Chile Con Queso Recipe | LaaLoosh (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between queso and chile con queso? ›

Chile con queso (Spanish for "chile with cheese"), sometimes simply called queso, is an appetizer or side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers, typically served in Tex-Mex restaurants as a dip for tortilla chips.

Evaporated milk works best in queso because it doesn't have that excess of water and it can help your dip reach a delicate balance between super thick and too thin. (As in you're not constantly having to alternate between adding more milk and then more cheese.)

Ingredients You'll Need

Ground Beef – You'll need ground beef for this recipe. You can use regular or extra lean. Chili Powder – Used to give the dip some classic Tex-Mex flavor. Onion – For this recipe, I used red onion, but any onion you have on hand will work.

You could probably keep the queso bowl seated over a warm crock pot.

Queso is a dip of shredded & melted cheddar cheese with chopped onion, garlic, jalapenos, tomatoes, cilantro & spices. Melted cheese is just, well, melted cheese with none of the above.

Queso fresco is a popular Mexican cheese that is often used, and many recipes will call for American cheese and/or pepper jack, though I've even heard tell of mozzarella making an appearance in queso recipes. As long as it melts, it's a contender.

Evaporated milk — make sure to buy evaporated milk and not sweetened condensed milk. The two cans look similar but are different. Evaporated milk help keeps the dip from separating and turning clumpy as it cools. Chile — I use canned green chiles, but you can also use jalapeno.

Though Velveeta is no longer an FDA-defined genuine cheese, it does have some similarities, namely pasteurized milk and cheese culture.

Queso is a Spanish word that translates to “cheese” in English. However, when people refer to “queso” in the context of food, they are usually talking about a type of melted cheese dip that is commonly enjoyed as a snack or appetizer, particularly in Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisines.

White melting cheese, such as white American cheese, Monterey Jack, or Asadero. Milk or heavy cream. Diced green chilies or jalapeños (optional) Onions, garlic, or other seasonings (optional)

What is queso in english? ›

Queso literally means “cheese” in Spanish, but that's not all you're getting when you order this creamy, gooey, sometimes spicy delight at a restaurant.

Make ahead.

You can make this queso dip ahead of time! It'll keep in the fridge for about a week. When you're ready to serve the queso, it's easy to reheat. You'll want to simply warm it slowly over low heat on the stove top, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn at all.

For liquids that need to stay hot, like soup, restaurants can use round warmers (also known as soup warmers). These warmers will keep soups and other liquids at safe temperatures for long periods. They can also be used to melt cheese, making them very versatile.

Sugar works to counteract the heat caused by capsaicin in peppers so adding a touch of honey or sugar can tone down a spicy dish. The downside is that the sweetness may alter the flavor of your dish so it is best to add a little at a time and taste test it to make sure you maintain a balance between savory and sweet.

And while chile con queso is usually only lightly garnished with pico de gallo or maybe taco meat, queso fundido often comes capped with mushrooms, chorizo, or grilled peppers. Notably, it's traditionally served with tortillas instead of tortilla chips.

Queso Oaxaca

It's soft and creamy, and melts well, which makes it perfect for dishes that require melted cheese like quesadillas and stuffed chilis. It is also used often as a garnish for tostadas, beans and soup.

Scanning the internet and the supermarket shelf, we realized that the cheese sauces are divided into two basic categories: Queso Dips, which include some amount of heat, spices, and other flavorings, and Cheese Dips, which are cheese and little else.

Queso is a Spanish word that translates to “cheese” in English. However, when people refer to “queso” in the context of food, they are usually talking about a type of melted cheese dip that is commonly enjoyed as a snack or appetizer, particularly in Tex-Mex and Mexican cuisines.