Oaxaca cheese, known as queso Oaxaca in Spanish, is a popular semi-soft white Mexican cheese originating from the state of Oaxaca. With its smooth, stretchy texture and mild, slightly salty flavor, this cheese makes a delicious addition to many dishes like quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas and more.
However, Oaxaca cheese can be difficult to find outside of Mexico and Latin grocery stores. So what can you use instead?
What Is Oaxaca Cheese
Before diving into substitutes, let's quickly go over what exactly Oaxaca cheese is.
Oaxaca cheese is named after the Oaxaca region of Mexico where it originates. It goes by a few other names as well, including:
- Quesillo ("little cheese" in Spanish)
- Oaxaca-style string cheese
- Mexican mozzarella
It has a smooth, semi-soft texture reminiscent of mozzarella and other string cheeses. When melted, Oaxaca cheese becomes silky and stretchy with long stringy strands.
The flavor of queso Oaxaca is buttery and mildly salty, with sweet, milky notes. It melts very well, making it a perfect topping for dishes like:
- Quesadillas
- Nachos
- Tacos
- Enchiladas
- Tostadas
- Chile rellenos
Oaxaca also works nicely by itself as a snacking cheese. Because it doesn't have an assertive taste, it pairs well with the robust, spicy flavors found in authentic Mexican cuisine without overpowering them.
Now let's look at some excellent substitutes you can use in place of queso Oaxaca.
Key Takeaway: Oaxaca cheese is a mild, semi-soft Mexican cheese known for its stretchy texture when melted. It is originally from the Oaxaca region of Mexico.
1. Mozzarella Cheese
Of all the alternatives for Oaxaca cheese, fresh mozzarella makes the best replacement in terms of mimicking both the taste and texture.
Made using a similar cheesemaking process, fresh mozzarella pulls apart into long strings and melts beautifully like Oaxaca cheese does. It shares an almost identical appearance as well - white, semi-soft and stringy.
The flavor of fresh mozzarella is mild, creamy and lightly salty, quite close to the taste of queso Oaxaca. For an even closer match, choose buffalo mozzarella made from the milk of water buffalos.
Mozzarella can be used in any recipe calling for Oaxaca cheese. Like Oaxaca, it works nicely in quesadillas, on nachos, pizza, baked dishes and more.
The only potential downside is that quality fresh mozzarella can be difficult to find depending on where you live. Low moisture supermarket mozzarella makes a decent substitute in a pinch.
Key Takeaway: Authentic fresh mozzarella (especially buffalo mozzarella) offers the closest match to Oaxaca cheese in terms of smooth, stretchy texture and mild salty flavor.
2. Queso Asadero
Queso asadero is a Mexican cheese originating from the state of Chihuahua. It makes an exceptional substitute for Oaxaca cheese since the two are very similar.
Like Oaxaca, asadero cheese uses a "pasta filata" technique which gives it a familiar stringy texture when melted. Flavor-wise, it shares the same creamy, mildly salty qualities with subtle sweetness.
Asadero cheese holds its shape better when melted compared to Oaxaca. So if you like some firmness to your melted cheese, asadero is a great choice over the ultra-stretchy Oaxaca.
This cheese can be used identically to queso Oaxaca in recipes - quesadillas, tacos, cheese dips and more. Just note that authentic asadero can also be difficult to source depending on where you live.
3. Queso Chihuahua
Named after Mexico's Chihuahua region, queso Chihuahua makes another fantastic substitute for Oaxaca cheese.
Like Oaxaca, Chihuahua cheese delivers excellent meltability with a mild, fresh dairy flavor barely aged. It shares a similar saltiness to queso Oaxaca as well.
While it doesn't have the stringy texture of Oaxaca, queso Chihuahua melts into a smooth, creamy consistency. It works wonderfully as a topping for dishes like:
- Quesadillas
- Nachos
- Enchiladas
- Tacos
- Chile rellenos
So when an Oaxaca cheese substitute is needed, don't overlook queso Chihuahua! Its excellent melting properties and fresh taste make it a versatile replacement.
Key Takeaway: Queso Chihuahua from Mexico shares the incredible melting abilities and mild flavor of Oaxaca cheese.
4. Monterey Jack Cheese
Monterey Jack is a popular Semi-soft American cheese that makes an easily accessible replacement for Oaxaca cheese.
To best mimic Oaxaca, use the unaged variety of Monterey Jack. Aged Jack has a sharper, more pronounced flavor.
Young Monterey Jack offers a very mild, delicate flavor with a hint of buttery sweetness, quite similar to queso Oaxaca.
Like Oaxaca, Monterey Jack also showcases fantastic meltability. It effortlessly transforms into a smooth, silky texture when heated. This makes it a handy substitute for Oaxaca cheese in recipes like quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas and more.
Since Monterey Jack is widely available in supermarkets across North America, it's one of the most convenient replacements when you can't find Oaxaca cheese locally.
5. Muenster Cheese
Muenster cheese is another tasty, melty choice that substitutes well for Oaxaca cheese.
This American cheese has a semi-soft texture and smooth melt. The flavor of Muenster lands somewhere between mild cheddar and Monterey Jack - fresh, buttery and slightly nutty.
Muenster doesn't have the stringy shredability of Oaxaca cheese. However, its excellent melting properties and mild flavor still make it a versatile substitute in recipes.
Use Muenster anywhere Oaxaca cheese is called for - quesadillas, nachos, enchiladas, fondue-style cheese dips and more. Since Muenster is easy to find in supermarkets, it's a convenient option when Oaxaca cheese isn't available.
6. Queso Fresco
Queso fresco is a fresh white Mexican cheese often used as a crumbling cheese. It makes an acceptable stand-in for Oaxaca cheese in certain recipes.
Unlike Oaxaca, queso fresco doesn't melt well. However, it offers a similar mild, fresh dairy flavor with a hint of saltiness.
Queso fresco is lovely crumbled over dishes like tostadas, salads, soups and tacos in the same way Oaxaca cheese can be used as a topping.
For any recipe requiring Oaxaca cheese to be melted, queso fresco won't work well. But otherwise, its bright salty flavor presents a tasty replacement. Thanks to its popularity, queso fresco can also be readily found in supermarkets.
7. Queso Blanco
Queso blanco translates to "white cheese" in Spanish. As its name implies, this fresh Mexican cheese is snow-white in color with a grainy, crumbly texture.
Similar to queso fresco, queso blanco is primarily used as a crumbling cheese rather than for melting. It boasts a mild, fresh flavor with a hint of saltiness much like queso Oaxaca.
Therefore, queso blanco makes a fine substitute for Oaxaca cheese when used as a garnish or topping. It can be sprinkled over items like tostadas, tacos or salads as a replacement for crumbled Oaxaca cheese.
Because queso blanco doesn't melt well, it won't mimic Oaxaca's stretchy texture when heated. But otherwise, it stands as a tasty, widely accessible alternative.
8. Halloumi Cheese
Halloumi cheese brings a unique twist when substituting for Oaxaca cheese.
This Greek cheese stands out for its exceptionally high melting point. When cooked, slices of Halloumi maintain their shape instead of getting soft and gooey.
The texture of raw Halloumi is slightly rubbery with a bit of bounce. Flavor-wise, it carries a salty, savory taste that's a touch stronger than Oaxaca cheese. Herbal notes ranging from mint to citrus sometimes come through as well.
Thanks to its high melt point, Halloumi cheese can be pan-fried or grilled until crisp on the outside while staying firm in the center, which makes for an awesome meat-free taco filling or topping in place of Oaxaca cheese!
The firmness and more pronounced flavor of Halloumi differentiate it from Oaxaca cheese. But its excellent cooking properties make it a fun and tasty substitute.
Key Takeaway: Dense Halloumi cheese can be pan-fried or grilled to mimic Oaxaca's firm yet stretchy melted texture.
9. String Cheese
The most convenient substitute for Oaxaca cheese is regular string cheese. Oaxaca cheese is known as Oaxacan-style string cheese after all.
Widely available in supermarkets and convenience shops across North America, string cheese imitates the salty flavor and pulled texture of Oaxaca cheese reasonably well.
Thanks to its mild taste, string cheese won't compete with the dynamic flavors of Mexican recipes. And just like Oaxaca cheese, string cheese effortlessly melts into stretchy strands when heated.
For an easy, inexpensive alternative with a comparable flavor and texture, look no further than common string cheese!
10. Provolone Cheese
Provolone cheese is an Italian dairy product that substitutes decently for Oaxaca cheese in certain applications.
In its young form (under 3 months of aging), Provolone offers a creamy texture reminiscent of Oaxaca, which becomes firmer upon longer aging. The flavor profile leans more towards tangy and nutty rather than mild.
When melted, Provolone showcases nice stretch similar to Oaxaca cheese. It works well as a pizza topping or in baked pasta recipes needing gooey melted cheese.
For recipes wanting shredded or crumbled Oaxaca cheese as a topping, mild Provolone used in crumbled form could also substitute in reasonably well.
So while it lacks the stringy shredability of Oaxaca cheese, Provolone's smooth melt and tang make it a potential stand-in for some recipes.
FAQs
What's the closest cheese to Oaxaca?
The closest match for Oaxaca cheese in flavor and texture is fresh mozzarella, especially Italian buffalo mozzarella. Queso asadero from Mexico also makes an excellent substitute.
What cheese melts like Oaxaca?
In addition to fresh mozzarella and queso asadero, other cheeses that melt well like Oaxaca include Monterey Jack, Muenster, queso Chihuahua, string cheese and Provolone.
What's a good vegetarian substitute for Oaxaca cheese?
For a meat-free substitute, try using Halloumi cheese, which firms up nicely when cooked while offering a salty flavor. Firm tofu also mimics Oaxaca's texture once heated. Crumble fresh goat cheese over dishes as an option as well.
Conclusion
With its smooth and stretchy melted texture paired with a mild, fresh dairy flavor, Oaxaca cheese makes a delicious, versatile addition to Mexican cuisine.