Savor one of the top comfort-food ingredients—cheese—in these recipes for lasagna, chowder, fondue, casseroles and more.
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Mac and Cheese
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This side is a staple at Chicago's River Roast restaurant, and executive chef Jason Qureshi keeps the recipe basic—aside from one little twist. "Hot sauce is my secret ingredient," he says. "The acidity brings out the flavors in the cheeses and ties the whole dish together."
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese Recipes
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Bean and Cheese Pupusas
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The standard-bearer of Salvadoran food, a pupusa is a flat, pan-fried pocket of corn dough traditionally stuffed with cheese, beans or meat, then served with mild salsa and curtido (a tangy cabbage slaw). Maria and Juan Vasquez serve them with and without meat at their 3 in 1 Restaurant in Indianapolis.
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Cheese Fondue
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Classic cheese fondue is a splurge in every sense—but it's also guaranteed bliss. (And you don't even need a fondue pot!) CJ Bienert, owner of The Cheese Shop of Des Moines, shares his easy recipe.
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Smoked Mozzarella and Kale Lasagna
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Made with no-boil noodles, this memorable lasagna hides two secrets in its layers: smoked mozzarella and lemon zest. The dance between the two will haunt you, deliciously.
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Cheesy Bratwurst Casserole
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This six-ingredient casserole 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."
Favorite Casserole and Hotdish Recipes
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Sausage and Spinach Skillet Pizza
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A hot cast-iron skillet mimics a pizza stone to create a crisp, evenly browned crust. We loaded our pizza with oozy red sauce and stretchy cheese. Fork and knife highly recommended.
Recipes for So-Good Homemade Pizza
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Southwest Corn Pudding
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Buttery onions, cheddar and green chilies lace our stuffing-like pudding. Inspired by traditional skillet corn bread, this recipe works as a side or as a meatless main served with a salad or garlicky sauteed kale.
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Spinach-Mushroom-Sausage Pierogi Bake
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You don't get much easier than this recipe from Jan Valdez of Chicago! 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!)
Fast-Fix Weeknight Dinners
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Cheesy Dutch Baby with Pesto-Dressed Vegetables
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We're convinced that colorful food tastes better—and nutritionists will tell you it's better for you, too. Proof: Our innovative recipe. While the egg-and-cheddar batter puffs in a skillet, a crazy-quilt of veggies roasts separately. When the timer beeps, put them together for a savory twist on a fruit-filled Dutch baby pancake.
Top Vegetarian Recipes
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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
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The combo of butternut squash, rigatoni, bacon and smoked cheese makes for a delicious twist on traditional mac and cheese.
Great Recipes for Butternut Squash
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Milk-Braised Pork with Cheesy Grits
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There are a lot of ingredients in this spruced-up comfort-food dish, but trust us, it's worth the effort for a weekend treat. The recipe from Michael Watz of Chicago was a finalist in one of our recipe contests.
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Starker's Bacon and Cheese Curd Burger
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Sugared bacon and melting cheese curds or string cheese make a mouthwatering filling for these behemoth burgers.
Take Your Burger to the Next Level
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Bacon-Pear Macaroni and Cheese
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Crispy bacon, extra-creamy cheese sauce, pears sauteed in brown sugar and butter. This might be the ultimate comfort food.
Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipes
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Gouda and Red Onion Pizza
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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.
Easy Appetizer Recipes
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Pepperoni Pizza Pull
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This warm and cheesy pull-apart bread takes just a few minutes to make. Keep the ingredients on hand, and you'll always have a quick accompaniment for a soup supper with family and friends.
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Spinach Quiche
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This easy breakfast pie, packed with nutrient-rich spinach, isn't overly eggy like some quiches. The recipe comes from Carol Reimer of Brownsburg, Indiana.
Quiche Recipes You'll Love
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Tagliatelle a la Hudson
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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.
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Cheesy Potato Soup
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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.
Perfect Potato Recipes
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Brats and Beer Cheddar Chowder
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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."
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Jack Cheese and Smoky Chipotle Fondue
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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.
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Short Ribs over Cheesy Polenta
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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.
So-Good Slow-Cooker Recipes
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Swiss-Artichoke Dip
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Artichoke hearts, dried tomatoes and sauce combine for a rich, creamy dip. Our recipe calls for processed Swiss cheese because it melts smoothly, but regular Swiss cheese will work fine, too. The dip will have a more stretchy, less creamy texture, but it tastes just as good.
Irresistible Slow-Cooker Appetizers
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Macaroni and Cheese Chowder with Crispy Ham
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A splash of hot sauce, a topper of pan-fried ham and a just-right secret ingredient for ultrasmooth creaminess. (Guilty pleasure, thy name is American cheese.)
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Triangle Ranch Scalloped Corn
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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.
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Goat Cheese, Artichoke and Smoked Ham Strata
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Parmesan and fontina get a flavor boost from mild goat cheese in this company-special breakfast casserole.
Our Best Breakfast Casseroles
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Bacon and Baked Potato Soup
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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 readers.
Smoky, Sizzling Bacon Recipes
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Creamy Artichoke Lasagna
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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.
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