This Melting Pot copycat recipe contains affiliate links, but mama’s gotta eat yo!
Easy fondue recipes are my newest obsession. This easy cheese fondue has been one of my tried and true recipes over the years! It’s great for almost any holiday occasion, but is surely a treat to enjoy on Valentine’s Day!
What says I love you more than a creamy, hot bowl of melted cheese (or chocolate, chocolate fondue rocks too)
Melting Pot Copycat Recipe Beer Cheese Fondue
I was inspired to make this recipe after visiting the Melting Pot, an amazing fondue restaurant. This place is to die for, but it definitely breaks the budget at $100+/couple! That’s without drinks! Don’t get me wrong it was an amazing feast of awesomeness, but it was so good I could eat it once a week. Mama’s bank roll can’t afford that kind of habit!
That’s why I couldn’t wait to get us an electric fondue pot and let me dabble at making my own simple fondue recipes. I was skeptical at first that I could pull this off, but let’s just say I might’ve put on ten pounds because I am the master of cheddar cheese fondue.
If you are ready to dive in head first, make sure to check out these 35 easy cheese fondue recipes. Everything from chocolate to oil to more gooey cheese fondue recipes. Pin it, lick it, make it!
Fondue Dipper Ideas
Beyond a kick ass cheese fondue recipe, you also have to have the most amazing fondue dipper ideas! This is the fun part. Get creative, and see what flavor combos blow your mind.
Expert tip: Don’t know it until you try it! Some of our favorite fondue dipper ideas we almost turned our nose up at, but we are SO glad we gave them a try. Check out our favorite dippers:
- Apples
- Bread
- Crackers
- Pears
- Meat (Salami, Chicken, Steak)
- Bagels
- Pretzels
Easy Cheese Fondue Recipes
You guys know me, rather than spend that kind of money, I set off to find a way I could make some amazingly easy cheese fondue at home. This recipe is so simple that even the most beginner cook can have an amazingly tasty fondue.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS HOMEMADE FONDUE RECIPE
- Fondue Melting Pot
- Cheese Grater
- Measuring Cups
- Cutting Board (For the Dippers!)
- Measuring Spoons
Cheese Fondue Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Swiss Cheese
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
- 1 Tbsp flour (or swap it out for gluten free flour)
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- fresh cracked pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 -3/4 cup beer
- French bread or Italian bread
Fondue Cooking Tips: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use other cheeses? You most certainly can! Just make sure to pay attention to the moisture in the cheese. Cheeses like mozzarella have a lot of moisture which would make it a tad stickier to melt.
Is this gluten free? Because of the beer in this cheddar cheese fondue recipe, this recipe is not gluten free. If you need a gluten free fondue recipe, just eliminate the beer and replace it with warm chicken stock instead.
What if I don’t own a fondue pot? Let me introduce you to my little friend the poor man’s fondue pot! When I first started making this recipe, we used a large stock pot and a glass mixing bowl to melt our cheese in! Put some water in the stock pot and start to bowl it!
That’s it! The only “challenge” is to see if you can eat all the ooey, gooey cheddar cheesy awesomeness before it cools!
How Do You Make Fondue?
Directions:
- Cut a loaf of French bread across in normal slices. Then cut these slices into 1 inch strips. Cut the strips in thirds to have cubes of bread.
- Grate 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of swiss cheese is a medium bowl.
- Put 1 Tbsp of flour in bowl with cheese and toss cheese to coat it in the flour
- Heat up your double boiler, fondue pot, large pot with water and bring water to gentle boil
- Place top part of fondue pot over water, and place 1/2 cup beer in pot
- Add dry mustard, garlic powder, and pepper to beer
- Once beer is almost warm, add cheese about 1 tbsp at a time constantly stirring with fork until melted.
- Keep stirring until the cheese has a runny consistency, it should not be clumpy. If it is clumpy try adding a little bit more beer, just a little at a time until you achieve the desired consistency. If it is too runny add more cheese or a little more flour.
Don’t be afraid to play around with the mustard, garlic, and pepper. I usually just season to taste. You can always add more when you are melting the cheese. The beer adds such a great flavor to the fondue. I could eat a whole pot myself!
Drooling? Check out these Other Delicious Fondue Recipes:
- Swiss Herb Fondue Recipe
- S’Mores Chocolate Fondue
- Almond Joy Chocolate Fondue
- 35+ Easy Fondue Recipes
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Cut a loaf of French bread across in normal slices. Then cut these slices into 1 inch strips. Cut the strips in thirds to have cubes of bread. Grate 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of swiss cheese is a medium bowl. Put 1 Tbsp of flour in bowl with cheese and toss cheese to coat it in the flour Heat up your double boiler, fondue pot, large pot with water and bring water to gentle boil Place top part of fondue pot over water, and place 1/2 cup beer in pot Add dry mustard, garlic powder, and pepper to beer Once beer is almost warm, add cheese about 1 tbsp at a time constantly stirring with fork until melted. Keep stirring until the cheese has a runny consistency, it should not be clumpy. If it is clumpy try adding a little bit more beer, just a little at a time until you achieve the desired consistency. If it is too runny add more cheese or a little more flour. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.Melting Pot Copycat Beer Cheese Fondue
Ingredients
Instructions
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Foogan says
Do you ship? Lol
Crunchy Frugalista says
sadly, I don’t think it would arrive in a yummy state via mail.
Natasha Smith says
We tried your recipe for Christmas Eve and it was a HIT! We loved it. Thanks for sharing.
Crunchy Frugalista says
I am so glad that it worked out well for you! It’s been a staple in our house for years, Natasha. Stay tuned for an amazing chocolate fondue and some other cheese variations too!
mel says
This looks AMAZING. Love fondue!
Crunchy Frugalista says
Mel, it is amazing. If only I could make a low-fat/calorie free version of this recipe. I could eat this whole pot by myself.
Victoria says
I too love the Melting Pot. We passed one the other day and I was secretly wanting to run away for the afternoon! Ha!
I love your recipe, I will have to try it with my kids. I think fondue will be a wonderful Valentine’s Day treat for my kids. I remember loving fondue as a child (doesn’t everyone?) They will love this.
Thank you for the wonderful Valentine’s Day idea and recipe. I am sure my kids are going to thank you for this!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours,
Victoria
Drive Me Crazy Family Adventure
Crunchy Frugalista says
Victoria,Hope you enjoy the recipe! It’s great because you can make it your own without paying $100 per couple, and it’s really easy to make 🙂
Amber Edwards says
I have only ever done Chocolate fondue. IT was always so much fun. I really want to try Cheese fondue now! It’s scheduled as our date night in March. I’m so excited. I’ll have to bookmark this page, so we can make a delicious cheese fondue!! Thank you!!
Crunchy Frugalista says
If you love fondue, and you love cheese you are going to love this recipe. I don’t know which one I love more chocolate fondue or cheese. It’s a close tie!
Danielle says
Yum! We’ve never had fondue at home before but this sounds fabulous.
Motherhood on the Rocks says
Omgosh! I LOVE fondue! I really need to get a fondue pot so I can make some! I never thought about putting a metal bowl over hot water. Maybe I’ll try it. Your recipe sounds really good, too!
Becky says
I would love to try this for an upcoming fondue night, but I have a few friends who don’t drink alcohol/like the taste of beer. Is there something you can use as a substitute? Would broth work? Or too salty?
Crunchy Frugalista says
Becky, I personally hate the taste of beer, but it adds a good flavor. You can actually use non alcoholic beer if you would like, but even with alcoholic beer the alcohol is cooked off during the process. If that won’t work for you and you want to completely omit it, you don’t have to use a substitute and the fondue will work just fine with out it. Just add a little butter or milk if you find it too clumpy.
Caitlyn says
Do you use a certain type of beer or will any old beer work?
Ash Sears says
Caitlyn, Any old beer will work. We don’t drink beer so I seriously buy the cheapest one can beer I can find at the liquor store 😉
Jessica says
We love having fondue at home! It’s always a fun meal for holidays. I know The Melting Pot also adds Worcestershire sauce. I’m sure it’s yummy without it, but it adds a nice flavor :]
Ash Sears says
That sounds delicious! We opt out of the Worcestershire so it’s easier for peeps to make a gluten free option. Thanks for sharing 🙂