10 Things to Do with Queso Besides Make Dip

Dip's great, but you'll be so glad you know these other amazing ways to use Mexican cheese, courtesy of chef Aarón Sánchez.

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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Allocca/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock (5627397a) Aaron Sanchez Food Network Celebrates 20 Years at the 6th Annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, New York, America - 17 Oct 2013
Dave Allocca/Starpix/REX/Shutterstock

Whether it’s crumbled, wedged or melted, cheese appears in almost every type of cuisine. And, of course, Mexican food is no exception. Take your pick from queso blanco, cotija, queso fresco and so much more.

“There’s something user-friendly about cheese,” says Aarón Sánchez, award-winning Latin chef, restaurateur, TV personality and lifetime cheese lover. Sure, you can melt a soft cheese to become an amazing dip, but there’s so much more these cheeses can do!

Chef Aarón teamed up with Cacique and Taste of Home to show you how to get creative with that package of Mexican cheese in your fridge.

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Use It Like Salt

“I love to use Mexican cheese as a seasoning,” says the chef, “just like you would salt.” It’s what makes this street corn taste so irresistible.
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Amp up Tacos

A rich, meaty dish—like these short rib tacos—only gets better when it’s complemented with a creamy cheese like queso fresco, or a bolder one like cotija.

Find Chef Aarón’s own short ribs recipe here.

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Shred It over Sopes

In this sopes recipe, swap the cheddar for a Mexican blend—and make sure to use plenty of creamy, luscious crema, too, says the chef.
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Toss It on a Griddle

Try mixing cheese in with the fritter batter here for a caramelized, melty treat.
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Make Mac 'n' Cheese

Here’s a childhood favorite all grown up. Add chorizo for even more Mexican flare.

Find out what Chef cooks for his own son. The chef says, “He loves cheese so much, I call him my little raton,” which means mouse!

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Melt It into Enchiladas

Mexican cheeses are beautiful to melt, says the chef. Add them to the enchilada filling and layer some on top, too. (Enchilado cheese would be a shoo-in for this!)
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Stir It into Chili

Cheddar’s a classic chili topper (especially if you’re from Cincinnati). Mix it up a little with a Mexican cheese instead.
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Sprinkle It on Heirloom Tomatoes

It’s hard to improve on a fresh-picked tomato, sliced and sprinkled with a little salt—until you try it with queso fresco. Not only does the cheese add saltiness, you get some creaminess, too.
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cacique cheese platter of Mexican cheeses and snacks
Courtesy Cacique

Spotlight It on a Cheese Board

Pile a platter with soft cheeses like Oaxaca and firmer choices, such as Manchego. Then mix in bite-sized pieces of citrus, nuts, cherry tomatoes and big hunks of bread for a gorgeous snack tray. Follow our pro tips for an amazing cheese board, anytime.

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Toss It with a Salad

Make your favorite chopped salad recipe, then sprinkle it with a crumbly cheese like queso fresco.

Up Next: 24 Dips for Chips We Can’t Stop Snacking On

Ellie Martin Cliffe
Ellie has spent almost 20 years writing and editing food and lifestyle content for several well-known publishers. As Taste of Home's content director, she leads the team of editors sharing tasty recipes, cooking tips and entertaining ideas. Since joining Taste of Home 13 years ago, she has held roles in digital and print, editing cookbooks, curating special interest publications, running magazines, starring in cooking and cleaning videos, working with the Community Cooks and even handing out cookies and cocoa at local holiday events. Gluten- and dairy-free since 2017, she’s a staff go-to on allergy-friendly foods that actually taste good. If she's not in her plant-filled office, find Ellie in her family’s urban veggie garden, in the kitchen trying new GF/DF recipes or at a local hockey rink, cheering on her spouse or third grader.