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Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido

4.77 from 13 votes

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Melted Mexican cheeses with lots of Hatch green chiles

This Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido is a fast and delicious appetizer or game day recipe packed with cheese and Hatch chile peppers!

A spoon in a dish of Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido on a towel surrounded by peppers and chips

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I love cheese and am also obsessed with Hatch chile pepper recipes. So once I discovered queso fundido, I know a Hatch queso fundido was in the cards.

This queso fundido receta (recipe) is easy and keto low carb, plus gluten free, which makes it great for a crowd and game day.

A spoon scooping out Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido from a dish

What is Queso Fundido?

I was introduced to this magical, melted cheese dish at a local taco restaurant in Denver. 

Queso fundido translates to “melted cheese” which is the foundation and most important part of this Mexican appetizer.

A hand dipping a chip into melted cheese with Hatch peppers

Traditionally, authentic queso fundido is stretchy, melted cheese with chorizo, often including peppers and/or onions.

Scoop this queso fundido up into a warm tortilla, or dig in with chips. Tortillas are my favorite! They are like a soft cheese taco. Just perfect.

A close up of Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido in a dish

What Cheese should be Used in Queso Fundido?

I love using a mixture of Monterey Jack cheese and Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-kuh) cheese for a queso fundido.

Oaxaca cheese is very similar to Monterey Jack. It is stretchy, creamy, and mild white cheese. Taste them side by side and you will notice a slight difference.

You can often find it with other Mexican options in the refrigerated section, typically near fresh Italian options like pasta, and near yogurt or other dairy products.

Hatch peppers topped with melted cheese in a dish on top of a towel

Pepper Options for Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido 

If you can find fresh roasted Hatch green chiles, those are the best to use. They have the best flavor and come in various heat levels based on your preference.

Next best would be frozen diced green chiles, and then canned diced green chiles.

Another option is to buy Anaheim peppers fresh and roast them yourself. The Anaheim pepper is actually a variety of Hatch peppers that were grown in California. The main difference is they are very, very mild. So to get heat, you will want to add hot sauce.

 

Pin image of Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido in a dish with a spoon and some missing with title at bottom

    

 

Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido

Melted Mexican cheeses with lots of Hatch green chiles
4.77 from 13 votes
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: 30 Min or Less, Fall/Thanksgiving, Football, Game Day, Gluten Free, Keto/Low Carb, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 176kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese shredded
  • 5 ounces Oaxaca cheese (or more Monterey Jack) (1/2 typical sized round of cheese)
  • 8 ounces diced green chiles (2 cans or 4 large fresh peppers)
  • 1 lime
  • salt
  • tomatoes for garnish, optional
  • cilantro for garnish, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Spread the diced Hatch green chiles across a small baking dish.
  • Mix the two cheeses together and sprinkle over the peppers.
  • Bake the fundido until the cheese is completely melted, just starting to bubble, but not browned.
  • Remove from oven and squeeze 1/4 lime and a sprinkle of salt over the queso.
  • Garnish with additional ingredients as desired, such as diced tomatoes or cilantro. Serve immediately with soft tortillas or chips.

Notes

You can often find Oaxaca cheese with other Mexican options in the refrigerated section, typically near fresh Italian options like pasta, and near yogurt or other dairy products.
If you do not have or cannot find Oaxaca, simply use more Monterey Jack. Other great cheese options are pepperjack (which is Monterey Jack with some peppers in it) or even mozzarella. Anything stretchy that melts well is perfect. 
Control the heat level by using your heat preference of Hatch chile peppers. A mild alternative are Anaheim peppers which are a variation of Hatch.
It is best to use pre-roasted peppers (such as the canned variety) or roast them yourself before making this recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 251IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 233mg | Iron: 1mg
By on October 16th, 2020

About Kim

Kim has grown up with a passion for cooking good food! You can find her in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, making dog treats, and eating Italian food!

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14 thoughts on “Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido”

  1. 5 stars
    This was delicious!! Had a Mexican feast surprise 40th party and when the bday girl saw it on the counter she was amazed it was exactly like she had just had the week before in Mexico!! I used canned chopped roasted chili’s drained really well and had to use all Monterey cheese but will find Oaxaca before making again. I’ll def be trying more of your great recipes. Thank you.

    Reply
    • That is so wonderful! I am so glad it was well received and it sounds like an amazing party! Thank you so much for stopping by and letting me know, it means a lot and am so excited to have you try more amazing recipes!

      Reply
  2. 5 stars
    Queso fundido and hatch green chili sounds like the perfect combination! Will make it at our next game day party! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    Anytime that I see queso fundido on the menu at a restaurant I have to order it, but I’ve never tried making it at home and your recipe made it a simple and delicious process.

    Reply
  4. 2 stars
    AWFUL! I made this recipe to the T and the consistency was so rubbery & gummy that we had to use a knife to cut it. I even tried to “cream” it up with some milk and it wouldn’t budge. Only reason I gave it a 2 STAR rating was because the taste was great. However, the consistency/texture was awful.

    Reply
  5. Queso fundido is a favorite in our house, great as an appetizer or as a snack with flour tortillas. This is my first time using hatch chiles with it. Good combo.

    Reply
  6. 5 stars
    I’m seriously obsessed with the Hatch Green Chile Queso Fundido recipe! It was a hit at our game night, and we served it with tortilla chips for the perfect cheesy indulgence. Big thanks for sharing this delicious recipe—it’s a real crowd-pleaser! ️

    Reply
  7. 5 stars
    Wow! This queso fundido looks amazingly delicious and very enticing too! A perfect dip for our nachos and other pastries. Loved it!

    Reply
  8. 5 stars
    I used to live in Colorado Springs and I miss the hatch green chiles most around this time of year. Also, I love queso. So it’s basically like you made this recipe with me in mind and I love you for it.

    Reply
4.77 from 13 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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