Home / Meals / Appetizers
By: Christi On: |Updated: |Jump to Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links, read the disclosure policy.
Melting Pot Cheese Fondue is an irresistibly creamy, cheesy fondue that is perfect for pairing with all of your favorite dippers. A delicious blend of sharp cheddar and buttery Emmental cheeses, this classic Melting Pot fondue recipe is easy to recreate in your own home in just a matter of minutes.
Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfect Fondue – While I don’t throw the word “perfect” around very often, this Melting Pot Cheese Fondue Recipe really creates the perfect fondue.
Easy To Make – This recipe comes together in a matter of minutes. While it’s delicious enough to serve on a special occasion, it’s quick enough to whip up on a weeknight.
Delicious With Dippers – This cheddar cheese fondue pairs perfectly with almost any dipper that you can imagine, from fruits to meats to veggies – and don’t forget the bread!
Celebrate At Home – While a night out at Melting Pot is a true treat, now you can celebrate with fondue at home.
Fun – Let’s be honest, fondue is FUN! It’s more than just a meal, it’s an experience, and one that everyone will enjoy.
If you’ve never had a fondue night at home, you are in for a treat! While my family loves going out for fondue, we’ve made it a tradition to make this copycat Melting Pot Cheese Fondue Recipe at home every New Year’s Eve. The family loves the cheesy goodness, and I love how gathering around the fondue pot feels like a memory making experience.
I can’t wait for you to try this recipe in your home. Let me know what you think!
Ingredients and Substitutions
Recipe Discussion
Let’s discuss how to make this copycat Melting Pot Cheese Fondue recipe, as well as the ingredients that are needed. Please take note that below you will find discussion, expert tips, and answers to frequently asked questions about this recipe to help you recreate it in your kitchen. If you *just* want the recipe itself, scroll down. The full printable recipe itself, with exact measurements and instructions, is found at the bottom of this page.
- Cheddar Cheese – We prefer a medium-sharp cheddar cheese when we make cheese fondue. While I’m a bit more flexible on the second cheese in this recipe, to stay true to the Melting Pot Wisconsin Cheddar Fondue Recipe, I don’t recommend substituting this ingredient. Also, make sure you grate your own cheese. The pre-grated cheese doesn’t melt quite as well and can be a bit gummy.
- Emmenthaler Swiss Cheese – For an authentic Melting Pot experience, use Emmentaler cheese. It has a wonderfully buttery flavor and is perfect for melting. While you can find it at most grocery stores, if you can’t find Emmentaler, some other options include swiss, fontina, gruyere or gouda cheeses. Again, just make sure to grate fresh.
- Bud Light – For many years when we went to Melting Pot, they used Bud Light as the beer in their Cheddar fondue. The last time we went, they had switched to Sam Adams Boston Lager. Personally, we didn’t like it as much. For that reason, we are sticking with Bud Light in this recipe. That said, you can use another beer if you desire. If you want a non-alcoholic option, you can try chicken broth.
- Garlic – If you like garlic, go heavy on the garlic! The first time we went to Melting Pot, we just had the standard amount of garlic. On our next visit, our server suggested we go heavy on the garlic, and there was no turning back. If you like garlic, use the amount listed, if you aren’t a big garlic lover, feel free to cut the garlic in half.
- Worcestershire Sauce & Dry Mustard Powder
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch in fondue helps stabilize the fondue, thickens it and improves the viscosity of the fondue. You can also use flour, but cornstarch really is the best option.
How To Make Cheese Fondue
- Begin by tossing grated cheese with cornstarch or flour, then set aside.
- Next, turn fondue pot onto medium-high heat and add beer, garlic, dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Whisk together to combine.
- Once beer mixture has come to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low and add one third of the cheese. Whisk well. It make take some time for it to come together, just keep whisking and cooking. You do not want to boil the cheese mixture, as this can make it rubbery.
- While continuing to whisk, add in the remaining cheese. Whisk until smooth then reduce heat to low and serve immediately.**
- What to dip in in cheese fondue? Serve with fondue dippers such as: Broccoli, Green Apples, Carrots, Bread, Pretzels, Potatoes, Smoked Sausage, Veggies.
Recipe Tips and Advice
Storage – We’ve never really had leftovers with this recipe, but if you do you can store leftovers, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for a day or two. It can be reheated in the microwave, but reheating on the stove over low heat is ideal.
The Perfect Consistency – This recipe is flexible and it’s easy to play with the consistency. Is your fondue too thick? Add a bit more light beer. Is your fondue a bit thinner than you’d prefer? Add a bit more cheese. It’s really easy to adjust accordingly. We like ours a bit thicker, as it’s not as drippy and messy that way.
No Fondue Pot? No Problem – While a fondue pot is ideal for cooking and serving fondue, you can make it in a heavy bottomed pan on the stovetop, or use a double broiler. Just make sure to serve immediately, as the cheese will thicken as it cools.
Double Up – We find this recipe makes the perfect amount for our family of four. That said, if you need more, feel free to double it.
Equipment Recommendations – Here are some items that will help you have the perfect fondue night.
- Fondue Forks
- Fondue Pot (shown)
- Fondue Pot (less expensive option)
Recipe FAQs
What do you dip in cheese fondue?
There are so many delicious cheese fondue dippers! Bread, Potatoes, Apples, Broccoli, Smoked Sausage, Soft Pretzels, Meatballs, Carrots, Cauliflower, Pears, Roasted Peppers, Meats or Veggies of your choice.
Does cheese fondue need wine?
While a swiss based fondue is best paired with wine, cheddar cheese fondue pairs wonderfully with beer. Light beers provide a nice light flavor.
What is the best cheese fondue at Melting Pot?
While we love the Wisconsin Cheddar Fondue, that this recipe is based on, the Classic Alpine and Fiesta fondues are also great choices.
Fondue Tips
A few Fondue Do’s and Don’ts for you!
- The foremost rule of fondue – don’t double dip!
- Use your fondue fork to dip your food, but not to eat off of. Your fondue fork should go from the fondue pot, to your plate, not into your mouth. Once your food is on your plate, then use a fork to eat it with.
- Rescue Spoon – It’s helpful to have a rescue spoon or fork available to fish out any dippers that might fall off of their fondue forks.
More Delicious Recipes!
If you love cheese as much as my family does, here are some recipes that I think you’ll enjoy!
- Beer Cheese Dip
- Mac and Cheese Bites
- Cheesy Taco Pasta
- Rotel Dip Recipe
- Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
And don’t forget dessert. You’ll love my Chocolate Fondue Recipe!
Melting Pot Cheese Fondue Recipe (Copycat)
5 from 15 votes
Author Christi Johnstone
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Servings 4 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Bud Light Beer* (or other brand) can use other beers or chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 6 ounces medium-sharp cheddar cheese use freshly grated
- 2 ounces Emmentaler Swiss cheese use freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (or all-purpose flour)
Instructions
Begin by tossing grated cheese with cornstarch or flour, then set aside.
Next, turn fondue pot onto medium-high heat and add beer, garlic, dry mustard and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Whisk together to combine.
Once beer mixture has come to a simmer, reduce heat to medium and add one third of the cheese. Whisk well. It make take some time for it to come together, just keep whisking and cooking.
While continuing to whisk, add in the remaining cheese. Whisk until smooth then reduce heat to low and serve immediately.**
Serve with fondue dippers such as: Broccoli, Green Apples, Carrots, Bread, Pretzels, Potatoes, Smoked Sausage, Veggies.
Notes
*We prefer Bud Light in our fondue, as that is what we’ve had when dining at Melting Pot. That said you can use other beers, or even a chicken broth or stock if desired.
*Different fondue pots cook at different heat levels. We usually turn our fondue pot down to low, and if cheese starts to thicken while we are eating, we turn it up briefly, just long enough to thin it back down, then we turn the heat down again.
Nutrition
Calories: 250kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 345mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 546IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 434mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Disclaimer
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this Recipe? Pin it!Mention @LoveFromTheOven or tag #LFTORecipes!
Reader Interactions
Comments
Tracy says
I have used this recipe fir over 20 years! Melting used Pabst Blue Ribbon beer before they used Budweiser or Sam Adam’s so that is my preferred beer, that’s the only thing I do differently! This cheese fondue is 10 stars!!Reply
Christi Johnstone says
We somehow all like the Bud version the best – likely because it’s how we first tried it!
Reply
SusieQ says
If it helps, I do know that the cheddar brand Melting Pot uses is Tillamook. 👌🏼
Reply
Christi Johnstone says
Thanks! Loooooove Tillamook so that makes sense!
Reply
Dorothy Fitton says
This is very easy and delicious!Reply
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
