Mac and Queso Fundido Recipe (2024)

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LGL

There are many brands of packaged Mexican cheese blends in the supermarket, but they usually have additional ingredients to reduce mold/clumping. I prefer to make my own as needed: 1 part pepper jack, 2 parts colby jack, 2 parts cheddar. Shred cheeses and shake in bag until combined.

Tony

I didn't have any chorizo, but had bacon, so chopped up 2 slices and rendered it first, removed most of the fat, then added a little butter and sautéd the mushrooms. I followed the rest of the steps as described. My husband had 3 helpings. It was delicious, but don't skip your cholesterol medication after this dish.

Margaret

Delicious. I’d suggest a pound of mushrooms, and if no chorizo around use either bacon, pancetta or even a little pepperoni. Sauté it as suggested and sprinkle with some chile pepper flakes. Sauce can easily handle 4 more ounces of pasta.

Fareed I.

Easy Mac and Cheese, 1lb Cavatappi, 5 C milk/heavy cream (Whatever I had left), 2 Tsp onion powder, 1 Tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 C diced fresh mozzarella, 2 C grated Mexican Cotija cheese, 1 C shredded Parmesan, 1 Tsp Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, 1/4 Tsp Cayenne, 1/2 Tbl Red Pepper Flakes, approximately 8 oz of sliced sautéed mushrooms, 3 Tbl salted Kerrygold butter: Bring milks to a simmer, add pasta and cook until softened, add seasonings, cheeses, butter and stir until combined. Add mushroom/chive

Smita

Delicious! I added an extra 4 oz of pasta. For the sauce, I added a pinch more paprika and onion powder to give it more varied flavor. I’d recommend another 5 oz of mushrooms if you decide to increase the serving of pasta.

Julia W.

Doubled the recipe. Half and half in place of cream and milk works fine. Used 4 garlic cloves and 1 small shallot. Instead of onion powder, I used 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 tsp aleppo pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne. Added pickled jalapeño slices on top to serve.

SS

Made this for my book club and it was devoured and I almost didn't get any! Due to comments about it being way too saucy I ended up doubling the mushrooms, TJ soyrizo, and pasta, and keeping the sauce as written. I actually bought all my ingredients at TJs and used the brown rice rotini! *chefs kiss*

Tamara

This is the most peculiar recipe. I did 12oz of pasta per other comments and am so glad I did. But WOW the goopy comments weren’t exaggerating. Wayyyy too much mozzarella for a “sauce.” It honestly had more of a melted marshmallow consistency. Like slime? A very wet dough? Definitely not a “sauce.” My hand literally cramped trying to fold the cheese and pasta together, hahaha. Tasty but cumbersome to stir, serve, and eat.

tammy

Love the creaminess. Needed much more spice for our tastes. Next time would use a combo of mozzarella (for that creaminess), pepper jack, and cheddar. Definitely more mushrooms. And add both hot and smoked paprika. But overall - a winner.

JRH

This was delicious! The cheese sauce turned out super thick at first, so I ended up slowly stirring in about a cup of extra milk at the end to thin it enough to be saucy, and it was still quite thick! Next time I might try 2 Tbsp flour instead of 3. In the end, I also wished that I had more mushrooms in the final product, maybe 1.5-2x as much. Served with topped with green onions as suggested, as well as fried shallots I had on hand. This was undoubtedly the best mac I’ve made at home. Thanks!!

Sharon

8 oz of pasta definitely seems a little skimpy for the amount of luscious cheese sauce you get, so I measured by eye and came out with 4 portions. This was *delicious* and will make again. Also, I'd bet that it would come out fabulously as a baked casserole — maybe doubling the recipe with a buttery crumb and cheese topping. Would be a crowd pleaser.

s.martiny

Better left over the next day. Too goopy the first time around.

DB

Needed more seasoning, very rich, so much mozzarella instead of a nice creamy sauce it was too stringy and viscous for me. Way too heavy. Will not be making this again.

Mare

Delish! I baked the mac & queso so it had a crispy topping, then served with the mushrooms & soyrizo (I substituted) on top as recommended. Great comfort supper for a snowy night.

Ken Fricklas

Used Trader Joe's vegan chorizo.... works perfectly and you can't tell the difference.

pma

omg. Just made the mac from this recipe and served with leftover chili from a few days ago. So good! I didn't have the Mexican cheese blend either, I used cheddar and a little bit of smoked gouda. Worked very well.

AJ0224

This is one of the best mac-and-cheese recipes I've ever made. I did make a few minor tweaks. I used orecchiette instead of cavatappi because I love the way orecchiette "cradles" the cheese; more mushrooms than the recipe called for; pepperjack cheese instead of Mexican blend; and Chipotle chile powder to taste. I also had homemade double stock on hand. A definite keeper!

Eleonore Aarsen

This recipe works very well. Be aware that there is an awful lot of sauce for the amount of pasta. You could easily 3/4 the sauce amount.The indicated amount of smoked paprika is enough to create a good smoked flavor, in case you're wondering. I had portobello mushrooms on hand, not cremini, but they tasted perfectly combined with the chorizo.

spbjackson

Delicious! Dumped mushrooms & chorizo into pot

travis

Delicious. Next time I will use the pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce.

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Mac and Queso Fundido Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between queso and queso fundido? ›

Not to be confused with the Tex-Mex Queso which is basically a bowl of runny, hot cheese (kind of like a spicy mornay sauce). Queso Fundido has the added additions of spicy pork chorizo and roasted peppers folded in.

How to eat queso fundido with tortillas? ›

You can eat queso fundido by spooning it into a tortilla or using the tortilla as a dipper. Salsa gets spooned on top too. There's really no wrong way to consume it—queso fundido is perfect no matter what.

What is the history of queso fundido? ›

Its roots go back to the Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910, said Carlos Yescas, who studies and writes about Mexican cheese. The revolutionaries gathered in the central part of the country, near Mexico City, where they made easy meals like queso fundido.

What cheese is queso fundido made of? ›

This is usually your appetizer while you finish grilling the meat. Queso Fundido is usually made with Asadero, Mennonite, Manchego or Chihuahua cheeses.

What queso is best for melting? ›

QUESO ASADERO

It's creamy, smooth, and makes a great addition to quesadillas – it's even sometimes referred to as “queso quesadilla.” Some chefs enjoy it on pizza too because it melts so wonderfully.

Do you eat queso hot or cold? ›

You can serve it cold, which leaves it with a stiffer gelatinous consistency, or you can heat up the jar, which makes it soupy. Both ways are gross, but I prefer it cold. The only real rule of eating Tostitos Salsa con Queso is that it has to be straight from the jar.

How long does queso fundido last in the fridge? ›

Store leftover queso flameado in an airtight container, and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a crockpot on the low setting, stirring until it's fully warmed through. Stir in milk if it's too thick. You can also reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals.

What else can you eat queso with? ›

Make delicious queso meals every day of the week, with these tantalizing recipes to keep you full and your taste buds happy.
  • Pressure Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese.
  • Cheesy Cauliflower Rice.
  • Sheet Pan Breakfast Pizza.
  • Crunchy Breakfast Queso Wraps.
  • Chicken Queso Soup.
  • Rockin' Nachos.
  • Ultimate Nachos.
  • Queso Macaroni and Cheese.

What does queso mean in Mexico? ›

Queso is a Spanish word that translates to “cheese” in English.

What country invented queso? ›

Some claim that cheese dip was actually invented either at a Mexican restaurant in Hot Springs or in Texas, while others claim that cheese dip is native to Mexico. Mexicans have many cheese-based dishes in which cheese acts as a filling or topping for tortillas, such as Queso Chihuahua.

Do Mexicans use queso? ›

Spanish for “cheese,” queso is common in Mexican dishes. Queso Fresco (“fresh cheese”) is perfect for Mexican cooking because the milkiness that comes from being made from raw cow milk offsets the heat from spices.

Is there a difference between queso and cheese dip? ›

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.

What do Mexicans call queso dip? ›

Queso Fundido: A Mexican variation of queso dip that typically includes melted cheese mixed with cooked chorizo (spicy sausage), mushrooms, or other savory ingredients. It's often served in a skillet and meant to be scooped up with tortillas.

What does queso fundido mean in English? ›

Queso fundido is a delicious Mexican dish that translates to "melted cheese" in English. It's a very popular appetizer for any Mexican inspired meal or game day spread!

Is there a difference between queso and queso fresco? ›

Despite their similar names, flavors, and appearances, queso fresco and queso blanco are slightly different cheeses. To make queso fresco, producers use rennet and cultures to form the curds. Queso blanco requires just milk and an acidifying agent such as lemon juice or vinegar, making it an easy cheese to DIY at home.

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