Easy Swiss Cheese Fondue

Dunk into this easy, meltingly delicious Swiss Cheese Fondue at home. This classic fondue recipe is crazy simple to make at home in under 30 minutes and perfect for parties large or small!

Cheese lovers, this one’s for you! The perfect party starter, Swiss Cheese Fondue is as simple as it gets. Melty goodness that’s savory, salty, buttery perfection that’s perfect for casual dinner party, fondue night or a low-budget meal of leftovers at the end of the week.

We love going to our local Melting Pot, a cheese fondue restaurant, for the whole fondue experience but our favorite thing ever is the cheese fondue followed by a pot of Chocolate Fondue. This recipe is totally inspired by the Melting Pot Cheese fondue recipe and you may never need to leave your house again.

This is one of my favorite things to serve for a special occasion and this easy recipe has made it a great family tradition because it’s ready in minutes. So, get your fondue forks ready and let’s get dipping.

Ingredients You Will Need

• Cheese – I like to use a mix of different types of cheeses. By using a mix of Swiss cheeses like Jarlsberg, Emmental cheese and Gruyere cheese, you elevate the complexity of flavor in this fondue recipe.
• Cornstarch – Using corn starch helps thicken the fondue and prevents it from separating.
• Wine – Use a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc, choose something you would naturally pair with cheese.
• Mustard – Use a dry mustard to add bright and tangy flavor which helps balance the richness of the cheese.
• Nutmeg – Ground nutmeg adds a warm, nutty flavor to the fondue. Don’t skip it, it’s like the secret ingredient you didn’t know you needed in your life.
• Garlic – One garlic clove will go a long way since you’re just coating the fondue pot with the oils of the garlic.

For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.

How To Make Cheese Fondue

1. Grate the cheese and toss with cornstarch in a large bowl, set aside.
2. Bring the wine to a boil over medium heat in a medium pot.
3. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in cheese in 1/2 cup increments until the cheese melts and is smooth.
4. Stir the nutmeg and mustard into the melted cheese. Season with kosher salt and white pepper.
5. Rub the inside of a fondue pot or mini crock pot with a cut garlic clove. Be sure to coat the sides and bottom of the pot, thoroughly.
6. Transfer the fondue to the pot and serve with dippers for dipping into the gooey cheese.

What Cheese To Use for Fondue

The first rule of fondue making, use a high quality cheese. Using a low grade cheese will lead to lumpy, grainy fondue. Since this recipe is highly dependent on the cheese, stick with one that has a high meltability, great flavor and finish.

Due to this being a Swiss Cheese Fondue, I like to use a blend of mild and stronger flavored Swiss cheeses like Jarlsberg and Gruyere.

Grate the cheese using your food processor or the coarse side of the box grater. Grated cheese will melt easily and quickly eliminating clumping. Do not use pre-shredded cheese in a bag because it will not be smooth and could end up separating or developing a grainy texture over time.

Simple Tips for Perfect Cheese Fondue

To ensure your cheese fondue turns out perfectly, follow these easy tips.

• Grate – Coarsely grate the cheese for easy meltability.
• Cornstarch – Toss the cheese in cornstarch to coat evenly. The cornstarch helps prevent the cheese from clumping and allows the fondue to become velvety smooth.
• Wine – The wine you choose is important here….use a white that you love the flavor of. Choose something dry with a high acidity which helps the cheese remain smooth while it’s simmering in the fondue pot.
• Non-alcoholic Fondue – If you don’t want to use wine, you can substitute with apple cider for a more traditional flavor or chicken stock for a more savory flavor.
• Beer – Looking for something more hoppy? Try subbing the wine with beer and the cheese with cheddar for a Beer Cheddar Fondue!
• Grate – Coarsely grate the cheese for easy meltability.
• Cornstarch – Toss the cheese in cornstarch to coat evenly. The cornstarch helps prevent the cheese from clumping and allows the fondue to become velvety smooth.
• Wine – The wine you choose is important here….use a white that you love the flavor of. Choose something dry with a high acidity which helps the cheese remain smooth while it’s simmering in the fondue pot.
• Non-alcoholic Fondue – If you don’t want to use wine, you can substitute with apple cider for a more traditional flavor or chicken stock for a more savory flavor.
• Beer – Looking for something more hoppy? Try subbing the wine with beer and the cheese with cheddar for a Beer Cheddar Fondue!

What is cheese fondue?

Cheese fondue is simply cheese sauce or cheese that’s been melted in wine. Or beer, if you’re making a Beer Cheese Fondue, for instance.

A favorite for hosting friends and the entire family during the holidays, there’s no food that brings a group together better than a pot of melty fondue. It’s the perfect centerpiece to your Christmas or New Year’s Eve party.

We like to have a big pot on the table for Christmas morning brunch for everyone to dip into while I’m getting the rest of the spread together. It keeps everyone busy and satisfied if things take a little longer than expected. And who doesn’t love a big vat of bubbling cheese to dip bread into?

Plus, the history of cheese fondue states that if a woman drops a dipper into the pot, she must kiss every man at the table. However, if a man drops the dipper into the pot, he must buy everyone a round of drinks. You can use these rules as you see fit, or make up your own. I like to think the dipper dropper has to do the dishes, and I’m sticking to that.

What To Dip In Fondue

This is the fun part….the sky’s the limit but here are a few of our favorites!

• Bread – Pumpernickel is traditional but we love lightly toasted brioche cubes, too. The buttery flavor is perfect with the cheese although we do love sourdough and French bread cubes.
• Vegetables – Anything from carrots to blanched broccoli florets will work here. Or use leftover roasted baby potatoes for starchy heaven. I also love cherry tomatoes and Brussels sprouts.
• Fruit – Sliced apples and pears are heaven in cheese fondue.
• Pickles – Any type of pickle will work here and definitely give it a try even though it seems weird. We, especially, love this Pickled Okra for dipping!

What Fondue Pot To Use

You don’t have to own a fondue set to enjoy fondue but it does help keep your cheese melty smooth until you’ve enjoyed every last drop.

• Electric Fondue Pot – While I love the temperature control of most electric fondue pots, the cord does limit where you can place your pot. Electric models can be used for cheese, oil and chocolate fondue so it’s incredibly versatile. (affiliate link)
• Classic Fondue Pot – I prefer this type of pot which comes in ceramic, metal or cast iron because I can plop it right in front of my guests wherever we may be. You will need to use a single use Sterno can and keep an eye on it because it will burn out causing the temperature to drop. I recommend this ceramic fondue pot because it’s simple and elegant. (affiliate link)
• Crock Pot – I LOVE the mini Crock Pot for fondue, too. It’s an incredibly versatile tool that you can use for many other things if you don’t want the unitasker that a fondue pot tends to be.

More Easy Appetizer Ideas

• If you love this Cheese Fondue, you should also try this easy White Queso. It’s like Mexico’s version of fondue. Or try this Beer Cheese Dip!
• For a bigger crowd, we love to make an epic charcuterie board or smaller, personal charcuterie board for a more intimate gathering.
• You may also love this easy, cheesy Crab Dip, so good!
• Round it out with a pot of Chocolate Fondue, it’s so smooth and decadent.

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