Cheese is one of those foods that’s so irresistible that it can alter someone’s life. We know vegetarians who couldn’t go vegan because of cheese, we have friends who are lactose intolerant but power through the pain and consume cheese regularly, and we even have family members who consider cheese and cheese alone to be a perfectly acceptable meal. If you get struck by a cheese craving while pondering your next meal, try one of these 21 ooey-gooey cheese recipes.
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Aligot
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Aligot is one of the top French comfort foods, so you know it’s gotta have a lot of cheese. Exactly how much cheese is in these cheesy, fondue-like mashed potatoes? This recipe from Tasting Table calls for 2 lbs of potatoes and 1.5 lbs of cheese. (Tomme d'Auvergne is the preferred variety, but half mozzarella and half Gruyere also works.)
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Baked ziti
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When it comes to baked ziti, we don’t just like our cheese gooey, we like it borderline burnt! But don’t let us sway you, crisp up this dish from Simply Recipes—which uses more than 3 cups of cheese!—to your liking
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Brie bites
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Each one of these flaky, bite-sized bits of bliss contains a chunk of creamy brie. The recipe from Well Plated by Erin also calls for cranberry sauce and pecans, making these gooey treats great hors d'oeuvres for the holiday season.
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Cheese-stuffed burger
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Putting cheese on a burger is so 20th Century—this recipe from The Chunky Chef stuffs each patty with a quarter-cup of oozing cheddar cheese. Now that space on top of the burger can be used for lettuce, tomato, bacon, crispy onions, jalapenos, or whatever other toppings you like!
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Cheesy garlic bread
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Doesn’t offering cheesy bread as a side dish for pizza seem like a huge scam? That meal is basically bread topped with cheese and sauce, with a side of bread topped with cheese and a side of sauce. So if you’re going to treat yourself to cheesy bread, at least save a little money and make it yourself—using this seven-ingredient version from The Recipe Critic.
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Cheesy grits
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We’re not sure how much cheese needs to be added to grits in order for them to be called “cheesy grits,” but we’re pretty sure the 24 oz of cheddar that goes into Paula Deen’s baked garlic cheese grits is enough to qualify. Get the recipe from Food.com.
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Chicken cordon bleu
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Each of the breasts in this chicken cordon bleu recipe from Tasty is stuffed with four slices of Swiss cheese, as well as half a pound of ham. The final product also gets slathered in a creamy dijon sauce—which contains a full cup of cheese!
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Chicken enchiladas
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Enchiladas can be made in a few different ways, including simultaneously filled with cheese and covered with cheese. Let Gimme Some Oven guide you through the process for chicken enchiladas with a recipe that does, in fact, involve your oven.
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Chili cheese dog
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Chili cheese dogs make us think of the summer, regardless of what time of year we eat them. You can probably figure out this simple meal yourself, or check out this recipe from The Cozy Cook, which contains an additional recipe for homemade chili!
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Chorizo quesadillas
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A quesadilla seems like the South of the Border way to eat as much cheese as possible, as the only required ingredients are a thin tortilla (or two) and a whole bunch of cheese. Of course, you can also add chicken, steak, veggies, or numerous other ingredients—like these chorizo and jalapeno quesadillas from Sainsbury's Magazine.
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Pizza is among the cheesiest foods, and deep-dish pizza is its cheesiest form, so of course, we had to include a Chicago-style pie in this list. New to this Windy City delicacy? Sally’s Baking Addiction has a step-by-step guide complete with photos.
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Egg muffins
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No, not Egg McMuffins—which are egg sandwiches served on English muffins and trademarked by McDonald’s. We’re talking about egg and cheese (and optional meat) cups that make for a less messy and more meal prep-friendly breakfast. These breakfast beauties from Julia’s Album use bacon, spinach, 2 cups of cheddar, and even some optional parmesan cheese for topping!
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Eggplant parmesan
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Chicken parm, veal parm, sausage parm, shrimp parm—it’s all accepted (and welcomed!) on our table...mostly because they’re all covered in melty cheese. We want to keep this recipe vegetarian-friendly, so we’re going with this classic eggplant parmesan from A Simple Palate.
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French onion soup
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Let’s be honest: The broth of French onion soup is tasty, but the best part is the bread or croutons on top that get covered in a layer of melted cheese—and a thick layer, if we’re making it. Try this version from Belly Full.
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Garlic parmesan mac and cheese
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A pound of pasta gets mixed with a Béchamel sauce and tossed in more than 2 cups of cheese in this garlic parmesan mac and cheese recipe from Cafe Delites. It also gets topped with a mixture of butter and panko breadcrumbs!
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Lasagna
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Lasagna—the baked Italian classic—is named for the type of large, flat pasta it uses. But pasta has just a supporting role, as the dish contains a startling amount of cheese. This version from Allrecipes calls for 16 ounces of ricotta, almost a pound of mozzarella, and nearly a cup of parmesan.
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Mozzarella sticks
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Mozzarella sticks are easily one of the most overpriced appetizers, which is why we’re fans of making them at home. This recipe from Dinner at the Zoo perfects the process, as it calls for dipping the cheese sticks in eggs and breadcrumbs twice, freezing them, and then frying them in oil.
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Nacho cheese dip
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Want to mimic the kind of nacho cheese dip you might find at a stadium or movie theater concession stand? Try this recipe from Lil’ Luna, which only requires six ingredients: butter, flour, milk, salt, jalapenos, and eight slices of cheese.
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Pulled pork grilled cheese
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Most people have a go-to way to make grilled cheese, but it’s fun to switch things up from time to time. Try adding some extra protein in the form of pulled pork with this recipe from The Cookie Rookie—but feel free to upgrade the cheese and bread with your favorite varieties!
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Skillet nachos
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In this skillet nachos recipe from Taste of Home, you cook everything—ground beef, tomatoes, corn, rice, and seasonings—in the same pan. You even add the cheese right in the pan and then cover it to commence the melting. After that, simply spoon it over the tortilla chips and add your favorite toppings!
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Swiss cheese fondue
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A pound of Gruyere and half a pound of Swiss cheese go into this fondue recipe from Food & Wine. And as it suggests in the recipe, potatoes, bread, and pears are all awesome options for dipping, as are broccoli florets, peppers, and steak!
