Jul 14 2026
RestaurantsThe CaminoQueso Fundido Recipe

Queso Fundido Recipe

Inspired by The Camino
Time50m
Serves4

queso oaxaca, queso quesadilla, chorizo, rajas, salsa de arbol

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Cheese

Garnish & Serving

Method

Salsa de Árbol

  1. 1

    Toast and rehydrate chiles

    Heat a dry skillet over medium heat. Toast the árbol chiles 20–30 seconds per side until fragrant and slightly darkened but not burned. Transfer to a bowl and cover with 0.5 cups hot water; let sit 10 minutes to soften.

  2. 2

    Blend sauce

    Drain chiles reserving the soaking liquid. In a blender, combine toasted chiles, garlic cloves, half of the white onion, 0.25–0.5 cups of the reserved soaking liquid (adjust for desired thickness) and 0.25 cup cold water. Blend until very smooth, about 30–45 seconds.

  3. 3

    Finish salsa

    Heat 1 tsp vegetable oil in a small skillet over medium. Carefully pour blended sauce into the skillet and cook 2–3 minutes, stirring, to remove raw edge. Season with 0.5 tsp salt. Set aside and keep warm.

Poblano Rajas & Onions

  1. 4

    Roast poblanos (if not pre-roasted)

    Char poblano peppers over an open flame, under a broiler, or on a hot skillet, turning to blister all sides (about 8–10 minutes). Place in a bowl and cover tightly for 10 minutes to steam; then peel, remove seeds and membrane, and slice into 1/2-inch strips. (If using pre-roasted peppers, slice directly.)

  2. 5

    Sauté onions and rajas

    Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced yellow onion and cook 3–4 minutes until beginning to soften. Add the sliced rajas and continue to cook 3–4 minutes until onions are translucent and peppers are heated through. Season with 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Remove from pan and keep warm.

Chorizo

  1. 6

    Cook chorizo

    In the same skillet, add 1 tsp neutral oil if pan is dry and set heat to medium. Add the chorizo (casings removed) and break up with a spatula. Cook 6–8 minutes until fully cooked, browned, and most fat rendered. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess fat.

Cheese & Assembly

  1. 7

    Toss cheese with cornstarch

    In a bowl, combine shredded queso Oaxaca and shredded queso quesadilla. Sprinkle 1 tsp cornstarch over the cheese and toss to evenly coat; this helps prevent oil separation as it melts.

  2. 8

    Assemble in cast-iron or oven-safe skillet

    Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). In a 10–12 inch cast-iron skillet or oven-safe dish, spread half of the shredded cheese in an even layer. Scatter the cooked chorizo evenly over the cheese, then add the sautéed rajas and onions. Top with the remaining cheese, pressing lightly to compact.

  3. 9

    Bake until bubbly

    Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake 8–10 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling and the top is lightly golden. If you prefer a browned top, finish under the broiler 1 minute watching carefully to avoid burning.

  4. 10

    Finish and serve

    Remove skillet from oven. Spoon 2–3 tbsp of the warm salsa de árbol over the top (or serve salsa on the side for guests to add). Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve immediately with warm tortillas and lime wedges.

More from The Camino