queso

noun

que·​so ˈkā-(ˌ)sō 

: a dipping sauce of melted cheese and chopped chili peppers : chili con queso

The author was never told in her Texas elementary school that if she ordered queso … or chalupas once she left home, she'd get only a plateful of disappointment.

—Pete Wells

The Mexican-inspired chain is offering free chips with guacamole or queso to customers who purchase their first order on its new smartphone app.

—Aric Jenkins

Examples of queso in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scattered over the top were generous pebbles of queso panela, mild, milky and squeaky like halloumi. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Ditch the tortilla chips and use mini peppers as a boat for queso at your barbecue. — Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 July 2026

Like the grocer's original mild white queso, this spicy version begins with the same tasty white cheddar base. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 22 June 2026

The filling has that cheesy-ground-beef thing going on (not unlike a good queso dip) but the Worcestershire and Italian seasoning give it a distinctly midcentury American flavor that feels right at home on a cocktail rye. — Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish, "cheese," going back to Latin cāseus — more at cheese entry 1

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing queso

• chile con queso
• chili con queso
• queso fresco

Rhymes for queso

• gesso
• espresso