28 Warm and Cheesy Recipes
Creamy Artichoke Lasagna [1]
The classic lasagna cheeses -- ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella -- give this one-dish meal its trademark gooey texture. The recipe also calls for some nontraditional lasagna ingredients, such as fresh artichokes.
Bacon-Pear Macaroni and Cheese [5]
Crispy bacon, extra-creamy cheese sauce, pears sauteed in brown sugar and butter. It took our Test Kitchen three tries to get all the pieces right. Oh man, was it worth it.
Spinach-Mushroom-Sausage Pierogi Bake [9]
You don't get much easier than this! Saute a few ingredients, stir in cream cheese to make a sauce, and dump it all over frozen pierogis in a casserole dish. (You don't even need to thaw the pierogis!) The recipe from Jan Valdez of Chicago was a finalist in our 2012 Best of the Midwest Recipe Contest.
Squash and Tomato Bake [13]
Summer squash adds texture to this easy side dish, which combines stewed tomatoes with paprika, garlic, basil and pepper, as well as some melty mozzarella and Parmesan. It goes well with roast chicken or beef.
Brats and Beer Cheddar Chowder [17]
The name alone evokes images of some of Wisconsin's best foods: cheese, bratwurst and beer. "Hearty comfort food!" writes a website reviewer. "Especially good if you use specialty seasoned brats from your butcher."
Mexican Mac and Cheese [21]
Pair Mexican flavors with pasta for this comfort-food casserole that includes sausage, salsa and Monterey Jack cheese.
Hot-Stuff Kielbasa-Cheese Soup [25]
Robust kielbasa sausage simmers with potatoes and sharp cheddar for this meal-in-a-bowl. Turn to low-sodium broth to reduce the salt.
Hot Artichoke and Roasted Pepper Asiago Cheese Dip [29]
Roasted red sweet peppers fleck this dip with a festive crimson touch. Serve the warm, cheese-filled appetizer with bread or pita wedges, or some water crackers.
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese [33]
The ultimate comfort food gets a twist in this recipe in which mozzarella and blue cheese fill in for more common American or cheddar. Light cream, bacon and sweet onion round out the sauce.
Lemon Chicken Lasagna [37]
No-boil lasagna noodles, a jar of Alfredo sauce and a package of refrigerated or frozen cooked chicken breast strips make this lasagna a snap to put together. Ricotta, fontina and Parmesan cheeses, along with finely shredded lemon peel, add flavor.
Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue [41]
Lots of Monterey Jack cheese goes into this creamy fondue, along with sour cream, chipotle peppers and bacon. Scoop up with bread or tortilla chips. It's a great party recipe or a fun family meal.
Mexican Polenta Pie [45]
Great for a potluck or family dinner, this 12-serving casserole combines polenta with ground turkey, spices, black beans, tomatoes and Monterey Jack cheese.
Mexican Polenta Pie [46]
Goat Cheese, Artichoke and Smoked Ham Strata [49]
Parmesan and fontina get a flavor boost from mild goat cheese in this company-special comfort food.
Showstopper Chicken Surprise [53]
Cheese lovers can't resist a good recipe for stuffed chicken. "This recipe is very adaptable -- it works just fine with boneless, skinless thighs or with smoked cheddar cheese," writes one of our website reviewers. "It's a huge family favorite!"
Short Ribs over Cheesy Polenta [57]
Put in a slow cooker, short ribs give you a delicious, dressed-up dish with hardly any work. A hint of licorice from fennel accents the recipe.
Cheesy Brat Stew Casserole [61]
This six-ingredient hotdish recipe from an Appleton, Wisconsin, reader features bratwurst, cheddar cheese and potatoes. "It's a quick, easy recipe," our reader says. "There's not much you can mess up."
Cheesy Brat Stew [62]
Tortellini with Chicken and Cheese [65]
Prepare this chicken dish in just 20 minutes using packaged ingredients. Substitute leftover chicken (or any leftover cooked meat) for the package of frozen chopped cooked chicken breast, if you like.
Tagliatelle a la Hudson [69]
A simple mix of ingredients results in an elegant dish. Lemon peel and prosciutto flavor a whipping cream and Parmesan mixture tossed with hot pasta.
Gouda and Red Onion Pizza [73]
You can put just about any cheese on pizza. Try Gouda or Edam on this fresh-tasting onion pizza. To ease prep, start with refrigerated pizza crust.
Sara's Mom's Spinach Quiche [77]
Sara Reimer, assistant home editor at Midwest Living®, shared her mom's quiche recipe. It's loaded with cream cheese and a Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend that is combined with spinach in a puff pastry quiche.
Bacon and Baked Potato Soup [81]
Shredded American cheese is ideal for this soup because it melts so well. "My family loved this soup, and I even passed on the recipe to a neighbor who also thought it was awesome," notes one of our website reviewers.
Juicy Lucy Burger [85]
Here's a burger you have to serve just for it's "oh, my gosh" value. When you bite in, the center of the burger practically gushes with hot cheese.
Juicy Lucy Burger [86]
Patsy's Egg Casserole [89]
We love this make-ahead casserole, which has sausage, mushrooms, roasted red sweet pepper -- and plenty of cheese!
Eight-Layer Casserole [93]
Cream cheese and cheddar melt into layers of ground beef, tomato sauce, spinach and noodles with a hint of basil in this hotdish recipe.
Cheesy Potato Soup [97]
Potato, bacon and cheese--all the flavors you love in a bowl of soup! The American cheese keeps the soup from curdling while it slow cooks. Mashing cooked potatoes a bit gives the soup some body, while the bacon adds a smoky-salty taste.
Cheesy Potato Soup [98]
Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn [101]
Eggs, creamed corn, diced green chile peppers and American cheese give this classic American side dish a new flavor. Saltines add some texture to the mix.
Swiss-Artichoke Dip [105]
Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Process Swiss cheese works best because traditional cheese sometimes breaks down when it's slow cooked.
Swiss-Artichoke Dip [106]
Mexican Tortilla Casseroles [109]
Combine cubed cooked chicken, corn, Mexican cheese, tortillas and salsa in individual-size baking dishes for this casserole dish, which you can make ahead and freeze.
Free printable casserole cookbook and more [113]
Click below to download our free printable collection of 10 casserole recipes or other free printable cookbooks.