17 Cotija Cheese Recipes to Try

"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."

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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]."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

"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.

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.

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.