A blend of spicy jalapeños, onions, and garlic with melted cheese and savory Mexican chorizo makes this easy-to-make Choriqueso (queso fundido with chorizo) an appetizer everyone will love. Served hot and bubbling straight from the skillet, this classic Mexican cheese dip is perfect with crispy tortilla chips or warm tortillas.
Growing up, the aroma of slightly charred corn tortillas filled with gooey, melted cheese and zesty jalapeño salsa was a favorite evening snack. My mom's simple, yet satisfying, queso fundido was always a special treat.
As an adult, I discovered a more complex version if this beloved dish, choriqueso, a queso fundido with Mexican chorizo. It became my husband's and my favorite appetizer to order at restaurants, thanks to the bold, authentic flavors of melted Mexican cheese, spiced chorizo and fresh aromatics.
Now I love recreating this dish at home. It's quick to make, perfect for gatherings, and versatile enough to serve with carne asada, tacos dorados de frijoles, or simply with warm tortillas and tortilla chips for dipping.
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What is Chorizo Queso Fundido ?
Queso fundido translates to "melted cheese" or "molten cheese." It is a traditional Mexican appetizer served in a sizzling-hot skillet with gooey cheese and accompanied by warm tortillas or crispy tortilla chips.
The most popular version features Mexican chorizo, a spiced ground meat sausage, and is known as choriqueso.
Check out these other recipes featuring Mexican chorizo: Huevos con Chorizo, Frijoles Charros, and Papas con Chorizo.
Ingredients & Substitutions
You only need 5 simple ingredients to make this recipe. The two that matter most for flavor and texture are the chorizo and cheese. Using a high-quality Mexican chorizo makes a big difference. Look for one made with ground pork and real spices, rather than fillers and organ meats, which can fall apart as they cook. For the cheese, I like to use a blend of two Mexican cheeses for optimal flavor. Choose ones that melt smoothly such as asadero, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, or Mexican muenster. If you cannot find these, you can use Monterey Jack or mozzarella.
See recipe card for a list of all the ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cook the Chorizo: In a cast-iron skillet over medium heat, cook chorizo, using the back of a spoon to break it up into smaller pieces.
- Drain the Chorizo: Once cooked through, remove chorizo from the skillet and drain in a mesh sieve.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, sauté diced onions, garlic, and jalapeño.
- Combine: Add the chorizo back into the skillet and mix with the veggies.
- Separate: Remove half of the chorizo mixture and set aside.
- Add Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the mixture still in the skillet. Top with the reserved chorizo and bake until the cheese is completely melted and bubbling.
Hint: If you don't have an oven-safe pan or skillet, you can transfer the cooked chorizo onto a baking dish and proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Recommended for This Recipe
High-Quality Chorizo
A high-quality Mexican-style chorizo is key in any recipe that uses chorizo. Check the ingredients for actual pork and spices and not just filler and organ meats. This one from Whole Foods is great, I also recommend Boulder Sausage, V&V Supremo, and Mulay.
How to Serve
Serve hot and bubbling, straight from the skillet. Try it with:
- As a dip for: tortilla chips, corn or flour tortillas, crusty bread, or raw vegetables (like bell peppers, cucumbers or carrots)
- Top it with: pico de gallo, guacamole, serrano salsa, sour cream, or freshly chopped cilantro
- As a filling or topping for: tacos de papa, quesadillas, nachos, tostadas de frijoles
How to Store and Reheat
- Store: Keep in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat on stovetop: Warm in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted.
- Reheat in microwave: Heat in a covered microwave-safe dish at medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between.
Variations
- Customize the recipe by mixing in other ingredients to the chorizo like roasted poblano peppers, roasted green chiles, or diced tomatoes.
- Make It Vegetarian: Replace the chorizo with soyrizo, or another plant-based alternative.
I hope you enjoy! If you try this recipe, please leave me a comment with a star rating below. Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest to stay in touch, and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.
Recipe
Choriqueso (Chorizo Queso Fundido)
Equipment
- Cast-Iron Skillet or oven-safe pan
- mesh sieve
Ingredients
- 8 ounces chorizo
- ¼ white onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, diced
- 1 jalapeño, diced or 1 serrano
- 4 cups 2 different shredded Mexican cheeses such as asadero, Oaxaca, Chihuahua, or Mexican muenster
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Remove the chorizo from the plastic or casing and place it in an oven-safe frying pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Use the back of a spoon to break it up into smaller pieces and cook for about 7 minutes until cooked through.
- Remove chorizo from pan, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons of oil in the skillet. Drain the rest of the oil from the chorizo using a mesh sieve over a bowl. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, add diced onions, garlic and jalapeños.
- Sauté for about 6 minutes until soft and fragrant.
- Turn off heat and mix in chorizo with the sautéed veggies.
- Remove half of the chorizo mixture and set aside.
- Top the remaining chorizo in the skillet with shredded cheese.
- Sprinkle the rest of the chorizo over the cheese.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cheese is golden and completely melted.
Notes
- Substitute a serrano pepper for the jalapeño for extra spice, or add both for an even spicier result.
- I like to use a blend of two Mexican cheeses for optimal flavor. Use cheeses that melt well such as asadero, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, or Mexican muenster. If you cannot find these, you can use Monterey Jack or mozzarella.
Nutrition
Originally published February 27, 2024. Updated post September 2025.
Charlene
It was so cheesy and an amazing flavor with the sautéed onions, garlic and jalapeño!
Gemma
Yes, the sautéed veggies add so much flavor.