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queso fundido in green dish with chip scooping dip

Queso Fundido Recipe

Course: appetizer/dip
Cuisine: American, Mexican, tex mex
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 292kcal
Author: Becky Hardin
When this sizzling skillet of cheesy, meaty goodness hits the table it won't be around for long! This is a crowd-pleasing dip packed with Tex-Mex flavors, perfect for movie night, game night, any night!
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • ½ pound chorizo or hot breakfast sausage, casings removed
  • ½ pound breakfast sausage casings removed
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ cup diced onion
  • 1 jalapeño pepper seeded and ribs removed, diced
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons tequila optional
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 pound grated cheese a combination of Oaxaca, Monterey, Jack and Mozzarella

Toppings

  • 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • Crumbled Queso Fresco cheese

For Serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • In a large, oven-safe (to 400°F) skillet, crumble and brown the sausage over medium heat. Add kosher salt and black pepper; stir well. Transfer the sausage to a medium-sized mixing bowl and discard all except 2 tablespoons of rendered sausage fat.
    ½ pound chorizo, ½ pound breakfast sausage, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    A queso fundido recipe featuring a frying pan with meat and onions sizzling on it.
  • Add the onion and jalapeno pepper and cook until softened. Add the garlic, reduce the heat to low, and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove the skillet from the heat and deglaze the skillet with the tequila (if using); stir well. Add the onion mixture to the sausage, stir well, and set aside.
    ½ cup diced onion, 1 jalapeño pepper, 1 clove garlic, 3 tablespoons tequila
  • Brush the skillet with the canola oil and spread ⅓ of the cheese into the skillet. Top with ½ of the sausage mixture.
    1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 pound grated cheese
    Queso Fundido Recipe: A frying pan with meat, onions and cheese.
  • Repeat with ⅓ layer of cheese and top with the remaining sausage mixture. Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ cheese on top.
    A delicious queso fundido recipe made with a frying pan, melted cheese, and sautéed onions.
  • Bake at 400°F until cheese is bubbly, checking on the Queso after 10 minutes then every 2 minutes thereafter. The cheese should be bubbly and gooey but not firm at all.
  • Remove from the oven and top with chopped tomatoes and cilantro. Sprinkle with the crumbled Queso Fresco cheese. Set a small bowl of chili seasoning nearby in case someone wants a little extra flavor.
    1 cup diced Roma tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro, Crumbled Queso Fresco cheese
  • Serve immediately after removing from the oven with tortilla chips.
    Tortilla Chips

Video

Notes

  • When taking out of the oven wrap the hot handle of the skillet with a kitchen towel to avoid any burns.
  • Don’t overbake. I can’t emphasize this enough, so I’m saying it again. We want melty, bubbly cheese so it stays gooey and not hard on top.
  • If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can also make this dish in a regular baking dish. Cook sausage, onion, and peppers as directed in the recipe using a regular skillet. Stir in the cheeses and transfer all of this to an un-greased small baking dish like a 7x11 pan, 2-quart casserole dish, or even a pie plate.
  • Nutritional information does not include Queso Fresco and Tortilla chips.
Storage: Store queso fundido in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 466mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 660IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 274mg | Iron: 1mg