Name: Queso Fundido
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Yield: Makes 12 servings (appetizer)
Ingredients: 2 links dried Spanish chorizo, (3 1/2 ounces) skin removed and finely chopped (3/4 cup); 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped; 1 fresh jalapeño or Serrano chile, seeded, if desired, and finely chopped; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1 (14- to 15-ounce) can refried pinto beans; 3/4 cup water; 8 ounces Manchego or Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated (2 1/4 cups); Corn tortilla chips

Image may contain Food Pizza Bread and Plant

Queso FundidoChris Gentile

No offense to salsa, but come on, who doesn't love a gooey, cheesy bean dip, bubbling hot like lava from the broiler? If you're a chile head, you'll probably want to up the number of chiles and leave the seeds in. If your friends are more, ahem, delicate, then stick with one chile and remove the seeds and ribs.

Cooks' Note:

•The bean mixture, before the cheese is added, can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat it on top of the stove over medium-low heat, adding additional water if necessary, then stir in half the cheese and continue with the recipe.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

12 Snacks for a Fiesta
Save the bagged chips and jarred salsa for some other time. These party treats bring the heat.

Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille

This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Recipe notes

12 Snacks for a Fiesta