Quick and Simple Cheese Fondue (2024)

This easy Cheese Fondue recipe lives up to its name! It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to make Swiss fondue for any party or get-together. A creamy, flavorful crowd pleaser!

Quick and Simple Cheese Fondue (1)

Do you love fondue as much as I do?
Growing up in the 70’s, my mom made her fair share of it which inspired my love for these easy recipes. My most favorite was this French Toast Fondue with the sweet maple butter for dipping.

You might just want to take a look in some thrift stores for your own fondue set and keep your eyes peeled for more fondue recipes here in the future!

SAVE THIS EASY CLASSIC CHEESE FONDUE RECIPE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!

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When our kids were growing up, we discovered the Melting Pot restaurant. We all fell in love with their cheddar cheese fondue, and dipping our cubes of bread into the combination of creamy cheeses.

We also had so much fun when it came time for dessert when we dunked our strawberries, slices of cheesecake, and Angel Food cake into the chocolate fondue. YUM!

Fondue is really so much more than just a meal or an appetizer. It’s an experience. Everyone gathers around the classic fondue pot to get a taste, sharing, laughing and connecting over one of life’s greatest joys–cheese!

Here’s another thing to love abut cheese fondue: it’s super quick and simple to make with the right recipe.

My Quick and Simple Cheese Fondue recipe is exactly that. It takes a few basic ingredients and melts them together to create a hot cheese fondue that tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant.
There are plenty of other sites out there that claim to have the best cheese fondue made with a variety of cheese, a little wine, little bit of white pepper, some dijon mustard, etc. Don’t get me wrong, those are definitely good options, but whether it’s your first time, you don’t want to go to all that trouble of using grated cheese or are nervous your end result won’t be a smooth fondue, then this easy appetizer recipe is just the one you need!

Once you learn how to make fondue at home, you’ll always be able to make a delicious party dip or family-style meal at a moment’s notice!

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What essential ingredients do I need?

Put down the different types of cheese and rest assured that you won’t be spending a lot of money for some good quality cheese. You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy fondue recipe.

  • Cheese Whiz –
    Yes, the kind that comes in a spray can. Trust me; it tastes amazing here! But of course, you’ll want the jar.
  • Cream of mushroom soup
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Hot sauce –
    Use your favorite brand!
  • Garlic powder – or swap it out for garlic salt or even a minced garlic clove or two if that’s what you have on hand.
    You can even get creative and give it a Mexican spin by adding some diced jalapeños to it.

Do I need a fondue pot?

You don’t need electric fondue pots or a fondue burner to make this fondue recipe. A crockpot or slow cooker works just as well, and you can also make it stove top using a double boiler.

To make cheese fondue in the crockpot, stir everything together and heat on low, stirring continuously until the fondue thickens and bubbles.

It takes a few minutes of stirring for the mixture to come together. As the cheese melts, it distributes heat through the other ingredients, making them easier to combine.

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What to serve with cheese fondue?

I love serving fondue with large bowl of bread cubes for dipping. All those nooks and crannies in good bread are perfect for soaking up the creamy fondue. We especially like French bread and enjoy rye bread as well.

It’s also amazing with crackers, steamed or raw cauliflower florets, pearl onions, broccoli or even apples! Just about everything is better when it’s dipped in hot melted cheese, so you almost can’t go wrong.

How should I store this cheese sauce?

Let the cheese completely cool down, then store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. To reheat leftover cheese fondue, place it in a microwave safe container and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, then continue heating in 30 second increments until warmed through.

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Should I eat this hot or cold?

Fondue is best enjoyed warm! I like to serve it right after I make it for that irresistibly rich, creamy, cheesy taste.
The good news is that leftovers are easy to reheat, so don’t worry if you end up with some extra.

Appetizer Recipes

My quick and easy fondue recipe makes an ideal meal for two, served with plenty of dippers (and maybe a bottle of wine!). Consider adding it to your next at-home date night menu.

Most of the time I make cheese fondue, I serve it as an appetizer or party snack. Add it to your spread along with these Sausage Balls or a tray of Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms and your guests will have plenty to munch on while they wait for dinner.

If you’re into appetizers with an Italian flare, Breaded Baked Ravioli will make your taste buds very happy indeed. You’ll love this easy Pepperoni Bread appetizer, too!

For a more elegant hors d’oeuvres option, impress your guests with a Poached Pear and Goat Cheese Appetizer. It looks as good as it tastes!

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Cheese Recipes

You might have gathered by now that I’m slightly obsessed with cheese. And I know I’m not alone!

Today’s quick and simple cheese fondue recipe is just the latest in a long line up of favorite cheese recipes. From homemade cheese crackers to classic Chicken Mozzarella Pasta, my site is packed with fun and family-friendly ways to cook with cheese!

A family and reader favorite is this Beer Cheese Dip made with shredded cheese. The homemade soft pretzels used for dipping are sooo good, too! It’s been on a lot of our game day menus and will continue to be.

When you don’t feel like cooking, or want to keep the goodness of cheese front and center without all those pesky distractions, you can always make a cheeseboard! I have a guide for how to make cheese boards that are both beautiful and delicious, to help you get started.

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From game day to holidays like New Years Eve to an impromptu dinner party with friends, this easy cheese fondue recipe is a delicious appetizer that everyone will enjoy dipping into!

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Created by: Lynne Feifer

Quick and Simple Cheese Fondue


Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

2 cups

This easy Cheese Fondue recipe lives up to its name! It’s one of the quickest and easiest ways to make Swiss fondue for any party or get-together. A creamy, flavorful crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 15 ounces Cheese Whiz
  • 10.5 ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon hot sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder or garlic salt

Instructions

  • In a crockpot or fondue pot, all all of the ingredients. On low heat, stir constantly while cooking until the sauce is bubbling and well combined.

  • Serve with cubed bread, chips, steamed cauliflower & broccoli, apples, crackers, or any food to dip that you like.

Notes

This recipe makes 2 cups. It will serve 4 people as an appetizer, 2 people if served for dinner. Nutritional information is based on 2 people.

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 680kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 30g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 167mg | Sodium: 4571mg | Potassium: 715mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1382IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 771mg | Iron: 2mg

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Quick and Simple Cheese Fondue (2024)

FAQs

Why do you put lemon juice in cheese fondue? ›

Lemon juice helps stabilize the emulsion of melted cheese and wine, while providing a bright flavor to balance the dairy-fat richness. Keeping the heat low while melting the cheese prevents the fondue from breaking.

Why do you put cornstarch in cheese fondue? ›

The cornstarch protects the proteins and the fat in the cheese from breaking down and becoming clumpy and lumpy. Some recipes use flour, but I think that changes the taste of the fondue, making it more starchy. That being said, if you don't have cornstarch you can substitute flour.

What type of cheese is best for fondue? ›

The best all-around cheeses for fondue are fontina, Gruyère, and gouda. If you aren't sure what to pick, use even amounts of these three. Together are lush and complex. For classic Swiss cheese fondue (meaning one like what you would find in Switzerland), a mix of traditional, firm mountain-style cheeses is best.

How to prevent cheese fondue from clumping? ›

The secret ingredient

However, another key ingredient is a thickener like cornstarch or flour. You toss it with your grated cheese first, coating the fat and protein of the cheese, which stabilizes the sauce and ensures it won't clump when melting.

What should you not do with fondue? ›

DON'T: Double dip.

Since fondue is a communal meal, dining etiquette says to avoid double-dipping. Also, don't put the fondue fork in your mouth.

Is broth or oil better for fondue? ›

When making fondue, the first thing to consider is what type of ingredients you want to use; if you are a vegetarian, you may prefer the oil. The oil is also a healthier option because it contains no fat or calories. However, if you like meat and cheese, the broth is better because it has more flavors.

What is the bottom of a cheese fondue called? ›

A cheese fondue mixture should be kept warm enough to keep the fondue smooth and liquid but not so hot that it burns. If this temperature is held until the fondue is finished there will be a thin crust of toasted (not burnt) cheese at the bottom of the caquelon. This is called la religieuse (French for the nun).

How do you keep cheese fondue runny? ›

Wine is also an important ingredient because its acids encourage the softening of cheese. In addition, wine has a lower boiling point than water, allowing the cheese to melt at a lower temperature and helping prevent it from becoming stringy. (The wine you use doesn't have to be expensive.)

What is the best substitute for Gruyere cheese in fondue? ›

What Are the Best Gruyère Substitutes? There are plenty of other premier cheeses that can serve as good substitutes for Gruyère cheese. Depending on whether you're melting cheese or adding more variety to your charcuterie board, you might consider Beaufort, Comté, Jarlsberg, Emmental, or Fontina.

Why won't my fondue cheese melt? ›

If the fondue has been over-cooked and the cheese is turning into hard lumps then adding a teaspoon or two of lemon juice should help to restore the texture. If the cheese has split and looks greasy but not lumpy then adding extra cornflour (cornstarch) will help to re-emulsify the mixture.

Should bread be stale for fondue? ›

Crudites and potato are valid dipping vessels, but nothing holds fondue better than cubes of stale bread. (Fresh bread is too soft and floppy for cheese to get a proper grip.)

Why do you put alcohol in cheese fondue? ›

The advertised reason is that the alcohol will cut some of the protein chains resulting in a fondue that is dippable and not so stringy. Obviously the alcoholic beverage of choice will also add a lot of cheese-compatible flavor as well.

What does lemon juice do in cheese making? ›

Explaining the Science: Lemon juice is an acid food and when added to milk it causes some milk proteins to coagulate, which can be observed by the clumping of the milk. The result is a separation of these proteins in the form of curds from the whey.

How does lemon juice impact melting cheese? ›

A squeeze of lemon juice, often added anyway for its bright flavor, can further aid emulsion thanks to the citric acid. These acids function as emulsifying salts[3], which, as Polowsky explains, induce emulsification by disrupting the tightly knit protein structure and thus allowing for smoother, more cohesive melting.

What is a substitute for lemon juice in fondue? ›

Apple cider vinegar (ACV)

ACV offers the same bitter, tangy taste as lemon with a slightly salty flavor. The end product will not have a strong citrus flavor. ACV should substitute lemon juice with a 1–1 ratio. That means if the recipe calls for a cup of lemon juice, a person should instead add a cup of ACV.

What are the reasons lemon juice is added to milk while making cottage cheese? ›

Answer: It is because lemon juice contains citric acid, which is also called Vitamin C. If you add an acid to milk, it will 'curdle', that is, separate into liquid (whey) and solids (curds). Northern Europeans separate these and call the loose curds 'cottage cheese'....

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