Cheese Fondue: Best Dipping Foods To Serve

Cheese fondue is a simple dish of melted cheese and wine, and people can dip almost anything into it. The traditional pairing is stale bread, but there are many more options for enjoying this cheesy treat these days. Cured meats, baby potatoes, and even fresh vegetables all have their place on the table. Here are some of the best things to serve with cheese fondue:

- Bread: French baguettes, sourdough, breadsticks, bagels, croutons, or pretzels

- Crispy potatoes: homemade french fries, roasted or baked potatoes, or potato chips

- Fruits: apples, pears, grapes, avocados, or cherry tomatoes

- Vegetables: broccoli, bell peppers, asparagus, carrots, or artichoke hearts

- Meatballs

- Sausage

- Poached chicken

- Steak

- Shrimp

Characteristics	Values
Bread	French bread, breadsticks, croutons, multigrain bread, rye, sourdough, pumpernickel, bagels, baguettes, pretzels, focaccia, gluten-free bread, rosemary parmesan bread, cornbread, pita chips
Crackers	Wheat crackers, tortilla chips, crispy garlic basil chips, sweet chipotle bacon crackers
Chips	Potato chips, tortilla chips, mojo potatoes, crispy garlic basil chips, sweet chipotle bacon crackers, pita chips
Meat	Meatballs, steak, grilled beef or chicken, poached chicken, cured meats (salami, prosciutto, chorizo), sausages, kielbasa, pepperoni, beef jerky, Lil Smokies
Seafood	Shrimp, crab, lobster, crab legs
Vegetables	Broccoli, Cauliflower, bell peppers, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, green beans, artichoke hearts, celery, fennel, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, radishes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, baby potatoes, boiled veggies, roasted veggies, air fryer veggies
Fruits	Apples, Pears, Pineapple, Grapes, Avocados, Cherry Tomatoes, Mango
Salads	Citrus and arugula salad, apple fennel radish salad, lemon arugula salad with pine nuts

Bread, crackers and chips

Bread is a classic choice to serve with cheese fondue. Crusty bread is the best at soaking up the cheese, and a baguette or French bread are good options. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes so that it can be easily skewered. You can also make your own bread by baking a couple of fresh baguettes or a simple, no-knead peasant loaf. Alternatively, buy a sourdough loaf from the store.

If you're looking for a more casual option, crackers are also a great choice to serve with cheese fondue. They provide a crunchy texture that pairs well with the creamy cheese.

For an even quicker and more convenient option, you can serve chips with your cheese fondue. Potato chips, in particular, make a great dipping option, especially if you're short on time.

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Meat and seafood

When serving cheese fondue, meat and seafood can be excellent additions to the dish. Here are some ideas for meat and seafood to serve with cheese fondue:

Meat

Grilled steak
Poached chicken
Cooked ham
Cured meats, such as beef jerky, kielbasa, pepperoni, salami, and sausage
Meatballs
Filet mignon
Prosciutto
Chorizo

Seafood

When it comes to seafood, lightly steamed options such as shrimp, crab, or lobster can add an elegant and decadent touch to your cheese fondue. Grilled, roasted, sautéed, or fried shrimp is also a perfect addition to the classic cheese fondue, especially when cooked with a bit of minced garlic and chopped parsley for an extra flavour kick.

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Vegetables

Cheese fondue is a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables, and there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some ideas for vegetables to serve with your fondue:

Raw Vegetables

If you're short on time or simply prefer your veggies raw, celery, fennel spears, carrots, and cherry tomatoes go well with cheese fondue. You can also serve them with a dip like hummus or ranch dressing on the side.

Blanched Vegetables

For a quick dip in boiling water, try broccoli, asparagus, green beans, snow peas, or snap peas. Just be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before serving.

Roasted Vegetables

If you have a little more time, roasting vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper slices, celery sticks, potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, or mushrooms can add a nice depth of flavour to your fondue spread.

Steamed Vegetables

For a healthier option, steaming vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, or green beans will retain more nutrients than boiling.

Pickled Vegetables

For something a little different, try offering pickled vegetables like pearl onions, pickles, or sweet gherkins. Just be sure to pat them dry before serving to avoid watering down your fondue!

Other Vegetable Ideas

Some other vegetables that you can serve with fondue include zucchini, baby potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and radishes.

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Fruits

Cheese fondue is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of fruits. Here are some ideas for fruits that you can serve with your cheese fondue:

Apples

Apples are a classic pairing with cheese, and they make a perfect dipper for cheese fondue. The crunchy, crisp tartness of an apple is a perfect match when paired with melted cheese. Granny Smith apples are particularly recommended as their tart flavour complements the creaminess of the fondue nicely.

Pears

Pears are another fruit that pairs well with cheese. Bosc pears, in particular, have nutmeg and cinnamon undertones that bring out the spices found in many fondues. Like apples, pears can be cut into slices and laid out for guests to dip as they please.

Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits, such as oranges and tangerines, can also be served with cheese fondue. Cut these fruits into thick wedges and dip them into the warm, gooey cheese.

Apricots, Nectarines, and Peaches

If you prefer sweeter fruit with milder cheese, then apricots, nectarines, and peaches are excellent choices. Choose firm fruit instead of ripe and mushy ones for the best dipping experience.

Cherries

While not mentioned as frequently as some other fruits, cherries are also a great option for a fruit fondue. Their sweet and tangy flavour will complement the cheese, and their stems make them easy to dip.

When preparing fruit to serve with cheese fondue, it is important to cut the fruit into a size and shape that is easy to dip. You may also want to provide your guests with skewers or long-stemmed forks to make dipping easier and avoid any messy fingers.

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Salads

Citrus and Arugula Salad with Marcona

This salad has a light flavour and texture, making it a perfect side dish to balance the richness of the fondue.

Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts

This salad is a little more complex, incorporating Parmesan, pine nuts, and heirloom tomatoes. It can also be served as an appetizer before the fondue.

Apple Fennel Radish Salad

This salad is a refreshing option that combines radish, apple, and fennel. It's sure to impress your guests with its simple preparation and delicious flavour.

Tropical Mango Coleslaw

This coleslaw blends sweet and savoury flavours and is a great palette cleanser between bites of cheese fondue. It's also dairy-free and mayonnaise-free, making it a refreshing option.

Grilled Veggie Skewers

These skewers are a healthy dipping option and a great way to celebrate seasonal vegetables. They are full of smoky flavour and can be served alongside other grilled items like meat or seafood.

In addition to these salad options, you can also serve a variety of raw or roasted vegetables on the side, such as asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, green beans, mushrooms, pickles, roasted baby potatoes, and more. These vegetables can be easily skewered and dipped into the fondue.