Mexican Cheesecake Appetizer

This Mexican cheesecake recipe is a savory crowd pleasing appetizer. It’s prepared in a springform pan like a cheesecake, it looks like a cheesecake, but its loaded up with everyone’s favorite Southwestern ingredients.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar Cheese
• Cream Cheese
• Tortilla Chips
• Butter
• Chopped Chile Peppers
• Eggs
• Jalapeno Pepper

Ingredient Substitutions

• Cheese: Have fun with what cheeses you choose, just make sure that they’re good melting cheeses. Add a little more heat and use Pepper Jack Cheese. Muenster Cheese is also a good choice here, as it’s creamy and wonderful when melted.
• Chopped Chile Peppers: A 4-ounce can of chile peppers makes this a super easy recipe to make. Also try roasting a Poblano Pepper and then fine chopping it. It will add a unique layer of flavor.
• Jalapeno Pepper: If jalapenos are simply too spicy hot for you, substitute with a Poblano Pepper. Simply remove the stem and some of the inner membrane and chop just as you would a green bell pepper. And speaking of bell peppers, a green, red or orange bell pepper would make a good sub here. You’ll just be missing out on the Southwestern heat.

Topping Ingredients

I like to keep the toppings fairly simple as to not over power the creamy cheese base of the cheesecake. I’ve used:

• Black Olives
• Green Onions
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Cotija Cheese

Chef Tip: I like to purchase Cherub brand tomatoes. Cherubs are a variety of grape tomatoes which have a stronger outer skin and meatier, less watery flesh. They are easier to slice for salads, hold up better during cooking or roasting and are reliable year round with their mild, sweet flavor.

More Topping Ideas

Without going overboard, consider:

• Chopped avocado
• A dollop of sour cream
• A dollop of Guacamole
• Fine shredded lettuce
• Pickled Red Onions
• or even some crumbled cooked Mexican chorizo.

Step by Step Instructions … It’s Easy.

• Step 1: Make the tortilla chip crust. Place the tortilla chips in a food processor and using the pulse feature, grind until rough chopped. Add the melted butter and pulse until combined.
• Step 2: Press the mixture into the bottom of a springform pan. Use your hands and a small glass bowl also work well. Sprinkle on a pinch of hot chile powder (optional). Bake for 325 degrees for 15 minutes.

• Step 3: In large bowl, blend room temperature cream cheese and eggs. A whisk works well here. The mixture doesn’t have to be completely smooth in texture. A few cream cheese lumps won’t compromise the end texture.
• Step 4: Using a large spoon fold in green chile pepper, jalapeno pepper, Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese.

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. Plus, it’s less expensive.

• Step 5: Poor the cream cheese mixture on top of the crumbs in the springform pan.
• Step 6: Using a spatula, carefully spread the mix over the tortilla chips crust. The crust will be a little loose, so go slow.

• Step 7: Bake 30 minutes. Do not overcook. Remove from oven and cool in pan 5 minutes. Run knife around inside edge and release the springform pan clip to remove sides from the cheesecake.

• Step 8: Garnish the Mexican cheesecake with toppings of your choice and serve with sturdy tortilla chips or crackers.

FAQ’s

Storage

Store any leftovers in the refrigerator covered in plastic wrap. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 – 5 days. If you’ve topped the cheesecake with chopped avocados, remove those, they simply won’t keep. To serve leftovers, simply let the cheesecake come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.

Tips for Success

• Allow about 1 hour for the cream cheese to come to room temperature. This will allow mixing to be much easier.
• This Mexican Cheesecake is very soft in texture, however, serve with sturdy tortilla chips for a better experience.

Chile Cheesecake, A Mexican Cheesecake Recipe

if you’re looking for a new and exciting way to enjoy cheesecake, why not give a savory Mexican cheese cake appetizer a try? With its bold and delicious flavors, it’s sure to become a new favorite in your repertoire of appetizers.

So gather some friends, whip up a batch, and enjoy the flavors of Mexico in every bite.

Related Recipes

• Buffalo Chicken Puff Pastry Pinwheels
• Guacamole Made in A Molcajete
• Mexican Meatballs with Queso Blanco
• Baked Cheese and Chorizo Empanadas

More Hot Cheese Appetizer Recipes

• Fresh Tomato Tart Recipe with Gruyere
• Cumin Spiced Gouda Cheese Fondue
• Queso Fundido al Tequila with Chorizo

And if you’re looking for even more appetizer recipes, don’t miss my Appetizer Category. You’ll find lots of great finger food recipes including the most popular on my site for Mexican Shrimp Cocktail.

Mexican Cheesecake …It’s What’s for a crowd pleasing appetizer