Cheese And Chilli: A Match Made In Heaven

There are many types of cheese that can be paired with chilli, but the most popular choice is cheddar cheese. The sharp flavour of cheddar is said to complement the rich spiciness of chilli. However, other types of cheese such as Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, American cheese, blue cheese, queso, or a smokey gouda are also popular choices. Ultimately, the choice of cheese comes down to personal preference.

Cheddar: mild, medium, sharp, or extra sharp?

Cheddar is the most popular cheese to serve with chilli. However, the type of cheddar you choose depends on your personal preference.

Mild cheddar has a buttery and mellow flavour profile, with a creamy smooth texture. If you want a cheese that melts well into your chilli, mild cheddar is a good option.

Medium cheddar has a smooth and creamy flavour and texture. This variety strikes a balance between mild and sharp cheddar, so it is a good option if you want a middle-ground cheese.

Sharp cheddar has a bolder, sharper taste that is still balanced. It is a little less creamy in texture than mild or medium cheddar. Sharp cheddar is a good choice if you want a stronger flavour without the crumbliness of extra-sharp cheddar.

Extra-sharp or extra-old cheddar is aged for multiple years, resulting in a crumbly texture and salty cheese crystals. This variety has the strongest, tangiest taste of all cheddars. If you want a bold flavour that can stand up to the richness and spiciness of chilli, extra-sharp cheddar is a good option.

Ultimately, the type of cheddar you choose for your chilli depends on your taste preferences and how well you want the cheese to melt into the dish.

Monterey Jack: mild, buttery, and melts well

Monterey Jack is a mild, buttery cheese with a subtle tang. It has a creamy and supple texture, making it easy to work with. It is one of the few kinds of cheese that is purely American.

Monterey Jack is a great cheese to add to chilli because it has a good proportion of butterfat, which means it melts beautifully into hot dishes. Its light yellow colour and mild flavour profile, similar to Colby or mild cheddar cheese, make it a good option for those who don't like sharp or tangy cheeses.

If you're looking for a cheese that will add a stringy texture to your chilli, Monterey Jack is a great choice. It is also a good alternative to cheddar, which is the most popular cheese to serve with chilli.

Monterey Jack is not aged for a long time, so its flavour is mild and delicate. It has a creamy texture and melts well, making it an excellent choice for those who want a smooth and indulgent chilli con carne.

If you want to add a little extra spice to your dish, you could try Pepper Jack cheese, which is a variation of Monterey Jack made with hot pickled peppers.

Pepper Jack: spicy kick, high butterfat content

Pepper Jack is a variation of Monterey Jack cheese that adds a spicy kick to your chilli. It is made with hot pickled peppers, which give it a more intense flavour. The base flavour of the cheese is mild, buttery, and creamy, making it a good choice for those who don't enjoy sharp or tangy cheeses but still want to add complexity to their chilli. The high butterfat content of Pepper Jack cheese means it melts beautifully into hot dishes, giving your chilli a rich and creamy texture.

The pickled peppers in the cheese add a kick of heat and flavour to your chilli, especially if your dish is on the milder side. Pepper Jack is an excellent choice for those who enjoy a spicy meal. The creamy texture of the cheese also helps to cut through the acidity of the tomatoes in your chilli, creating a well-rounded and balanced dish.

When choosing Pepper Jack cheese for your chilli, look for one with a good proportion of butterfat. This will ensure that the cheese melts smoothly and evenly into your chilli, creating a creamy and indulgent texture. The combination of spicy peppers and creamy cheese will elevate your chilli to the next level.

For those who want to spice things up even more, you can opt for an extra spicy version of Pepper Jack cheese. This variety will add an even bigger kick to your chilli, taking it to new heights of spiciness. However, if you prefer a milder experience, you can choose a Pepper Jack cheese with a lower level of spice.

When preparing your chilli with Pepper Jack cheese, simply grate or shred the cheese and stir it into your chilli until melted. The cheese will add a wonderful creaminess and spice to your dish, making it a satisfying and indulgent meal.

American cheese: classic, melts super creamy

American cheese slices are a classic addition to any bowl of chilli. This cheese melts super creamy and adds a salty, delicious flavour profile to the rich and spicy chilli. Tomatoes and American cheese slices are a match made in heaven, which makes it a natural pairing with tomato-based chilli.

American cheese is a processed cheese, which means it melts like no other cheese. It is a great option for those who don't like cheddar, which is the most popular cheese to serve with chilli.

When adding American cheese slices to chilli, it is best to rip or cut the cheese slices into pieces before stirring them into the chilli. This helps the cheese melt more quickly and evenly, ensuring it gets mixed into the entire bowl.

Another option is to make a classic grilled cheese sandwich with American cheese slices and dip it into your chilli. This is a fun spin on the classic combination of tomato soup and grilled cheese.

American cheese slices are a versatile and tasty option for those looking to add a creamy, salty flavour to their chilli. It is a tried and true classic combination that is worth trying, especially for those who want to deviate from the more common cheddar option.

Blue cheese: tangy, strong flavour

Blue cheese is a love-it-or-hate-it cheese, but a mild variety can be a great addition to a spicy chilli. Its subtle sweetness and tangy, strong flavour can cut through the richness of a slow-cooked chilli.

Blue cheese is often paired with spicy buffalo wings, so it stands to reason that it would work well with chilli, too. The creamy texture of blue cheese can be stirred into a chilli to add a tangy element to the dish.

As with any cheese, it's best to start with a small amount and add more to taste. Blue cheese has a strong flavour that can easily overwhelm the other ingredients. It's also worth noting that blue cheese is quite a divisive cheese, so it might not be the best choice if you're serving a crowd.

If you're looking for a cheese to add a tangy, strong flavour to your chilli, blue cheese is a good option. However, if you're not a fan of blue cheese, there are plenty of other cheeses that pair well with chilli, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Pepper Jack.

Frequently asked questions