Cheese is seriously one of my very favorite ingredients. My husband always says cheese should be it’s own food group! I mean who doesn’t like ooey gooey cheesy goodness (I guess probably people that are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies – but let’s be real some of those people still love cheese). So you can imagine that I have quite a few recipes loaded with cheese. I scrolled through my many many recipes and picked out some of the most popular as well as some of my personal favorites to pull together 15 of my Cheesiest Recipes.
When it comes to cooking with cheese you are going to need some tools to get the job done. The most obvious is a cheese grater. While they are super handy – I don’t use one often. I actually prefer to use the food processor to shred my cheese. I find that it makes for a more even melt. I also like to use my meat slicer to get even slices of cheese for burgers and sandwiches.
And without further adieu – here are the 15 Cheesiest Recipes from the blog!
Creamy Cheesy Beefy Pasta – Some people shy away from cooking pasta in a One-Pot style dish – but it really does work. You get excellent flavor into the pasta and it creates it’s own sauce in the end. Essentially it is like make Hamburger Helper from scratch using real ingredients. Creamy Cheesy Beefy Pasta is so easy to make, you are going to be shocked at how flavorful and filling it is.
Cheesy Chicken Orzo – Often times, simple meals are the best meals. Cheese, chicken and pasta – what’s not to love about a quick and easy weeknight meal that they whole family is going to enjoy. Cheesy Chicken Orzo is the perfect busy weeknight meal. It does not take a long time prep and cook. It does not use a ton of dishes to make. And it one that will keep and easily warm up, if people have differently things going on and have to eat at different times.
Cheesy Shredded Beef Burritos – A nice big burrito makes for a great weeknight dinner – especially if you have the meat cooking in the slow cooker all day. This tender chipotle shredded beef is layered up with a bean mixture, rice and plenty of cheese. I also go a little extra on this one by toasting some cheese on the outside of the burrito to get some great texture. These Cheesy Shredded Beef Burritos are going to be a surefire win on your family dinner table!
Mini Meatball Mac & Cheese – Everyone loves a bit ol bowl of mac and cheese for dinner – so lets make it a little extra with some adorable mini meatballs and crispy bacon! This recipe for Mini Meatball Mac & Cheese will be one that get requested time after time. It’s pretty easy to put together and you likely have most of the ingredients on hand, as they are all staples in most home cooking kitchens.
Classic Smashburgers – As you know, we eat a lot of burgers! Usually at least once a week – and while some weeks I get really creative and make things like a Bahn MI Burger or Muenster Burgers, lots of times it’s a more simple version – like this Classic Smashburger. You have the guilty pleasures of super melty American cheese with the simple addition of lettuce, onion and pickle. I have included my recipe for Homemade Fry sauce below the smashburger recipe. If you have an alternative sauce you prefer, by all means.
Cheesy Chicken Fajita Tacos – Tacos are a homemade on a weeknight staple kind of meal. Whether you choose to have them on Tuesdays with so many others the world over – or not – tacos are tailormade for simple weeknight cooking. All you really need is a protein (which is easy enough to get marinating the night before), some veggies, cheese, and a sauce with a tortilla and you are ready to go. These Cheesy Chicken Fajita Tacos are going to seem like you spent a long time preparing but really you didn’t.
Cheesy Kielbasa Broccoli Rice – If you are looking for another great #weeknightmeal that comes in the form of a #onepotdinner then you can stop scrolling! This cheesy rice recipe has all you want from an easy family dinner – with cheese, kielbasa, broccoli, and rice all rolled into one. Cheesy Kielbasa Broccoli Rice is so simple to make and so loaded with flavor that you are going to want to make it again and again.
Broccoli Mac & Cheese – A key element of Homemade on a weeknight cooking is having both mains and sides on your menu. While lots of soups, casseroles, sheetpan dinners and one pot pastas round out a lot of the menu plans, you often need to make a protein with a side (or two) like a steak or baked chicken breast. That’s where this Broccoli Mac & Cheese comes into play. It can hold its own on a plate with any type of protein and brings its own vegetable to the table!
Poblano & Pepperoni Pizza – Pepperoni Pizza is a staple in our home. Even made from scratch – most of our family can prepare the dough to have time to rise before making from dinner. Because it really is that easy. But sometimes that simple – yet delightful – pepperoni pizza occasionally needs to be stepped up a notch. This recipe for Poblano & Pepperoni Pizza gives you that one extra pop that #pizzanight really needs.
Smoked Sausage & Mozzarella Pasta – Need a simple but flavor packed weeknight meal? Then you came to the right post. You can think of this like an adult version of hot dogs with mac and cheese. By replacing the hot dogs with smoked sausage and the cheddar with mozzarella. Then add in a little kick from some red pepper flakes. This recipe for Smoked Sausage & Mozzarella Pasta is going to make your average weeknight a little bit extra special.
Kicked-up Patty Melt – Who doesn’t love a good Patty Melt? They are so hearty and just feel like home – or that greasy spoon diner we all love to go to after a night out! For this particular patty melt I went with a loose meat style – mixing the mushrooms, onions and jalapenos all in with the meat! This Kicked-up Patty Melt is simple but oh so delicious!
Pizza Rolls with Dip – Snack time is not to be ignored in our house. Whether its the #afterschoolsnack or the mid day weekend snack, I like to play with different snack ideas. My latest snack comes in the form of these delectable Pizza Rolls with dip. Think savory cinnamon rolls, and you got exactly what this recipe is all about. The wonderfully gooey cheesiness with the zest of pepperoni pizza rolled up and served with a super easy red sauce for dipping.
Cheesesteak Burritos – If you’ve been around the blog for a bit, you know how much I love to turn any classic flavor profile into a burrito – or taco or burger or sandwich for that matter. There are so many quintessential flavor combos that work no matter what. I already turned the Philly Cheesesteak into a Pasta and then a Lasagna and now I’m turning it into a burrito. My recipe for Philly Cheesesteak Burritos is going to blow your mind.
Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole – This is one of those recipes that works as a great weekend breakfast or a great weeknight dinner. With a good combo of bacon, sausage, cheese, eggs, and potatoes – you have all of the best parts of a solid hearty meal. Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole is filling and relatively simple to put together, making it a perfect breakfast, lunch, dinner, make-ahead, potluck, or holiday meal.
Chicken Parm Sandwich – Chicken Parmesan is a classic Italian meal, usually served with some buttered pasta. But you all know how much I like to play with classic dishes and make into something a little more fun. That’s where the idea for a Chicken Parm Sandwich came about – the family loves my chicken parm, which I usually serve with pasta. So why not turn it into two hands and five napkins kind of sandwich!
Hope you enjoyed my selections of my Cheesiest Recipes – do you have a favorite? Which one will you be trying first?
Estelle Forrest self-published this cookbook after a lot of playing around in the kitchen. You can purchase your own copy here:
AVAILABLE IN PRINT OR KINDLE eBOOK VERSIONS
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That smashburger looks amazing!!!
Jenna
Thanks so much! It’s super good. My kids ask for them at least once a week
I love cheese – anything with cheese!! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – have a fabulous week!