Chorizo Queso Dip Fries (Printable)

Crispy oven fries topped with smoky chorizo and melted cheddar-Monterey Jack, finished with cilantro and jalapeño.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fries

01 - 1.75 lb frozen or fresh French fries
02 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
03 - Salt, to taste

→ Chorizo Queso Dip

04 - 7 oz chorizo sausage, casing removed and crumbled
05 - 1 tbsp unsalted butter
06 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
07 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
08 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
09 - 1 cup whole milk
10 - 5 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
11 - 3.5 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
12 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/4 tsp ground cumin
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnish

15 - 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - 1 fresh jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Spread fries on a baking sheet, toss with vegetable oil and salt, and bake according to package directions or until golden brown and crisp, about 20–25 minutes.
02 - While the fries bake, cook the crumbled chorizo in a large skillet over medium heat until deeply browned and cooked through, 5–7 minutes. Transfer to a plate using a slotted spoon, leaving about 1 tbsp of rendered fat in the pan.
03 - Melt butter in the same skillet. Add diced onion and minced jalapeño, sautéing until softened and translucent, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle in flour and stir continuously for 1 minute to form a light roux.
04 - Gradually pour in whole milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring to a gentle simmer and continue stirring until the mixture thickens slightly, 3–5 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Add shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, stirring steadily until fully melted and velvety smooth. Stir in smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper. Fold in the cooked chorizo, reserving a small amount for topping if desired.
06 - Arrange crispy fries on a serving platter. Ladle the hot chorizo queso generously over the fries. Scatter chopped cilantro, sliced jalapeño, and reserved chorizo on top. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy spiced queso soaks into just crispy enough fries and creates a texture that is honestly dangerous to have around.
  • It looks like you spent all afternoon making something elaborate when really you just layered two simple things together.
02 -
  • If you pour the queso over fries that have cooled even slightly, the cheese seizes and thickens too fast, so timing is everything.
  • Adding cheese to a boiling hot pan causes it to separate and turn grainy, so always pull the pan off the heat before stirring it in.
03 -
  • Shred your own cheese from a block instead of using pre shredded bags because the anti caking powder on bagged cheese prevents it from melting smoothly.
  • Reserve a spoonful of chorizo and a pinch of extra cilantro for the very top because garnishing makes the whole platter look intentional instead of dumped.

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