.jpg) A bowl of chile con queso served with tortilla chips as an appetizer in a Tex-Mex restaurant | |
| Type | Dip |
|---|---|
| Course | Appetizer orside dish |
| Place of origin | Mexico/USA |
| Region or state | Chihuahua |
| Main ingredients | Cheese (oftenVelveeta or otherprocessed cheese,Monterey Jack orcream cheese),cream,chili peppers |
| Ingredients generally used | Onion, paprika |
| Variations | con carne (add ground chorizo sausage ex.) |
Chile con queso (lit. 'chili withcheese'), sometimes simply calledqueso, is anappetizer orside dish ofmelted processed cheese andchili peppers, typically served in AmericanTex-Mex restaurants as adip fortortilla chips. It can also be added to other dishes such as tacos.
Chile con queso (also spelled chili con queso) is a part of the 20th centuryTex-Mex andSouthwestern cuisine. Chile con queso is probably[1] a derivative ofqueso flameado[2] from the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua.[3]
Chile con queso is predominantly found on the menus of Tex-Mex restaurants in the southwest and western United States.[4]
Chile con queso is a smooth, creamy sauce, used for dipping, that is made from a blend of melted cheeses (oftenAmerican cheese,Velveeta or anotherprocessed cheese,Monterey Jack orcream cheese), cream, andchili peppers.[5][6] Many restaurants serve chile con queso with such added ingredients aspico de gallo,black beans,guacamole, and ground beef or pork.
Chile con queso is a warm dish, heated to a desired temperature. Chile con queso can be eaten with tortillas,tortilla chips, or pita chips which are thicker than regular tortilla chips.[7][8] It can also be used as a condiment onfajitas,tacos,enchiladas,migas,quesadillas or any other Tex-Mex dish.
While Tex-Mex restaurants often offer chips and salsa free of charge, queso is usually offered for an additional charge. It can be made with various cheeses. Usually it is white or yellow in color.
