17 Cotija Cheese Recipes to Try

Chilaquiles Scramble

"My landlady in Mexico used to make chilaquiles when she had stale tortillas," says recipe creator tomboy. "She used to make chilaquiles when she had stale tortillas. She always scrambled the eggs in, instead of the more typical fried egg on top."

Mexican Rice Soup (Sopa Aguada de Arroz)

This is a smooth, blended soup that's bursting with flavor from roasted tomatoes, onion, and garlic. A generous portion of Cotija cheese is added to this comforting soup, making it hearty enough for colder days.

Mexican Corn on the Cob (Elote)

Fresh ears of corn are grilled until sweet and tender, rolled in butter, and topped with mayo and crumbled Cotija cheese. Serve with lime wedges and a sprinkling of smoked paprika if you like.

• All About Corn: Picking, Storing, and Cooking Corn

Authentic Mexican Tostadas

Make these crunchy tostadas — filled with smashed beans, tender beef, spicy homemade salsa, pickled red onions, and crumbled Cotija cheese — for a magnificent feast.

Instant Pot Mexican-Style Meatballs and Quinoa

Tasty veal meatballs (made with Cotija cheese, red onion, breadcrumbs, and spices) are cooked with quinoa in a rich tomato sauce to make this satisfying stew in just under an hour.

• Best Mexican Recipes for the Instant Pot

Lighter Skillet Mexican Street Corn

Fresh corn is cooked in a skillet and combined with Cotija cheese, fat-free Greek yogurt, and chili powder for a lower calorie and speedier version of elotes. Serve corn topped with extra cheese, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for a crowd-pleasing summer dish.

Enchiladas Verdes

Lightly fried tortillas are filled with shredded chicken and a spicy tomatillo sauce, then rolled up and covered with more sauce, lettuce, cilantro, crema, and Cotija cheese. Recipe submitter gem learned how to make these authentic enchiladas verdes from "an amazing cook in Puebla, [Mexico]."

Calabacitas con Elote (Zucchini with Corn)

This extremely popular Mexican side dish is made with fresh sweetcorn kernels, zucchini, tomatoes, poblano chile, and crumbled Cotija cheese. It's so tasty, you may want to double the recipe to serve as a main dish with warm tortillas.

Mexican Pesto

Traditional pesto gets kicked up a notch with this Mexican-inspired version that's packed with serrano chile pepper, pumpkin seeds (pepitas), grated Cotija cheese, garlic, and cilantro. Cotija cheese is naturally salty, so you may need to adjust the amount of salt in this recipe.

Spicy Southwest Chopped Salad with Salsa Verde

Contrasting colors, textures and flavors make this spicy grilled chicken, corn, avocado, black bean, and Cotija cheese salad truly tasty. Top it with crushed tortilla chips for some crunch, if you like, and garnish with lime wedges to serve.

Giant Nachos

Flour tortillas are sliced into wedges and baked to make giant chips. Layer with chorizo, Cheddar, Cotija, guacamole, green onions, and jalapeno slices for the ultimate plate of nachos to share with friends.

• Nachos Recipes

Creamy Cilantro Salad Dressing

This creamy salad dressing is flavored with cilantro, toasted pumpkin seeds, Cotija cheese, garlic, and roasted Anaheim chile peppers. Try it out on your next green salad and top with extra pepitas and crumbled Cotija cheese for a real treat.

Chiles Rellenos Autenticos

In this Mexican recipe for chiles rellenos (stuffed chile peppers), poblano chiles are roasted, then stuffed with Cotija and fried in hot oil until browned and the cheese has melted.

Sopa de Tortilla (Real Mexican Tortilla Soup)

Here's an authentic, delicious, and spicy Mexican soup with fried tortilla strips. Serve with sliced avocado, diced Cotija cheese, strips of pasilla peppers, and Mexican crema.

Sarah's Creamy Veggie Enchiladas

"They are full of fresh vegetables and my ace in the hole — Cotija cheese," recipe creator Saz says of this dish. These creamy enchiladas taste great on their own, or you can serve with beans and a tomato-avocado salad for a more filling meal.

Walking Tacos with Campfire Chili

A hearty chili is served on top of chips and garnished with a generous portion of Cotija cheese, pickled jalapeno peppers, limes, and cilantro in this fun meal that's perfect for block parties, campouts, and game nights.

Capirotada a la Antigua (Mexican Bread Pudding)

Sliced baguette is toasted then layered with raisins, peanuts, pecans, pineapple, Cotija cheese, and a spiced guava syrup in this gorgeous Mexican dessert that's traditionally served at Easter.