Andy Montoya
Chipotle's shredded cheese is a menu favorite, but what kind of cheese is it? The fast-casual chain uses shredded Monterey Jack cheese, a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. This cheese is offered to customers free of charge and is used in quesadillas and queso dip. Chipotle's other cheese option is white cheddar, which is blended with Monterey Jack for its queso blanco.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Cheese | Monterey Jack |
| Colour | White |
| Texture | Semi-hard, rich, creamy, and melts well |
| Flavour | Mild, nutty, buttery, tangy |
| Milk | Cow's milk |
| Free of Charge? | Yes, up to a certain amount |
| Cheese Manufacturer | Meister Cheese, Petaluma Creamery |
| Cheese Origin | Wisconsin, California |
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What You'll Learn
Chipotle uses Monterey Jack cheese
Monterey Jack is a popular choice for Chipotle because of its high moisture and fat content, which makes it melt easily. This is ideal for dishes like quesadillas or the Chipotle secret menu quesarito, where melted cheese is the star of the show. It also works well as a topping for burritos, tacos, and bowls, where its mild flavour pairs well with bolder ingredients like salsa or seasoned proteins.
The cheese is offered to customers free of charge as a topping, but it is also used in larger quantities in some menu items, like quesadillas and the queso dip. While the shredded cheese is included in the price of your meal, asking for too much extra cheese may result in an additional charge.
Chipotle's Monterey Jack cheese is made in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese and in California by Petaluma Creamery. It is a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine, having first been produced in California by Mexican Franciscan friars.
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It's semi-hard, made from cow's milk
Chipotle's shredded cheese is Monterey Jack, a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It is one of the fast-casual chain's 53 ingredients and is offered to customers free of charge. It has a rich texture and a mild, buttery flavour, and its high moisture and fat content make it ideal for melting. This makes it a perfect topping for quesadillas and a key ingredient in queso dip.
Monterey Jack is a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine, first produced in California by Mexican Franciscan friars. It is a popular choice for Chipotle's customers, who can add it to any menu item. The cheese is made in Wisconsin by Meister Cheese and in California by Petaluma Creamery.
Chipotle's other cheese option is white cheddar, which is blended with Monterey Jack to make the chain's queso blanco. The original recipe used aged cheddar and no processed ingredients, but this was replaced by a new recipe in 2020 after customers complained about the texture. The new recipe includes Monterey Jack, white cheddar, and serrano, poblano, and chipotle peppers.
While Chipotle's shredded cheese is offered for free, customers may be charged for extra portions.
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White cheddar is used for queso
Chipotle uses a variety of cheeses in its dishes, including shredded Monterey Jack cheese and queso blanco, which is made with white cheddar and Monterey Jack.
The shredded cheese that Chipotle uses is commonly known as Monterey Jack. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts well when exposed to heat. Chipotle offers shredded Monterey Jack cheese to customers free of charge, and it is often added to burritos, tacos, bowls, and quesadillas. This cheese has a rich texture and a mild flavor, pairing well with bolder ingredients like salsa or seasoned proteins.
White cheddar is another key ingredient used by Chipotle, and it is blended with Monterey Jack to create their queso blanco dip. This cheese sauce also includes milk and a variety of peppers and spices, resulting in a gooey dip that customers can add to their meals for an extra surcharge.
The original recipe for the queso blanco, introduced in 2017, used only aged white cheddar and no processed ingredients. However, this version received negative feedback from customers due to its grainy texture and off-putting taste. Chipotle then modified the recipe, and the current version, introduced in 2020, combines white cheddar with Monterey Jack and other ingredients to create a smoother and more popular dip.
While the white cheddar is not offered as a shredded option, it contributes to the overall flavor and texture of the queso blanco dip, making it a popular choice for customers who are willing to pay extra for the cheesy addition to their Chipotle meals.
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Cheddar is blended with Monterey Jack for Queso Blanco
Chipotle's cheese is one of the most sought-after ingredients that the restaurant offers. The shredded white cheese that Chipotle uses is commonly known as Monterey Jack. It is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk that melts well when exposed to heat. Chipotle's Monterey Jack cheese is used to make quesadillas and queso dip, and it can be added to any menu item upon request.
While Chipotle offers shredded Monterey Jack cheese to customers free of charge, it is not the only cheese available. Chipotle introduced queso blanco to its menu in 2017 after fans requested a dippable cheese spread. The original recipe, made with aged cheddar and no processed ingredients, received backlash for its grainy texture. In 2020, Chipotle released an updated version of its queso, which is now made with a blend of Monterey Jack and white cheddar, along with serrano, poblano, and chipotle peppers.
White cheddar, also known as cheddar without the addition of annatto, has a tangy and complex flavour. The aged white cheddar used by Chipotle gives the queso an overall sharper taste that is balanced by the buttery flavour of the Monterey Jack. The two cheeses are paired with milk to create the gooey dip that customers happily pay an upcharge for.
Monterey Jack cheese is a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine, having first been produced in California by Mexican Franciscan friars. It has a rich texture and a mild flavour, which pairs well with bolder ingredients like salsa or seasoned proteins. Its high moisture and fat content make it an ideal cheese for melting, whether as a topping or the main event in a quesadilla.
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Extra shredded cheese may cost more
Chipotle's shredded cheese is made from Monterey Jack, a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk. It has a rich texture and a mild flavour, and its high moisture and fat content make it an excellent melting cheese. This cheese is offered to customers free of charge and is included in the price of the meal. However, asking for a little extra cheese may not raise any concerns, but repeatedly asking for more cheese may result in an additional charge.
While Chipotle has not made any official statements about extra shredded cheese, employees have indicated that they are limited to providing only certain amounts of food per customer. According to a Reddit user on the r/Chipotle page, an employee warned them that "anything more than this would cost extra." Another commenter confirmed this, stating, "Unwritten rule, once you ask for more and more[,] after the third time[,] you'll most likely get charged."
Chipotle's success is partly attributed to its unique ingredients, including the option of cheese. Customers can choose to add cheese to their burritos, salad bowls, or quesadillas. The cheese is a popular ingredient, and many customers happily pay an upcharge for the queso dip, which contains Monterey Jack and white cheddar cheeses.
White cheddar is not available as a shredded cheese option at Chipotle, but it is used in the queso dip alongside Monterey Jack. This cheese has a tangy and complex flavour that can stand out among other bold ingredients. The white cheddar used by Chipotle is an aged variety, giving the queso dip a sharper taste.
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Frequently asked questions
Chipotle uses shredded Monterey Jack cheese. This semi-hard cheese is made from cow's milk and is known for its rich texture and mild flavour.
Yes, a helping of shredded Monterey Jack cheese is offered to customers free of charge. However, asking for excessive amounts of cheese may result in an additional charge.
Chipotle also uses white cheddar, which is blended with Monterey Jack for its queso blanco.
Queso blanco is a dippable cheese spread that was added to the Chipotle menu in 2017 after requests from fans. The original recipe was made with aged cheddar, but it was replaced with a new recipe in 2020 due to complaints about its texture. The current recipe includes Monterey Jack, white cheddar, and serrano, poblano, and chipotle peppers.
