty much licked this pan clean. {Sorry honey, but it’s true.} So that means there’s a high probability that you will also lick this pan clean. Are you salivating yet? Ok ok, FINE. I’ll tell you how to make Queso Fundido:

  1. Chop up some jalapeños. That should sort of be a given. If you want a spicier dip, chop them not too small. I don’t like a whole lotta spice so I cut them super thin. I’m such a baby.
  2. Also cut up a little onion, grate some sharp cheddar cheese and jack cheese.
  3. So, here’s the deal: sauté the onions and jalapeños until soft and tender. Add in salt and pepper too. Then take the pan off the heat and melt in your cheeses gently. And just like that, your queso fundido is done.

You’re gonna want to serve it asap because the stringy cheesy hot goodness lasts only about 10 minutes. Then you’ll have to reheat it again to get the magic back. But I highly doubt you’ll need to reheat it because odds are, it’ll be gone in no time!Jalapeño Queso Fundido Recipe (4)

More Mexican Dips to Try!

  • 7 Layer Dip
  • Roasted Jalapeño Queso
  • Cowboy Caviar
  • Black Bean Dip
  • Beef Enchilada Dip

If you loved this Jalapeño Queso Fundido recipe, make sure to check out my other queso recipes!

The printable recipe card is below, make it this weekend and enjoy friends!

5 from 2 votes

Jalapeño Queso Fundido

Jalapeño Queso Fundido is seriously the best plus it's ready to eat in a snap. It's the easiest and yes, cheesiest thing you will ever enjoy!

servings 4 servings

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 12 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion finely diced
  • 1 jalapeño finely diced or sliced plus more for garnish if desired
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup jack cheese grated, or mozzarella
  • cilantro for garnish

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In small cast-iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute onions and jalapeños with salt and pepper until tender and brown.

  • Remove hot skillet from heat and stir in cheeses to melt.

  • Top with cilantro and more jalapeños is desired. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 346kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 477mg | Potassium: 83mg | Vitamin A: 800IU | Vitamin C: 4.9mg | Calcium: 562mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Queso Fundido

Jalapeño Queso Fundido Recipe (2024)

FAQs

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.

What does queso fundido mean? ›

Queso Fundido translates to "molten cheese" or "melted cheese," and this skillet of wonderfulness definitely has cheese to spare! This is a classic Mexican munchie that you can customize however your heart desires.

How to eat queso fundido with tortillas? ›

You can eat queso fundido by spooning it into a tortilla or using the tortilla as a dipper. Salsa gets spooned on top too. There's really no wrong way to consume it—queso fundido is perfect no matter what.

When was queso fundido invented? ›

History of queso fundido

Stateside, this dish was only first found in print in 1978, and today it is a regional favorite in El Paso and New Mexico. In Mexico, there's a plethora of variations with distinct ingredients and names. In Chihuahua, where it's particularly popular, it's called chili con queso.

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 queso is best for melting? ›

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!

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.

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.

What does fundido mean in Spanish slang? ›

spoilt brat (informal)

How long does queso fundido last in the fridge? ›

FAQ: Storing and Reheating Queso

If the queso has been in the fridge for longer than 5 days, it's best to err on the side of caution and dispose of it. Always inspect and smell the queso before reheating or consuming it to ensure it's still good.

Is queso fundido traditional? ›

Queso Fundido, meaning "melted cheese" in Spanish, is a traditional Mexican dish enjoyed for centuries. It's perfect for sharing, spooning onto soft corn tortillas, and topped with Oaxaca cheese & honey, mushrooms, or chorizo, served with warm tortillas.

What taste good with queso? ›

Make delicious queso meals every day of the week, with these tantalizing recipes to keep you full and your taste buds happy.
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Rice.
  • Black Bean & Queso-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash.
  • Chicken Queso Soup.
  • Rockin' Nachos.
  • Beef Enchilada Bake.
  • Ultimate Nachos.
  • Queso Macaroni and Cheese.
  • Queso Burgers.

What animal does queso come from? ›

Queso fresco is often made with cow's milk but can be made with a mixture of goat's and cow's milk. To form the curds, producers add rennet and cultures to heated milk. The curds get drained and pressed for a few days at the most before the cheese gets packaged for consumption.

Is queso a Mexican thing? ›

It may come as a surprise, but the popular yellow queso so beloved by so many Americans (and ordered in many a Fort Worth Mexican restaurant) is not Mexican in nature at all. Unless that cheese is white, consider it completely Tex-Mex.

What country invented queso? ›

Arkansans proudly claim that this warm, oozy, and comforting cheesy foodstuff was invented in the 1930s at the Little Rock restaurant Mexico Chiquito, and will often point to In Queso Fever: A Movie About Cheese Dip, a twenty-minute documentary by an Arkansan that makes the same claim while delving into the state's ...

Is there a difference between queso and cheese dip? ›

Scanning the internet and the supermarket shelf, we realized that the cheese sauces are divided into two basic categories: Queso Dips, which include some amount of heat, spices, and other flavorings, and Cheese Dips, which are cheese and little else.

What is queso dip called? ›

Chile con queso (Spanish for "chile with cheese"), sometimes simply called queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers, typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants as a dip for tortilla chips.

What does queso dip taste like? ›

A queso dip should be smooth, velvety, and creamy, with a hint of heat and sweetness if there are chopped peppers and tomatoes included in the jar. If there are small chunks of pepper and tomato in the mixture, they should pop and crunch between the teeth, not dissolve into mush.

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