Easy Mexican Calabacitas con Queso

Nothing says Fall harvest like a big plate of Calabacitas con Queso. Fresh vegetables seasoned then sauteed tender and made creamy with milk and cheddar cheese. Serve Calabacitas con Queso as a Mexican side dish, or with tortillas for a vegetarian taco. A very tasty Mexican squash recipe.

Every year, in August, when our Colorado fresh veggies start appearing at our farmer’s markets, the first thing I like to make is Calabacitas con Queso. (Squash with cheese).

What is Calabacitas con Queso? It’s a traditional Mexican vegetable side dish, or taco, where veggies are sauteed then smothered in melted cheese. The flavors are fresh and divine and the whole family will love this one.

The main ingredient is squash. Sweet corn, chile peppers and tomatoes join in for a healthy combination that simply refuses to skimp on flavor.

You can use zucchini, but I like to wait until I find what I consider to be a true calabacita, a Mexican squash, a Tatume squash.

What is a Tatume Squash (Calabasita Squash)?

Native to Mexico, a tatume squash is round, somewhat resembling a small watermelon. It can be labeled as Tatume squash, round zucchini or Mexican Zucchini. Tatume is a staple in Mexican cooking and is a great candidate for cooking on the grill. The flesh is firmer and it’s more flavorful than a yellow summer squash.

That said, let’s make Mexican calabacitas.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Fresh Sweet Corn
• Roasted Green Chile Peppers, Hatch or Pueblo chiles work well here
• Fresh Tomatoes
• Calabacita Zucchini type squash
• Cheese, grated cheddar cheese
• Onion, sweet or yellow
• Garlic
• Milk
• Spices: Salt, pepper, Mexican oregano, cumin, red chile powder
• Cotija Cheese

Recipe Swaps and Subs

• Sweet Corn: If you don’t have access to good fresh sweet corn, use frozen sweet corn. White or yellow corn will work.
• Green Chile Peppers: Don’t have a stash of roasted chile peppers in your freezer? Use roasted, chopped canned peppers from the Mexican food aisle at the grocery store. Also check the freezer section at your store, some will carry frozen Hatch Chile Peppers. A roasted Poblano Pepper is also a great substitute.
• Calabacita: Talume Squash, Zucchini or yellow Summer squash will work for this recipe.
• Cheese: Substitute Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack or even Muenster Cheese.
• Mexican Oregano: If you don’t have Mexican Oregano, substitute Marjoram. You can use regular oregano, but it has a different flavor profile than Mexican Oregano.
• Tomatoes: If you’re making this calabacitas recipe during the Winter and don’t have access to good quality fresh tomatoes, use sturdy cherry tomatoes or plum tomatoes. You can also use a 15-ounce can of chopped tomatoes, drained before adding.
• Red Chile Powder: New Mexico Red Chile Powder is preferred for this recipe, but if you don’t have any, substitute Ancho chile powder. It has deep rich flavor with mild to medium heat.
• Cotija Cheese: Don’t have Cotija cheese? Substitute it with crumbled feta.

Storing and Reheating

You can store Calabacitas con Queso in the refrigerator in an air tight container for up to five days.

To reheat, place in the microwave and reheat about 2-4 minutes using 50% power. Stir half way through the cooking process.

You can also reheat calabacitas stovetop in a saucepan. Use low heat to gently heat the ingredients, stirring only a couple of times.

How To Make Mexican Calabacitas Step by Step

Be sure to see the recipe card below for complete ingredients and instructions.

Making Calabacitas Mexicanas is a breeze because its a one pan event. After the chopping and dicing is over, you’re simply sauteeing vegetables, starting with the ones that take the longest to cook and ending with the most delicate, such as the calabacitas squash.

• Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions. Cook for three minutes, stirring occasionally until they begin to soften. Add chile peppers and garlic and stir until garlic is fragrant.
• Step 2: Add corn and tomatoes. Cook for five more minutes, stirring occasionally.

• Step 3: Add squash, salt, black pepper, oregano and ground cumin. Stir to combine and cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Step 4: Add the shredded cheese and milk, and stir together until the cheese has fully melted.

Remove from heat, garnish with red chile powder, chopped cilantro and cotija cheese, and serve.

Pro Tip: Purchase good quality cheese and grate it yourself. Pre-grated cheese in bags includes additives to keep it from clumping, which will also compromise the melting factor. Grating cheese from a block of cheese will result in a creamier and more consistent melting experience.

How To Serve

• We like to serve calabacitas spooned over a warmed flour tortilla and eat them with a fork.
• You can also serve them over or on warmed corn tortillas for a calabacitas taco type experience. This will also make them gluten free.
• Make a calabacitas tostada.

Calabacitas con Queso FAQ’s

Recipe for Calabacitas con Queso

I hope you give this recipe for Calabacitas con Queso a try. Keeping this recipe simple, lets the fresh vegetables and spices shine. It’s one of those Mexican authentic dishes that you’ll find yourself making over and over again.

And if you have a favorite Mexican squash recipe, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.

Looking for more Mexican food recipes? Don’t miss my Mexican Southwestern Food Category. You’ll find lots of great recipes to spice up your meal plan, including the most popular Mexican food recipe on my site for Hatch Green Chili, Colorado Style.

If you’re chile pepper crazed like us, don’t miss my post on Hatch Green Chile Recipes.

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