What Is Queso and What Kind of Cheese Goes in It? | Sporked (2024)

I love cheese—it’s right there in my writer’s bio if you don’t believe me. Cheese of basically any variety is a delicious and satisfying snack. What could be better? Well, what if we added heat to the cheese and scooped it up with salty tortilla chips. Sounds like heaven, no? Fortunately, other people have had this brainwave too and created queso. But what is queso? What’s it made of? Why am I not eating it right now? Let’s take a look.

What is queso?

Literally Spanish for “cheese,” as in, a quesadilla—queso typically refers to a hot cheese dip that is frequently eaten with tortilla chips. Mexican and Tex Mex restaurants often feature it on their appetizer menu, having figured out that many people enjoy eating straight cheese before, during, and after a meal.

What is in queso?

If you’re wondering what is queso made of, you needn’t look much further than the name. It’s mostly cheese. Beyond that, there is usually tomato, onion, and jalapeños or chiles for some added heat. Add in evaporated milk and cornstarch for thickening, and viola! You’ve got queso. Pretty simple for how delicious it is.

What kind of cheese is queso?

There’s actually not one type of cheese that is always used in queso. A classic Texas recipe would use Velveeta, but if that’s not your jam, there are many other cheeses you can use. 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.

What Is Queso and What Kind of Cheese Goes in It? | Sporked (1)

Best Store Bought Queso

What’s the best store bought queso? We tasted a bunch of the top brands on the market to find the best premade queso for your dipping pleasure.

What is queso fundido?

Queso fundido is just like queso—a bowl of melted cheese—with one crucial addition: crumbled chorizo. Chorizo, if you’re unaware, is a spiced sausage. When you put these ingredients together, you’ve got queso fundido, a more toothsome and meaty version of classic queso.

Is queso gluten free?

Queso can be made gluten free, for sure, and there’s nothing inherently gluten-y about cheese, onions, or peppers. Some queso recipes, however, do use flour as a thickener, which is certainly not gluten free. As ever, be sure to double check if you’re trying to avoid gluten.

Is queso keto?

In general, cheese is a good option for those on a keto diet because it’s high in protein and fat and low in carbs. The same goes for queso, although not every queso recipe is guaranteed to be keto-friendly; some types of queso use flour or cornstarch to thicken them, and those would not be considered keto-friendly ingredients.

Is queso spicy?

As with salsa, there’s a range of spice-levels available for queso. It’s possible to buy or make very mild queso that doesn’t have any more heat than a block of cheese. It’s also possible to get super spicy queso that can melt your taste buds off. Be sure to check the ingredients and read the label beforehand to get a sense of how spicy your dip is about to be.

What Is Queso and What Kind of Cheese Goes in It? | Sporked (2024)

FAQs

What Is Queso and What Kind of Cheese Goes in It? | Sporked? ›

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.

What type of cheese is queso made of? ›

Some common types of cheese used in making queso include: Cheddar: Cheddar cheese is a popular choice due to its sharp and tangy flavor. It melts well and contributes a rich taste to the queso. Monterey Jack: This cheese is known for its mild flavor and excellent melting properties.

What is the difference between queso and regular cheese? ›

Queso fresco has a different way of creating it, and that's what sets it apart from other well-known cheese. Queso fresco has a bolder, tangier flavor than mozzarella cheese but is smoother and saltier than that of goat cheese. It is used in several classic Mexican dishes such as tacos and bean dishes.

What do Mexicans call queso? ›

Queso is the Spanish word for cheese but (in the US) it is often used to refer to a cheese-based dip or sauce for tortilla chips.

What does "queso" mean? ›

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. So, what is queso made of? Undeniably Dairy.

What is a substitute for queso cheese? ›

Queso Blanco vs.

Other soft, fresh Mexican cheeses labeled "queso de frier" or "queso de parilla" (cheese for frying or grilling, respectively) can be used as a substitute if you can't find queso blanco or queso fresco. Other frying cheeses, such as paneer and halloumi, may also be used for this purpose.

Is queso just cheese and salsa? ›

If you're wondering what is queso made of, you needn't look much further than the name. It's mostly cheese. Beyond that, there is usually tomato, onion, and jalapeños or chiles for some added heat. Add in evaporated milk and cornstarch for thickening, and viola!

What kind of cheese do Mexican restaurants use to melt? ›

Queso Oaxaca: One of the best types of cheese for melting on top or inside of Mexican dishes is Queso Oaxaca.

What cheese is used at Mexican restaurants? ›

Monterey Jack

It's a semi-hard cheese with a mellow yellow color and buttery taste that compliments tangy spices, like jalapenos, chilis, hot sauces, and other flavors commonly paired with Mexican cuisines.

Is real Mexican queso white or yellow? ›

In fact, most of the cheese in Mexico is white and includes such staples as queso fresco and queso cotija, among others. If the cheese in the taco is yellow, it's safe to assume that it's a Tex-Mex taco.

Is Mexican queso made from goat cheese? ›

Queso Manchego

Mexican manchego cheese shares a name with a famous Spanish cheese that is made with goat's milk. The Mexican version, however, is most often made with cow's milk.

What cheese is chipotle queso made from? ›

What kind of cheese does Chipotle use for queso? There are two different cheeses that they use: white cheddar and Monterey Jack.

What kind of cheese is Mexican cheese? ›

Most of the most popular varieties are fresh cheeses, such as queso fresco, panela, and asadero. The two most popular aged cheeses are Cotija and Chihuahua. Four cheeses produced in Mexico are entirely Mexican inventions: Oaxaca, Cotija, Chihuahua and manchego.

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