Description
Queso Fundido is a delicious Mexican appetizer featuring melted cheese combined with spicy chorizo and breakfast sausage, sautéed vegetables, and aromatic tequila. Baked to bubbly perfection and topped with fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and crumbled Queso Fresco, this warm, gooey dish is perfect for serving with crunchy tortilla chips at any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Meat
- ½ pound chorizo (or hot breakfast sausage, casings removed)
- ½ pound breakfast sausage (casings removed)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Vegetables and Aromatics
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 jalapeño pepper (seeded and ribs removed, diced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Cheese and Dairy
- 1 pound grated cheese (a combination of Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella)
- Crumbled Queso Fresco cheese (for topping)
Other Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons tequila (optional)
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- Tortilla chips (store-bought or homemade, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F to prepare it for baking the queso fundido.
- Cook Sausage: In a large, oven-safe skillet, crumble and brown the chorizo and breakfast sausage over medium heat. Season with kosher salt and black pepper, stirring well. Once browned, transfer the sausage to a bowl, reserving only 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat in the skillet and discarding the rest.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the diced onion and jalapeño pepper to the skillet with the reserved fat and cook until soft. Add the minced garlic, reduce heat to low, and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove skillet from heat and deglaze it with tequila if using, stirring well. Combine this onion mixture with the cooked sausage and set aside.
- Prepare Cheese Layers: Lightly brush the skillet with canola oil. Spread one-third of the grated cheese evenly on the bottom of the skillet. Top this layer with half of the sausage mixture.
- Add More Layers: Add another one-third of the cheese over the sausage, followed by the remaining sausage mixture. Finish by sprinkling the last third of cheese on top.
- Bake: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake until the cheese is bubbly and gooey, approximately 10 minutes initially, then check every 2 minutes to avoid overcooking. The cheese should not become firm but remain melted and stretchy.
- Garnish: Remove the skillet from the oven and immediately top the queso fundido with the diced tomatoes, chopped cilantro, and a generous sprinkling of crumbled Queso Fresco cheese. Optionally, provide a small bowl of chili seasoning for those who want extra spice.
- Serve: Serve the queso fundido hot and fresh from the oven accompanied by tortilla chips for dipping.
Notes
- Using an oven-safe skillet is essential for browning the sausage and baking the cheese without transferring between dishes.
- Tequila adds a subtle flavor to the dish but can be omitted if preferred.
- Be careful not to over-bake the cheese; it should be bubbly and gooey, not dry or firm.
- Mix different types of melting cheeses like Oaxaca, Monterey Jack, and Mozzarella for best texture and flavor.
- Serve immediately as queso fundido is best enjoyed hot and melty.
