Chorizo Queso Dip Fries (Print View)
Crispy fries smothered in spicy chorizo and creamy queso, finished with onions, tomato, jalapeño and cilantro.
# What You Need:
→ French Fries
01 - 2 pounds frozen French fries (or homemade)
→ Chorizo Queso Dip
02 - 7 ounces chorizo sausage, casing removed and crumbled
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 small onion, finely diced
05 - 1 garlic clove, minced
06 - 1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped (optional)
07 - ¾ cup whole milk
08 - 5 ounces cream cheese
09 - 7 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
10 - 3.5 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
13 - Kosher salt, to taste
→ Garnishes
14 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
15 - 1 small tomato, diced
16 - 1 handful fresh cilantro, chopped
17 - 1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced into rounds
18 - Sour cream, for drizzling
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bake or deep-fry the French fries according to package directions or your preferred method until golden and crispy. Keep warm while preparing the dip.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the crumbled chorizo and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until deeply browned and cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the chorizo to a plate using a slotted spoon, leaving rendered fat in the pan.
03 - Add the diced onion, minced garlic, and chopped jalapeño to the skillet. Sauté in the residual chorizo fat until the onion is softened and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the cream cheese and whole milk to the skillet, stirring constantly until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth. Gradually incorporate the shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, stirring continuously until fully melted and velvety.
05 - Stir in the smoked paprika, black pepper, and salt to taste. Fold half of the reserved chorizo into the queso dip and simmer gently for 2 to 3 minutes to meld the flavors. Reserve the remaining chorizo for garnish.
06 - Arrange the hot crispy fries on a large serving platter. Ladle the warm chorizo queso dip generously over the fries. Scatter the reserved chorizo across the top and finish with sliced scallions, diced tomato, chopped cilantro, jalapeño rounds, and a drizzle of sour cream. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The queso sauce is so good people will seriously consider skipping the fries and just eating it with a spoon, and honestly let them.
- It turns frozen fries into something that tastes like you spent hours planning a party, even if the party is just you on the couch.
02 -
- Add the cheese slowly off the heat or at the lowest setting because overheating causes the proteins to seize and you will end up with a grainy, broken sauce instead of that silky dream you are after.
- Reserving half the chorizo for the top instead of dumping it all in the sauce creates layers of texture and makes every bite visually exciting.
03 -
- Shred your own cheese from a block rather than using pre shredded bags because the anti caking additives on bagged cheese will fight you every step of the way and leave the sauce gritty.
- Warm the milk slightly before adding it to the cream cheese so everything comes together faster and smoother without any stubborn lumps.