Pepper Jack Queso

Queso is not really optional in our house: It's an essential part of every get-together. I can't watch movies or sports without it! It's gooey, it's molten, it's glorious. And the best thing about the party dip is that it's endlessly customizable. Pick your favorite cheeses, mix-ins, and toppings, grab a few bags of chips, and get the party started.

However, I cannot be trusted near a bowl of this particular pepper jack queso. Of all different types of cheese, pepper gives it just enough spice to make it a seriously addictive game day food. And it has green chiles. I love green chiles. Sometimes, I like to gussy it up with fresh jalapeño, corn, and canned black beans. And other times, when I'm feeling really naughty, bacon bits, diced onion, pico de gallo, cilantro, black olives... or anything else I can dream up. Holy queso!

Is pepper jack a good melting cheese?

Pepper jack is a semi-soft cheese that melts easily and adds sharpness and heat to the dip. But to get the gooey, melty texture of queso, it needs to be paired with something even meltier. A lot of queso recipes use American cheese, which you can definitely use for this one, too. But I went for queso blanco for this pepper jack queso. It does the trick, alongside some half-and-half to loosen up the consistency and make the dip creamy and smooth. 

What's the best way to reheat leftover queso?

Zap it the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring frequently, until smooth, warm it in a skillet over medium-low heat, or slowly heat it up in a slow cooker set to low.

What other ways can you make queso?

There are so many different ways to make queso. You can swap the queso blanco for equal amounts of American cheese or Velveeta. You can also use equal amounts of sharp cheddar, gouda (smoked or regular), or colby jack instead of the pepper jack. Add in cooked, crumbled chorizo or ground beef, shredded rotisserie chicken, sautéed poblano peppers or mushrooms. And top with what I mentioned above or anything else your heart desires!