Smoked queso is the beloved grilling TikTok trend of summer 2021
It's the summer of foil pan hacks on TikTok and this smoked queso hits on all the easy-to-try and easier-to-eat success of other food trends that have soared in popularity on social media.
A new riff on the popular Tex-Mex favorite, queso fundido, takes the gooey, molten cheese dish with a hint of spice and layers flavor to a new level of convenience for grilling season.
What started on TikTok earlier this summer has spiked to new heights, with over 42 million people using the hashtag #smokedqueso.
"It’s pretty hard to mess up smoked queso," Richard Hagen told "Good Morning America" about the trendy twist on the recipe. "All goes in one pan and on until it’s nice and melty. There are so many variations and you can really make it your own."
How to make it at home
1. Use a disposable aluminum foil pan.
2. Layer ingredients into sections: cheese, people have used everything from cheddar, pepper jack, and Mexican blend with Velveeta and cream cheese; ground beef, chorizo or even ground turkey with taco seasoning; jalapeños, diced onions, and Rotel diced tomatoes with peppers.
3. (Optional) add milk or cream just in case the consistency becomes too thick or dry.4. Place the foil pan directly on a smoker at 225 degrees for two hours or hot grill with the lid down. Cook time varies depending on the grill or smoke temperature.
5. Once completely melted, stir and check the seasoning.
6. Remove from grill and serve with tortilla chips or veggies and enjoy.
