Riddle me this? What on earth is better than ooey, gooey, melted cheese served with tortillas chips? Not much in my book. Hence why we should all dig into this crazy amazing Queso Fundido for the upcoming big game. Similar to my famous game day nachos and the jalapeño popper dip but different at the same time.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
If I see a fancy queso on a menu, it’s almost guaranteed that it’s coming to our table. It’s one of my weaknesses and I can’t say no. It all ends up working out perfectly because my other weakness, guacamole, goes perfectly with this decadent dip!
During our last Palm Springs adventure we had the most sinfully delicious queso and I knew that it 100% had to be recreated at home. Loaded with poblano peppers and a handful of different cheeses, it made for the most epic appetizer and it would be perfection on top of a plate of nachos. The poblanos give the queso a subtle smokey finish and the variety of cheeses that I used melt perfectly! Loaded with Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack and Oaxaca cheeses, this queso fundido comes together perfectly!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Poblano Peppers
- Butter
- Yellow Onion
- Milk
- Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- Shredded Oaxaca Cheese
- Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese
- Tortilla Chips
- Cilantro
How to Make Queso Fundido
Step 1: Place the poblano peppers on a sheet pan and broil, turning occasionally, until blackened on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes total.
Step 2: Heat the butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and roasted peppers and cook until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Shred the various cheeses and top the onion and pepper mixture with the cheese. Add the milk and stir everything to combine.
Step 4: Fill a roasting pan or baking dish halfway up with hot water. Place the skillet inside of the water bath and transfer to the oven.
Tips & Tricks
I try to make recipes that are always really simple and require easy to find ingredients and equipment. Rarely do I ever call for a water bath but let me tell you - it really makes a difference in this recipe so don't skip it!! The water bath ensures an even cook for the cheese and keeps it from congealing!
FAQs
What is queso fundido?
Queso fundido is a delicious Mexican dish that translates to "melted cheese" in English. It's a very popular appetizer for any Mexican inspired meal!
What cheeses are in queso fundido?
Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, and Oaxaca cheese.
Similar Recipes
Queso Fundido
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 poblano peppers
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese
- 2 cups shredded Pepper Jack cheese
- Freshly fried tortilla chips for serving
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Turn oven to broil.
- Place the poblano peppers on a sheet pan and cook directly under the broiler, turning occasionally, until blackened on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Remove from the oven. Once cool enough to handle, chop and set aside, skin on. Alternatively, you can char the Poblano peppers over an open flame on the stove.
- Adjust oven to 425°F.
- Heat the butter in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and roasted peppers to the skillet and cook until onion is softened, about 5 minutes.
- Shred the various cheeses and top the onion and pepper mixture with the cheese. Add the milk and stir everything to combine.
- Fill a roasting pan or baking dish halfway up with hot water. Place the skillet inside of the water bath and transfer to the oven. Bake until the cheese is melted and gooey, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the skillet from the water bath and serve immediately with salsa, guacamole and fresh chips.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
This is the best Queso I have ever made! Game changer with placing the skillet in a water bath! The cheese came out perfectly gooey not grainy at all. My guests couldn’t get enough they devoured it
The cheesier the better! Can't wait to dig into this deliciousness!!
Could there be a better app?? I think not!
Finally someone who understands what fundido is and that it's different from queso (which is also delicious, but not the same!) If I could eat this for all meals I would, it is delicious.
Just pulled this out of the oven and its almost gone! Yummmm!!!
Hi there,
Decided to try this fundido as I love everything you make! I made it a week early to test the recipe before Super Bowl. Thank goodness I did. Not sure where I went wrong but the cheese is like one big blob and not able to dip onto the chips. It's like you need a fork and knife to cut the cheese and place on a chip. Any suggestions on where I may have gone wrong and how to recitify? Thank you so much!
Hey Laurie! Did you do the water bath? Did you let it sit out after making? It needs to be eaten right after it comes out of the oven basically! LMK. happy to help troubleshoot!
I'm so mad at you for this.
ooey, gooey, delicious!!!!
Cheese and chips…yes please!
We use to add chorizo to This meted cheese in México, for vegetarían people. Our family bussines in Saltillo produces soy chorizo as good on taste and texture than the real one and it is low Salt and fatless.
Looks incredible!!! Cheese dips are always a favorite....but this one is in a league all it's own. Making for the next family get-together!!
Delicious! While living in CA and using fresh chiles all the time, I have always removed the skins/seeds. (UGH, with gloves on as it makes a mess and gets under my nails.) Loved leaving the skins on! Next time I'll roast and add a couple of Serrano chiles (or four jalapenos) to up the spice level. The water bath is genius: often cheese dips baked in the oven get stringy around the edges before the center is adequately melted. We even had leftover (horrors!) which DH destroyed by putting in the microwave. Will use water bath and reheat gently next time....soon. DH wants chorizo in the next one....not going to happen, lol.
HINT: please try to get real California Oxaca. While similar to many "white, melty" cheeses, it has a texture that is superb. 5 stars in our book.