Make all your kimchi cheese dreams come true. Kimchi Queso Fundido is the Tex-Mex, Korean-fusion party food that’s perfect for any time of the day or night.
There’s just something about Kimchi. That spicy, crunchy, fermented bite of Kimchi goodness makes just about everything taste better!
When added to Queso Fundido Dip, it takes the easy Tex-Mex party dip to another level!
What is Queso Fundido?
Queso Fundido is a Tex-Mex dip that means melted cheese. A flavorful assortment of Mexican cheeses is melted in a skillet together with chorizo and chilies.
My version — with Kimchi — is not traditional. But for some reason, the parts all go together. The acidic crunch of the kimchi really cuts through the heavy fattiness of the cheese and sausage.
Kimchi Queso Fundido is a fun, party-sized dip that’s perfect for gatherings — game days, Oscar parties, movie nights, and anytime friends and family come together. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- Sausage. Flavorful, accessible, and easy to break into chunks while cooking. Adds great texture to the final dish. Make sure that the sausage browns and turns crispy on the edges for best texture.
- Kimchi. Chopped-up kimchi adds so much acidic, delicious vibrancy to this classic party dip!
- Onion + Red Bell Pepper. The essential aromatics are the flavor base of this dish.
- Cumin. Adds a smoky, deep flavor.
- Cheese. Mozzarella melts beautifully. Mix with Cheddar or Monterey Jack for extra flavor and that cheesy decadent pull. Pre-grated Tex-Mex blend (in a bag) also works well and is convenient.
- Gochujang. Korean fermented chili paste. A little bit adds deep flavor and spicy-sweet flavor.
- Toppings or Garnish. Add what you like best! Cilantro, green onion, minced jalapeno, avocado, and sour cream are all great options.
Instructions:
- Cook sausage, onion, bell pepper, gochujang, and cumin.
- Add cheeses. Gently mix with a fork.
- Transfer to oven. Bake until melted and gooey.
- Add kimchi. Chop kimchi into small pieces and add in the center, on top of the melted cheese.
- Garnish and serve. Add chopped green onion, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, and minced jalapeno.
Pro Tips:
- Serve in a cast iron skillet. The cast iron retains heat better than a casserole dish and keeps the Kimchi Queso Fundido warm for a long time.
- Reheat, if needed. The cheese will harden as it cools. To melt into pools of gooey cheese once more, simply reheat for 5 minutes at 350F.
- Buy a JUMBO bag of tortilla chips. You will run out faster than you think!
Serve with:
Make it a game day party and serve with:
- Korean Fried Chicken
- Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwiches
- Air Fryer Honey Soy Chicken Wings
- Korean Strawberry Milk with Sago
- M&M Party Popcorn
More recipes with Kimchi:
Kimchi Queso Fundido
Make all your kimchi cheese dreams come true. Kimchi Queso Fundido is the Tex-Mex, Korean fusion party food that's sure to make everyone happy!
Equipment
- 12 inch cast iron skillet
Ingredients
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 1 red bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 lb/250g sausage
- 1 Tbsp Gochujang
- 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (grated)
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese or monterey jack (grated)
- 1 cup kimchi (chopped into bite-sized pieces)
For serving:
- 1 bag Tortilla chips (jumbo or xl)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F/ 175C.
- Heat a 10 inch cast-iron skillet to medium heat. Add 1 Tbsp vegetable oil. When the pan is hot, add onion, red bell pepper, cumin, and salt. Saute until the vegetables are softened and slightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Remove sausage from the casings. Add to the skillet, along with the Gochujang. Break up meat chunks with a wooden spoon until cooked through and brown, about 5-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Add cheese. Gently mix with a fork until well combined.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 5-7 minutes. The goal is for the cheese to gently melt. Watch carefully so that the cheese does not overcook and harden too much.
- Remove from oven. Add kimchi to the middle in a small mound. Garnish with cilantro, green onion, avocado, red chili pepper (or jalapeno), and/or sour cream.Serve immediately with plenty of tortilla chips and lime wedges.
Notes
*The cheese will gradually harden as it cools. If it hardens too much, reheat in a 350F/175C oven for a few minutes until the cheese melts into runny puddles once again.
**If you don’t own a cast-iron skillet, cook in a regular pot/skillet up to step 3. Transfer to an oven-proof dish and mix in the cheese. Then bake for 5-10 minutes, as per usual.
Nutrition
Serving: 0gCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 0gFat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgPotassium: 0mgFiber: 0gSugar: 0gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 0mgIron: 0mg
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