Queso Fundido

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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Super cheesy and filled with spicy chorizo, this skillet queso fundido goes from oven to table in 30 minutes. Made with three kinds of cheese and lots of onion, it’s the only thing you’ll want to dip chips into!

Why You’ll Love This Queso Fundido con Chorizo

Mexican queso fundido is an appetizer you’ll love for more than its perfect flavor combination.

  • Family-friendly. Even the pickiest eaters love a skillet of cheese, so don’t be afraid to serve it with dinner. Everyone will gobble it up!
  • Great for cookouts. As an appetizer or added to carne asada tacos, queso fundido is a hit at all cookouts.
  • Easy. Once you cook the chorizo mixture, the oven does the rest of the work for you. Just let it melt to gooey perfection!
  • Better than quesadillas. There’s something about the cheese-pull in this recipe that’ll beat a quesadilla any day. If you’re a cheese-lover, this is the true melty recipe for you. However, you can also wrap it up in warm corn tortillas for serving!
Angled photo of queso fundido with chorizo and a corn chip.

What Is Queso Fundido?

Queso fundido is a popular Mexican appetizer. The name means “melted cheese,” so you can imagine what this melty cheese skillet is all about. It’s made with Mexican cheese (or a combination of them) like Chihuahua, Manchego, or asadero.

For more flavor, chorizo is often added as well as diced onion and garlic. It’s usually baked and served with corn tortillas right before the main dish or added to tacos in cookouts.

Ingredients for queso fundido con chorizo.

Recipe Ingredients

There are three kinds of “queso” (cheese) in this recipe for the ultimate cheese-pull. Check the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact ingredient amounts.

  • Vegetable Oil: Any neutral-flavored oil like corn and canola oil work too.
  • Chorizo: Ground pork chorizo is best for this, you can use store bought or my Homemade Chorizo if you have extra time. Make sure to use the ground version of chorizo, not the dried sausage kind.
  • White Onion: Feel free to use yellow onion.
  • Garlic: Don’t use garlic powder for this, you want fresh garlic for the best flavor!
  • Chihuahua Cheese
  • Manchego Cheese
  • Mozzarella Cheese

What’s The Best Cheese for Queso Fundido?

There’s no single right answer except for melty Mexican cheese. I love Chihuahua and Manchego because they’re more savory, but queso asadero and even adobera cheese make great swaps. When in doubt, use a cheese blend or use up all your leftover cheeses to make a unique queso fundido.

Overhead shot of queso fundido in its skillet.

How to Make Queso Fundido

If the chorizo mixture is cooked well, the oven will do the rest of the work for you. Check the recipe card for more detailed instructions on how to make queso fundido with chorizo.

  • Cook the chorizo: Cook the chorizo in a skillet with oil until browned and crumbled.
  • Add the onions: Place the onions and garlic in the pan. Stir and cook until the onions soften.
  • Make the cheese mixture: Add the three kinds of cheese to a bowl and mix well.
  • Add the cheese: Remove half of the chorizo-onion mixture from the pan. Set it aside. Sprinkle in 3/4 of the cheese mixture. Add half of the reserved chorizo mixture. Top everything with the remaining cheese.
  • Bake it: Bake the queso fundido until nice and melty.
  • Serve: Top it with the remaining chorizo and serve immediately with corn chips or tortillas.
Melty cheesy appetizer in the skillet.

Tips & Variations

Any queso fundido con chorizo will be a success if you manage to melt the cheese evenly. With that in the bag, feel free to make some ingredient swaps to make it spicier or healthier.

  • Make it spicy. Use spicy chorizo, or add 1/2 finely chopped serrano peppers, to the chorizo mixture as it cooks. This will give the recipe a kick of heat.
  • Go for turkey. In case you want to make your queso fundido healthier, choose turkey or all beef chorizo over pork.
  • Slice it. If you don’t want to shred the cheese, thinly slice it. Make sure the slices are of an even thickness so that all the cheese can melt evenly.
  • Add chilorio. Use one part chorizo and one part chilorio, or substitute it altogether, to give this appetizer a new spicy, smokey dimension.
Queso fundido on a corn chip.

What to Serve with Queso Fundido with Chorizo

Queso fundido con chorizo is best with Tortilla Chips for a quick appetizer. For a healthier alternative, serve it with my Air Fryer Tortilla Chips. You can also serve it with warm Corn Tortillas, or Flour Tortillas, for a cheesy taco/burrito bite. You can even incorporate it into the main dish by adding 1-2 spoonfuls of it to my Carne Asada Tacos.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Queso fundido is best when freshly made. However, you can refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also keep it in the skillet you made it in if you cover it tightly with foil.

To reheat it, microwave it in 15-second intervals until nice and melty. You can also re-heat it in the oven at 350ยฐF for 8 to 12 minutes, until warmed through.

More Mexican Appetizers To Try

Landscape photo of queso fundido.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 6 servings

Queso Fundido

This authentic Mexican queso fundido with three kinds of melty cheese, spicy chorizo, and onion goes from oven to table in 30 minutes!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup shredded Chihuahua cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Manchego cheese
  • ยฝ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 9 oz chorizo
  • ยฝ medium white onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

For Serving

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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF. Place the shredded cheeses in a bowl and mix until well combined. Set aside.
  • Add oil to a medium-sized cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add the chorizo. Cook, breaking apart the meat into crumbles as it cooks, until cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Add the onions and garlic. Sautรฉ for 5 to 6 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent.
  • Use the spatula or a spoon to remove 1/2 of the chorizo mixture from the skillet. Set it aside.
  • Sprinkle in 3/4 of the cheese mixture. Press it down gently. Then add half of the reserved chorizo and top it with the remaining cheese mixture.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until melty. Carefully remove it from the oven and top with the remaining chorizo. Serve with corn chips or tortillas, as desired.

Notes

Storage: Queso fundido is best when freshly made. However, you can refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. You can also keep it in the skillet you made it in if you cover it tightly with foil.
Reheat: To reheat it, microwave it in 15-second intervals until nice and melty. You can also re-heat it in the oven at 350ยฐF for 8 to 12 minutes, until warmed through.
Serving: Queso fundido con chorizo is best withย Tortilla Chipsย for a quick appetizer. For a healthier alternative, serve it with myย Air Fryer Tortilla Chips. You can also serve it with warmย Corn Tortillas, orย Flour Tortillas, for a cheesy taco/burrito bite.
Spicy:ย Use spicy chorizo, or add 1/2 finely choppedย serrano peppers, to the chorizo mixture as it cooks. This will give the recipe a good kick of heat.
Chilorio: Use one part chorizo and one part chilorio, or substitute it altogether, to give this appetizer a new spicy, smokey dimension.
Cheese: Chihuahua and Manchego are great because theyโ€™re more savory, but queso asadero and even adobera cheese make great swaps.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 312kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 69mg, Sodium: 291mg, Potassium: 41mg, Fiber: 0.2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 445IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 348mg, Iron: 1mg

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Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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Jessica
For the past 15 years, Jorge & Jessica have loved getting to share their families' favorite recipes with all of you. They live in Florida with their 3 kids.