What Is Cotija cheese and How Can I Use It?

Here's everything worth knowing about cotija cheese and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 8 recipes to cook tonight.

Where found

Cotija cheese is usually found in the cheeses section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

In Chinese:	cotija奶酪
British (UK) term:
en français:	fromage Cotija
en español:	queso cotija

Recipes using cotija cheese

There are 8 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Elote (Mexican Corn on the Cob)

Elote is a popular street food in Mexico although it is frequently served at home prepared in the same way (boiled, steamed or grilled in the husk).

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Chipotle Sauce & Menonita Cheese

Grilled beef tenderloin topped with melted Menonita cheese, Cotija, and a smoky chipotle sauce made from fire-blistered Roma tomatoes. A Mexican-inspired steak with serious heat.

Enchiladas Nortenas with Grilled Chicken & Queso Quesadilla

Enchiladas Nortenas with Grilled Chicken and Queso Quesadilla recipe

Chorizo & Cheese Bread

Spicy chorizo, smoky chipotles, and melted Cotija and Manchego cheeses broiled on crusty French bread. This open-faced Mexican bread makes game day or weeknight snacking seriously addictive.

Cream of Avocado-Lime Soup

Creamy Mexican avocado-lime soup with cilantro, cumin, crema Mexicana, and chicken broth, puréed smooth and topped with Cotija cheese and fresh avocado cubes.

Mexican Grilled Corn

Mexican grilled corn (elote) slathers charred ears in a lightened mayo-yogurt chili sauce, then dusts them with salty cotija and a squeeze of lime. A healthier take on the street-food classic.

Cheese & Poblano Quesadillas

Authentic Mexican quesadillas with three cheeses, roasted poblano strips, and chipotle salsa. Manchego, panela, and cotija melt together in buttery, griddle-crisped tortillas.