Mexican Chorizo is a staple in many kitchens and can be used to give expertly seasoned flavor to your favorite Mexican food recipes.
This inexpensive sausage comes in tubes of just the perfect amount to add to breakfast, make appetizers or add as a highly seasoned flavoring to any meals, especially soups and stews.
Make Your Own Chorizo | Chorizo Appetizers | Chorizo for Breakfast | Chorizo for Flavoring
Types of Chorizo
It’s important to know that Mexican chorizo is usually uncooked sausage. Whether found at your local grocery store or at a Mexican market, it’s usually in a casing or plastic.
You can find this type of chorizo in both beef and pork. It’s also sometimes available in both mild and spicy.
Remove the casing before cooking, of course. You will need to make sure it’s fully cooked for all your recipes.
Sometimes, you can also find uncooked chorizo in the same kind of flats as Italian sausage and ground beef. These will also require cooking fully.
Make Your Own Homemade Chorizo
If you’ve been following me for very long, you will know that I like to experiment and make things from scratch. Scratch is always best.
The same thing holds true for chorizo. You can learn to make your own Mexican chorizo from scratch with this quick and easy recipe.
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Spanish Chorizo and Mexican Chorizo are Different?
Spanish chorizo is different than Mexican chorizo. It’s usually smoked or preserved in some way. It doesn’t require the same kind of cooking.
It’s actually a lot like fully cooked kielbasa except for the different spices and herbs. You can slice it up and add it to your favorite recipes.
Chorizo Appetizers
Since Mexican chorizo has a delicious flavor and it’s ground very fine, you can make some great creamy dips.
I couldn’t decide between these three so let’s talk about all of them!
Chorizo Cheese Dip
From Maggie of In Mama Maggie’s Kitchen, you will find an ooey, gooey Chorizo Cheese Dip Recipe made of about ½ tube of chorizo. You’ll find Monterey Jack cheese used in this recipe because Monterey Jack is so melty, melty. Yum!
Smoked Queso
Jessica of Cooking with Janica has something different with her Smoked Queso recipe.
What I love about this recipe is that Jessica has used Velveeta cheese as the base. I know that Velveeta gets a bad rap, but I’m a Velveeta Cheese and Shells kinda guy. There’s also Pepper Jack, green peppers, tomatoes and onions.
White Queso Dip
Just look at this White Queso Dip recipe from Sandi of Fearless Dining. That Manchego cheese looks so milky and creamy. I hope I can find that kind of cheese at our market.
Chorizo for Breakfast
My first time having chorizo was for breakfast. Scrambled eggs and chorizo is a typical breakfast for many. I know that I had it for several years before I started using it in some other recipes.
Chorizo and Potatoes
Yvette from Muy Bueno Cookbook has step by step instructions on making delicious chorizo con papas, Chorizo and Potatoes. This is another great breakfast recipe, just like the scrambled eggs.
You can also add this mixture to tacos, tortas and burritos. Anything goes. Ladle it over top of flautas or taquitos. It will be terrific anywhere.
Tex Mex Migas
Another great recipe from Sandi of Fearless Dining is this one for Tex Mex Migas. Migas is a dish made with scrambled eggs and small pieces of corn tortillas.
I know that cooking eggs and tortillas together may sound strange but I promise that it’s delicious. Adding the chorizo is a brilliant idea for a great new level of spice and flavor.
This is a great opportunity to use up some of your tortillas that may be too dry to roll for enchiladas or tacos.
Chorizo for Flavoring
Jalapeno Poppers
You can start with this Jalapeno Poppers recipe from Ole Blue Dog. We already know that poppers are fantastic but this time, they have the added flavor of chorizo.
These are wrapped perfectly in bacon and my mouth is watering at the thought.
Chorizo Ground Beef Tamales
These tamales are filled with ground beef and flavored with chorizo and dried red chiles. The Chorizo Ground Beef Tamales recipe is an easy one that has a unique taste you’ll really love.
I’ve only been coming up with my own fillings for tamales for about a year and this one is my favorite.
Chorizo Mac N’ Cheese
I can’t resist macaroni and cheese. Jamie of The Denver Housewife has a Chorizo Mac N’ Cheese recipe that I can’t wait to try. What could be better than combining them?!
This is a really fun shaped pasta too. It’s called Cellentani. Don’t you love those ridged swirls. It’s perfect to catch all the tasty melted cheese.
Charro Beans
Slow cooked, stewed Pinto beans flavored with bacon, tomatoes and chorizo. I’ve also recently heard about Epazote which is used here as well. You can learn How to Make Charro Beans from Jeremy of Chicken Fried Kitchen.
Charro beans is a classic recipe and you will end up using the beans as a side dish to the main meal or as the meal itself. While cooking, it will fill your house with a delicious aroma that will make you think you’ve stepped into your favorite restaurant.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when using chorizo in your cooking. The next time you’re in the mood for the flavor of Mexican food, you can grab some chorizo sausage to give your recipe an extra boost.
jill says
Thank you for this information. I am never sure what to do with chorizo. I’ll be trying this little gem of an ingredient in the sweet potato skillet I love to make on the weekends.
Andréa Janssen says
Thank you for explaining the difference between Spanish and Mexican chorizo. I couldn’t tell before. And I’m certainly going to try a recipe or two!
Amy Roskelley says
I want the queso dip first!! Can’t wait to go buy some of this chorizo!
Toni says
I just tried the Chorizo Mac and Cheese and we loved it! So good and delish! Can’t wait to try the others!
Natalie says
I know it sounds silly but I discovered chorizo only recently. And immediately I got obsessed. Love it! You just gave me great ideas on how to use chorizo. That dip looks amazing! I’m making it tonight.