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Grab your skillet and your appetite, because these Queso Fundido Skillet Nachos (pan-made nachos) feature all your favorite toppings: melty cheese, spicy chorizo, avocado, jalapeño, tomato, and more! They put the “fun” in “fundido.”

A closeup showing the green avocado, jalapeño, tomato and meat

These Skillet Queso Fundido Nachos have been a favorite here since 2017. When classic queso fundido meets ultimate nachos – where Tex-Mex meet Mexican food.

Table of contents

Queso Fundido Nachos Ingredients

  • Mexican Chorizo
  • Sauteed onions
  • Monterey Jack cheese 
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Roasted diced green chiles (or chopped poblano peppers)
  • Pickled jalapeño slices
  • Black beans
  • Fresh tomatoes
  • Cilantro
  • Avocado

How to Make Skillet Nachos

I use my favorite flat cast iron skillet. You can also use a large skillet/frying pan, sheet pan/baking pan/tray, or any large glass or ceramic baking dish. It just needs to be large and ovenproof. It’s important to have layers when making nachos rather than a big pile of chips with toppings on top. This way, the cheese melts over each and every chip.

We all know the best part of watching football on game day or the big game is the food. You can also make this easy, popular appetizer for a cozy movie night. This delicious appetizer gives you all the reasons you need to break out the crispy tortilla chips and pile on your favorite toppings. 

Whether you’re hosting a crowd or treating yourself to a snack, this dish brings bold flavors, gooey cheese, and a satisfying crunch to the table.

What is Queso Fundido?

Queso Fundido is a warm, melted cheese dish commonly found in Mexican cuisine. The name translates to “melted cheese,” and that’s exactly what it is—a decadent, gooey cheese dip typically made with a blend of cheeses like Oaxaca cheese, Chihuahua, or Monterey Jack, topped with Mexican chorizo. A similar dish called Queso Flameado is often served flambéed (with a flame).

Holding a nacho with cheese, meat, tomato, avocado and avocado

Queso for Nachos

As an alternative to melted cheese, Queso Blanco would be perfect.

Can you really have enough melted cheese on nachos? I don’t think so, and this recipe delivers plenty of it. Instead of scooping melted cheese and toppings separately, the toppings come loaded right on the chips.

Best Cheese for Nachos

Any good melting cheese works well. For this dish, I like Monterey Jack and cheddar (both white cheeses). If you want to make it spicier, pepper jack is a tasty option.

Queso fundido skillet nachos viewed from overhead

What is chorizo?

Chorizo is a type of highly seasoned pork sausage that originates from Spain and Mexico, but its popularity has spread globally due to its bold, rich flavor. It comes in two main varieties:

Spanish Chorizo

  • Description: A cured and smoked sausage, typically made with pork and seasoned with smoked paprika (pimentón) and garlic.
  • Texture: Firm and sliceable, like salami.
  • Uses: Often eaten sliced as part of a charcuterie board, added to stews, or paired with cheese and bread.

Mexican Chorizo

  • Description: A fresh, raw sausage made from ground pork (sometimes beef or other meats) and spiced with a mix of chili powders, vinegar, and garlic.
  • Texture: Soft and crumbly when cooked.
  • Uses: Cooked and used as a flavorful topping or filling for tacos, nachos, eggs, or quesadillas.

Key Differences

  • Cured vs. Fresh: Spanish chorizo is ready to eat, while Mexican chorizo must be cooked before eating.
  • Flavor Profiles: Spanish chorizo has a smoky, slightly sweet flavor, while Mexican chorizo is spicier and tangier due to the use of fresh chili and vinegar.

Chorizo is a type of highly seasoned pork sausage that originates from Spain and Mexico, but its popularity has spread globally due to its bold, rich flavor. It comes in two main varieties:

Nachos topped with tomato, jalapeño, avocado and cilantro with bottles of beer in background

Mexican Chorizo on Nachos

This type of chorizo sausage must be cooked before adding to the nachos. Crumble it and simply cook in a pan over medium heat until browned.

Optional toppings for nachos

Chopped green onions, roasted bell peppers, pico de gallo, sour cream.

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Yield: 8

Queso Fundido Skillet Nachos

A round pan holding a pile of queso fundido nachos

Cheesy nachos topped with chorizo, chiles, jalapeños, black beans, tomato, cilantro and avocado

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (453 grams) Mexican chorizo, casings removed
  • ½ cup (64 grams) yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 22 ounces (614 grams) tortilla chips
  • 6 ounces (170 grams) Monterey jack cheese, grated, this is just a guideline, use more or less depending how cheesy you like them
  • 6 ounces (170 grams) cheddar cheese, grated, this is just a guideline, use more or less depending how cheesy you like them
  • 1 cup (180 grams) can diced green chiles
  • 1 cup (130 grams) pickled jalapeño slices
  • 1 ½ cups (425 grams) black beans, drained
  • 1 medium tomato, seeds removed and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced

Instructions

  1. To a non-stick skillet or baking sheet/tray, add the chorizo and onion over medium heat and break up the chorizo while browning. Once browned and cooked, transfer to a bowl and set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F/195°C.
  3. To a large cast iron skillet, add a single layer of tortilla chips. Top with ¼ of the chorizo, both cheeses, green chiles, pickled jalapeños, beans, chopped tomato and cilantro. Repeat this layer.
  4. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with diced avocado.

Notes

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 495Total Fat 19gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 47mgSodium 441mgCarbohydrates 117gFiber 42gSugar 6gProtein 55g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

© Culinary Ginger
Cuisine: Mexican / Category: Appetizers