How to Use cotija in a Sentence

cotija

noun
  • Feel free to top with jalapeño slices, radish slices, cotija, lime, etc.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Add the fresh cotija cheese on top and serve with the corn totopos (chips).
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2020
  • Remove from heat and toss with corn and cotija (shrimp shouldn’t be fully cooked).
    — Kate Merker, Good Housekeeping, 4 May 2021
  • Bison burgers, elk stroganoff and wild game chili topped with cotija cheese are all on the menu here.
    — Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2025
  • Creamy cotija cheese and fresh cilantro make this salad the best side dish to bring to your next cookout.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 June 2024
  • Creamy cotija cheese and fresh cilantro make this salad the best side dish to bring to your next cookout.
    — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 4 June 2024
  • It's dusted with cotija cheese and served over a bed of crisp kettle chips with a side of elote dip.
    — Jessica Rodriguez, Journal Sentinel, 30 July 2024
  • Spread on tostadas, top with chicken and sprinkle with cotija and pickled jalapeño.
    — Tina Martinez, Good Housekeeping, 16 June 2023
  • Elote slathered with kewpie mayo, lime, chile, cotija and a sprinkling of furikake.
    — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Sprinkle the cotija cheese, scallions and cilantro over the pizza.
    — Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 8 July 2024
  • Crumble in some cotija or feta and eat it with flour tortillas for a simple lunch.
    — Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2021
  • The bread is placed in a ovenproof dish between layers of cotija cheese, roasted peanuts and raisins.
    — Janelle Davis, CNN, 6 Apr. 2023
  • Top with colorful pickled onions, jalapeños, cilantro, and salty cotija cheese to add brightness.
    — Ashley Rodriguez, Woman's Day, 4 Mar. 2021
  • The cotija and olive bits chime in occasionally with some good, punchy saltiness as well.
    — Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 10 Aug. 2020
  • Queso is softer, moister and more mild in flavor than cotija, which is saltier and more firm in texture.
    — Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 26 Aug. 2023
  • For a vegan version, just omit the final sprinkle of cotija cheese.
    — Elaine Johnson, Sunset Magazine, 1 Nov. 2022
  • Sprinkle each with about 2 tablespoons of cotija, feta, or goat cheese.
    — Sally Pasley Vargas, BostonGlobe.com, 2 May 2023
  • The elote was tasty, if slathered on our first visit with enough herb mayo and cotija to make a side of garlic bread and still have enough for the whole ear of corn.
    — Mrussell, oregonlive, 20 July 2023
  • The mixture of sour cream, cotija, and that vibrant, herbaceous sauce mixed with the egg yolk created the dressing of my dreams.
    — Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2024
  • The dish is simple, a bowl of roasted corn is topped with a large dollop of mayo and a tangy-spicy sauce, then dusted with cotija cheese and chili powder.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
  • Good cotija is hard, dry, salty and pungent, with the kind of bold, assertive personality that adds flavor to any dish.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
  • Add cucumber to bean salad or a Mexican corn salad with cotija cheese, lime, and cilantro.
    — Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Wisconsin Sweet Corn features sweet corn, lime, chili, chipotle, salt and cotija cheese.
    — Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2023
  • Once the eggs go in, be sure to keep the flame low and keep the pan covered while cooking, so the eggs stay soft and almost oozy at their yolk, and the cotija melts a bit.
    — Emily Weinstein, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024
  • Bad cotija is hopelessly bland, rubbery and ridiculously salty.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
  • Crunchy and satisfying, the flautas came topped with salsa roja, guacamole and cotija cheese.
    — Christopher Kimball, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2023
  • The fresh ribs of corn are a delightfully bright contrast against the warm brown sugar and tajin dusting, all strung together by cotija cheese.
    — Irene Milanez, Sacramento Bee, 25 July 2024
  • The company recalled this single batch of cotija cheese after Listeria was found in it.
    — Daphne Lee, Verywell Health, 8 Feb. 2024
  • The meat version of this specialty pie is made with a spicy crema base, then topped with chicken, roasted corn, onion, jalapeños, cotija cheese, cilantro, tajin and lime.
    — Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2024
  • Two crisp tostadas encase two eggs made to order — over easy in my case — with crisp bites of pork chicharrons, pico de gallo, tomato and red sauces, cilantro and cotija cheese.
    — Mara Severin | Eating Out, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Apr. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cotija.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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