You will also need: Corn Tortilla Chips, for dipping
Prep Work
If you’re starting with linked fresh chorizo, remove the casings and break it up into very small pieces.
Shred the cheddar jack cheese.
Measure out the rest of the ingredients and warm the milk a little later on.
Cook the chorizo
Add the chorizo to a medium-sized sauce pan or a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chorizo for about 7-8 minutes until browned, cooked through and all of the water has cooked out, while breaking up any large pieces with a wooden spoon or spatula.
Make the sauce
Lower the heat to medium-low.
Add the butter to the pan. When the butter is melted add in the flour while stirring. Cook the butter and flour mixture for 2 minutes, stirring almost constantly.
Slowly add the warm milk to the butter, flour, chorizo mixture, while stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula. Gently scrape any bits off the bottom of the pan. Continue stirring until the milk is completely incorporated.
Allow the sauce to come to a simmer. The sauce will not thicken until it starts to boil. It will happen. Don’t crank the heat; let it come to a simmer slowly (about 3-4 minutes). Stir occasionally.
Once the sauce starts thickening, cook it gently for 2 minutes, stirring almost constantly.
Add the salt and pepper to the sauce and stir well.
Finish the chorizo cheese dip
Take the pot off the heat and stir the sauce well so it cools just a touch.
Add the shredded cheddar jack cheese a little bit at a time while stirring. Once each batch is melted and incorporated, add another handful. Repeat until all of the cheese is melted.
Place the chorizo cheese dip back over low heat to warm through. Don’t overheat, give it just a few minutes and do not let it come to a simmer (much less a boil). Stir frequently.
Taste the chorizo cheese dip using the chips you’re planning on serving it with. Add salt if needed. As a reference, we did not need to add any extra salt to our dip.
Serve the chorizo cheese dip with corn tortilla chips, or your favorite dippers.
Notes
Do not leave milk or cream on the stove unattended. Milk can boil over very quickly and can catch fire. Stay right next to the stove and stay vigilant.