There are not many foods on this planet that will soothe your soul the way that cheese does. Cheesy recipes like grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni and cheese are classic comfort foods, but that is only part of what cheese can do.
Cheese can add ooey-gooey goodness to every meal. And during the holidays or on a special occasion, a cheesy dish is just the thing to serve to your guests.
Winter is the perfect time for a hot, cheesy feast. Here are 20 cheesy recipes from appetizers to desserts that everyone in your family will love.
1. Cheddar And Bacon Puffs
If you need the perfect appetizer for your next party or are looking for a delicious snack for movie night, try these cheddar and bacon puffs from The Spruce Eats. This easy-to-follow recipe has 10 ingredients, and you probably already have them all in your kitchen.
If you have leftovers, just throw them in the freezer. Then, when you are ready for more, you can easily reheat them in an oven at 350 degrees.
2. The Best Queso
Just because a recipe is simple doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. If you need an amazing cheese dip for your next party, avoid buying that block of processed cheese and that can of tomatoes and chilis (you know what we’re talking about).
Instead, try this queso recipe from A Spicy Perspective. This recipe is loaded with cream cheese, cheddar, smoked cheddar, and sharp cheddar, plus it features tips on how to make your dip thick and creamy.
This dip has a ton of bold flavors. It is so good that you will want to lick the bowl clean!
3. Garlic Cheese Bombs
Biscuits are awesome. Not only can you load them up with jelly and eat them for breakfast, but they can also be a delicious, buttery side dish for a creamy soup or casserole. However, adding cheese and garlic will take your biscuit game to a whole new level.
You can serve these garlic cheese bombs from Spend With Pennies as an appetizer or side dish.
4. Smoky Three-Cheese Fondue
We are fans of any recipe that features over a pound of cheese, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Fondue is a fantastic option for a holiday party or Friday night dinner with the family. This cheese fondue recipe from Half Baked Harvest is the perfect dipping option for the buttered, toasted croissants that go with it.
You can also dip veggies, fresh fruit, or seared meats. But you really can’t beat the bread-and-cheese combo.
5. Spinach Artichoke Macaroni And Cheese
We couldn’t have a cheesy recipe list without a macaroni and cheese recipe, and this one for spinach artichoke macaroni and cheese is absolute heaven. This recipe comes from Yammie’s Noshery, and it features fresh veggies, four different types of cheese, noodles, half-and-half, and a few seasonings.
All you have to do is look at the pictures of this creamy pasta dish, and you will want to make it immediately.
6. Fried-Chicken-And-Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Fried chicken and waffles is a classic American breakfast dish. But if you want to blow your family away, serve them this life-changing fried-chicken-and-waffle grilled cheese sandwich from Grilled Cheese Social for dinner.
This sweet and savory creation features crispy fried chicken, melted cheese, and hot honey between two buttery waffles. It’s so delicious that you will dream about it.
7. Cheese Wontons With Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
If you haven’t enjoyed the wonderful flavor pairing of cheese wontons and honey mustard sauce, then you are missing out. Jennifer from Show Me The Yummy introduced her groundbreaking flavor combo with this recipe that has extra thick and crunchy wontons and a honey mustard sauce that you will want to dip everything in.
It’s the cheesiness from the wonton that makes the honey mustard extra good. Once you start eating these, you won’t be able to stop.
8. Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole
The perfect breakfast or side dish for brunch, this cheesy hashbrown casserole from Julie at Table For Two is a simple recipe that you can prepare at night and then pop into the oven when you wake up the next morning. One serving won’t be enough!
9. White Pizza Dip
Jessica at How Sweet Eats tells the story of how four adults ate 28 ounces of cheese with this amazing white pizza dip recipe. This dip is insane, and everyone will go crazy for it.
Try it with this white pizza pull-apart bread that looks so cheesy and delicious you will go straight to the grocery store to buy the ingredients.
10. Baked Cheesy Ranch Potatoes
This recipe has just four ingredients, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. These baked cheesy ranch potatoes from Natasha’s Kitchen are hard to resist but easy to make. Even if you don’t love potatoes, this dish might win you over.
11. Mini Meatball Grilled Cheese Sandwich
If you love meatball subs and grilled cheese sandwiches, then this recipe is for you. It comes from How Sweet Eats, and it is the perfect weeknight dinner for two. However, if you need to feed the whole family, you will need to double or triple the recipe.
12. Crispy Bacon Grilled Cheese Rollups
Another recipe from Spend With Pennies, this snack is delicious cheesy goodness that the whole family will love. After you make these, it will be a challenge not to eat them all up before anyone else gets their hands on them.
13. Cheesy Taco Pasta
Forget Hamburger Helper. You don’t need it to make an easy pasta dish. This cheesy taco pasta from The Diary of a Real Housewife uses just five ingredients — one being shredded Mexican cheese. In just 30 minutes, you will have a cheesy meal the whole family will love.
14. Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas
We can’t not include Tex-Mex on this list, and you can easily whip up this recipe for cheesy chicken quesadillas from Written Reality. All you’ll need to do is pick up a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store, then add some cream cheese, Monterey Jack, salsa, and a few spices. Just don’t forget to serve sour cream or guacamole on the side.
15. Mozzarella-Stuffed Rosemary-And-Parmesan Soft Pretzels
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of making pretzel dough from scratch. Ashley from Baker By Nature gives all the tips you need to make the perfect dough, and it is a lot easier than you would think. Add some Italian cheese and fresh herbs, and you’ll have the perfect cheesy snack.
16. Tomato And Grilled Cheese Soup
We used to think that there was nothing better on Earth than a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, but now we realize we were wrong. This soup recipe from The Cozy Apron merges two amazing things into one, and it’s a food creation for the ages.
17. Cauliflower Gratin
If you need a vegetarian side dish for your holiday dinner — or maybe you are trying to avoid carb-loaded pasta and potatoes — try this recipe for cheesy cauliflower gratin from Coley Cooks. The panko breadcrumbs in the topping will add some carbs to the dish, but you can easily avoid them if you need to.
18. Southern Pimento Cheeseburger
We had to give some love to pimento on this list, and the best way to do that was to share this recipe from Christin at Spicy Southern Kitchen. The flavors in this recipe are divine. There is so much cheesy goodness that it covers the entire burger. Just be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand.
19. One-Pan Cheesy Smoked Sausage And Pasta
This recipe from the Budget Savvy Diva is easy to make, and it is also kind to your wallet. To make it even better, there are tips for making sure this dish works for anyone who is lactose intolerant. You can easily double the recipe for a large dinner party, and even the kids in the house will ask for seconds.
20. Copycat Cheesecake
If you are a cheesecake fan, then you must try this Cheesecake Factory copycat recipe from Catalina at Sweet And Savory Meals. Copycat recipes are always a lot of fun, especially when they turn out just as good as — or better than — the real deal.
This recipe uses just a handful of ingredients, features a buttery graham cracker crust, and the thin sour cream layer on top balances out the sweetness. Add some whipped cream and strawberries on the side, and you will have the perfect dessert.
If you have tried to make cheesecake in the past and have had problems with cracking, this recipe will give you tips on how to prevent that from happening.
We know you have some hungry mouths to feed. So load up on different kinds of cheese during your next trip to the grocery store, and have fun with any or all of these recipes.
