Taco Johns is a popular fast food chain known for its tasty tacos and burritos. One of the key ingredients in many Taco Johns menu items is cheese. Cheese adds a delicious flavor and texture to foods like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos. But with so many different types of cheese out there, from cheddar to pepper jack, many Taco Johns customers wonder – what type of cheese does Taco Johns use on their food?
Taco Johns Main Cheese Types
After thorough research into Taco Johns ingredients and menu items, it appears they primarily use the following types of cheese:
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is a widely popular semi-hard cheese that originates from England. It has a distinctive orange color and a rich, tangy flavor. Many Taco Johns tacos, burritos, nachos, and potato ole’s are made with cheddar cheese. For example, their Beef Tacos, Bean Burritos, and Loaded Nachos all contain cheddar cheese.
Monterey Jack Cheese
Monterey Jack is a white, semi-hard cheese made using cow’s milk. It has a very mild flavor and melts easily, making it a perfect choice for melted cheese dishes. Taco Johns uses Monterey Jack cheese on menu items like their Crispy Potato Tacos, Beef Quesadillas, and Breakfast Burritos. The mild taste of Monterey Jack complements the other taco fillings nicely.
Pepper Jack Cheese
Pepper jack is a spicy, southwestern-style cheese that contains bits of chili pepper. The heat from the peppers gives it a kick. Pepper jack cheese can be found on Taco Johns menu items like their Southwest Chicken Tacos, Spicy Chicken Burritos, and Jalapeno Poppers. The spiciness of the pepper jack pairs well with these more complex, flavorful menu items.
Why These Cheese Types?
There are likely several reasons why Taco Johns chooses to use these main cheese types across their menu:
Popularity
Cheddar, monterey jack, and pepper jack are all extremely popular cheese varieties in Mexican and Tex-Mex style cuisine. Americans know and love the flavors of these cheeses, so Taco Johns uses them to appeal to consumer preferences.
Melting Ability
All three of these cheeses are known for melting very smoothly. This makes them perfect for melted cheese dishes like nachos, quesadillas, and tacos where you want the cheese to get gooey and coat the other ingredients.
Flavor Compatibility
The tanginess of cheddar, mildness of monterey jack, and heat of pepper jack all complement Mexican-inspired ingredients like beef, beans, chicken, and spices very well. The cheeses add flavor without overpowering the other taco fillings.
Consistency
By using just these main cheese types across their menu, Taco Johns is able to achieve a consistent flavor profile that customers recognize. This coherence in ingredients helps build their brand identity.
Less Common Cheeses at Taco Johns
While cheddar, monterey jack, and pepper jack make up the bulk of the cheese used at Taco Johns, they do incorporate a few other cheese varieties on select menu items:
Queso Cheese Sauce
Many Taco Johns locations offer queso cheese sauce as a dip for chips and potatoes. Their zesty queso sauce contains a smooth, liquid cheese blend.
Crema Cheese
Some Taco Johns tacos are topped with crema, a cream-based condiment made from sour cream, buttermilk, and cheese. It adds a cool, tangy contrast.
Cotija Cheese
Occasionally, cotija – a crumbled Mexican cheese similar to feta – is used as taco topping for added salty flavor.
Cheese Forms at Taco Johns
Taco Johns uses their cheddar, pepper jack, and monterey jack cheese in these main forms:
Shredded
A shredded cheese blend is used on items like nachos, burritos, and loaded potatoes to provide cheesy coverage across the toppings. Shredded cheese melts nicely.
Sliced
For quesadillas and cheese crisps, sliced cheeses are layered between the tortillas or shells and melted until ooey-gooey. Slices melt evenly.
Liquid
The queso dipping sauce is made from liquid cheese that has been spiced and smoothed out into a pourable nacho topper.
Crumbled
Crumbled cotija or feta cheese is used as a garnish on some tacos for added bursts of salty flavor.
Taco Johns Signature Cheesy Items
Some of Taco Johns most popular cheesy menu items that contain cheddar, pepper jack, and monterey jack include:
Loaded Nachos
These nachos are piled high with taco meat, beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, and a melted three cheese blend.
Potato Oles
These crispy potato nuggets are tossed in a creamy, cheesy sauce made with cheddar and monterey jack.
Beef Quesadillas
Melted pepper jack cheese is layered between flour tortillas with taco beef in these quick melted quesadillas.
Breakfast Burrito
Eggs, sausage, potato, beans, pico, and cheddar cheese are wrapped up in this cheesy breakfast standard.
Nutrition Information
Here is the nutrition information for some of Taco Johns popular cheesy menu items:
| Menu Item | Calories | Total Fat | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loaded Nachos | 740 | 37g | 26g |
| Potato Oles | 530 | 26g | 12g |
| Beef Quesadilla | 520 | 28g | 22g |
| Breakfast Burrito | 730 | 37g | 29g |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the most common cheeses used at Taco Johns are cheddar, monterey jack, and pepper jack. These are incorporated into menu items like nachos, quesadillas, burritos, and more. Their popularity, melting ability, and flavor compatibility make them the right cheeses for Taco Johns Tex-Mex style cuisine. Understanding which cheeses Taco Johns uses can help customers know what to expect from the cheesy deliciousness of their food!