This centerpiece-worthy dish incorporates sharp and tangy blue cheese that pairs perfectly with the potatoes, shallots and earthy mushrooms. It would be great as a snack, to serve at lunch with a side salad or as a starter.
Halloumi is a semi-hard, brined cheese which is delicious when broiled, fried or baked. But we love it in this simple and fragrant curry. It's served with white fluffy rice and a zesty coconut sambal for the ultimate family meal.
An indulgent recipe for special occasions at home, this stunning dish combines smoky roasted red peppers, slightly spicy 'nduja that falls apart in the hot oven and creamy burrata – an Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. Enjoy with a hunk of ciabatta to mop up the juices.
This colorful winter salad balances sweet butternut squash with a piquant blue cheese and nutty chestnut mushrooms. It's simple to put together and will pair well with any roast meat. Feel free to pick a milder or tangier blue cheese, depending on your preferences. You could use either arugula or spinach too.
Get the recipe for warm butternut squash salad with blue cheese
The ultimate comfort food, this tasty bowl combines cauliflower and beans with plenty of mature Cheddar and a crispy breadcrumb topping. It's especially brilliant when the weather is colder and you need food to soothe the soul.
Take your roast chicken to the next level with this irresistible buttery, cheesy sauce. The salty Parmesan is simply incredible in the thick sauce, which is lifted by fresh herbs and lemon juice and zest. We promise you won't want to go back to any other sauce.
Get the recipe for roast chicken with lemon, herb and Parmesan butter
Featuring popular Swedish cheese Västerbotten, this mushroom pie is a thing of beauty. Västerbotten is a hardy, flavorsome cheese that's great eaten on its own or incorporated in recipes, and you can easily substitute it with a mature Cheddar. The pie itself is great for lunch with a green side salad.
In Brittany, western France, savory pancakes are commonly known as galettes and are usually made with buckwheat flour. Serve these as a light lunch with a savory goats' cheese, fig and ham filling that's guaranteed to impress.
If you have ready-made puff pastry (check out the freezer aisle at your local store), there are so many ways to use it – in simple slices, pies and other bakes with only a handful of other ingredients. A quick and easy cheese and ham filling with some tomato sauce or passata is a brilliant option for any meal of the day, and can be eaten hot or cold.
Get the recipe for ham and cheese pie
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Another ready-made pastry that's worth buying is filo (check out the freezer aisle at your local store). In this cheesy recipe, based on Greek classic spanakopita, spinach is combined with salty feta and crumbly ricotta. The filling is generously seasoned and baked into a crunchy filo pastry case.
A lovely dish to cook for lunch, this savory tart combines creamy goats' cheese with earthy beetroot and peppery arugula. All arranged on a ready-made puff pastry base (check out the freezer aisle at your local store), it's a breeze to make. Make sure to buy ready-cooked, vacuum-packed beetroot for minimal effort and maximum reward.
Paneer is a mild Indian cheese which holds its shape during cooking so is a great vegetarian substitute for meat in dishes like curry. In this easy one-pan dish, paneer is fried off with spices, onion, ginger and garlic, then tomatoes and peas (frozen is fine) are added. Serve with chapattis.
This paneer recipe shows how the cheese is great for taking on flavors and can be cooked at a high heat. These kebabs are bursting with flavor from the array of spices and herbs, and the herby chutney of cilantro and mint is a fresh accompaniment.
Get the recipe for our tikka paneer with cilantro and mint chutney
If you thought you couldn’t get better than grilled halloumi, think again. Coated in flour and deep-fried, the semi-hard, salty cheese is even more moreish. Cut through the richness by serving with fresh and zesty fattoush.
Chicken is such a great one-pan ingredient because it picks up the flavors of everything else while it all cooks. This recipe for chicken with pesto and Taleggio keeps the texture interesting with a sprinkle of crispy breadcrumbs at the end. Taleggio works especially well in this recipe as it's a semi-soft cheese with a mild flavor and an unusual fruity tang that pairs well with the pesto and tomatoes.
Get the recipe for chicken with pesto, Taleggio and roasted tomatoes
These little Swedish breads are perfect served warm with a generous spread of butter. Spelt is an old variety of wheat but if you can't find it, use wholewheat flour instead. They take a little time, with proving and rising, but are worth the effort. Cubes of apple and cheese melt into the bread dough as it's baking, for a lovely sweet and savory note.
Grilled cheese sandwiches are an undisputed classic. This recipe with salty Parmesan, sharp Cheddar and spicy jalapeños is full of punchy flavors you'll love.
Get the recipe for Jalapeño, Cheddar and Parmesan grilled cheese
This recipe takes the wonderful classic to a different level. What’s not to like about having two carbs – potatoes and sourdough bread – and adding some heat with jalapeño? To give this melted indulgence some texture, fry bacon in a pan till it turns crisp, and add it to the sandwich.
These little tarts are filled with a creamy mixture of mascarpone, wafer-thin ham and Stilton. Buy ready-made shortcrust pastry (check out the freezer aisle at your local store) to save on time and bake your tartlets 24 hours ahead – just reheat them in a hot oven for about 15 minutes before serving. If you don't have Stilton to hand, you can use any blue cheese you like, or even swap it for a mature Cheddar.
Cauliflower cheese, but make it pie. This dish was once described as ‘molten-hot-cheese-lava’ and we think that’s pretty fitting for this ultimate comfort food dish. Feel free to combine a few different cheeses, such as some Parmesan which will give a deeper umami flavor.
These tender dumplings made from ricotta and flour require a little effort, but once you've got the technique down, you'll be richly rewarded. They're best served as they are with nothing more than a bit of melted butter and a generous grating of Parmesan.
This comforting bake pairs fennel and leeks with plenty of salty Parmesan that's melted into a rich, heavy cream sauce. Don't forget to serve with bread to mop up the cheesy sauce.
Nothing screams comfort more than creamy mashed potato and crispy potato skins. Simple, delicious and filling, you can easily adapt the flavors to use up whatever other ingredients you have lurking in your fridge. Topped with salty, crumbly feta and chopped scallions, these stuffed potato skins are irresistible.
Get the recipe for feta and spring onion-stuffed potato skins
Take the stress out of hosting with this easy three-ingredient canapé idea. Ripe figs are baked with tangy goats' cheese and honey for a sweet-and-savory combination.
Packed full of green veg, this comforting dish is a great way to reach your five-a-day. Its best to use linguine, so the pasta can pick up the crème fraiche-based sauce. Served with grated Parmesan – and be generous with the serving – to bring umami flavors, the dish is finished with the zest of a lemon, giving it freshness.
Get the recipe for our broccoli, spinach and Param Ham pasta
Heavenly caramel-like sweet potatoes with creamy feta and sweetened red onions – this frittata is epic in flavor. So simple to make with really easy-to-buy ingredients. You can use goats' cheese or ricotta instead of the feta if you wish. Serve the frittata hot, warm or cold. A slice is fantastic the next day too.
Get the recipe for our sweet potato, feta and red onion frittata
At a glance, these pastries look challenging, but it’s time and detail rather than complicated effort. Filled with cheese sauce, smoked ham and tender asparagus spears, they are a perfect snack or afternoon tea treat.
This French dish is usually made with fruit, but works incredibly well with onions covered in cheese too. This version is vegan and can be whipped up in no time. The sweetness of the caramelized onions are a delight with the dairy-free puff pastry – use ready rolled sheets for ease (check out the frozen aisle in your local store) – which are then covered in grated smoked dairy-free Cheddar. You will need a deep ovenproof frying pan with a lid and a board that will fit tightly over the pan.
A Canadian classic the rest of the world also adores, poutine is incredibly indulgent. Perfectly crispy fries are topped with lashings of gravy and, of course, cheese curds. Originating from Québec, but also popular in parts of the US, especially Wisconsin, cheese curds are moist pieces of curdled milk. In the UK, you can order them from specialty shops or use good-quality creamy buffalo mozzarella instead.
A good quiche recipe should be in everyone's repertoire. In this version, broccoli and Gorgonzola complement each other beautifully, with a slight kick from a pinch of chili flakes. The recipe uses shop-bought puff pastry for the base, so all you need to do is pile on the veg and cheese, and bake.
The smokiness from the Gouda and salty Parmesan takes regular cauli cheese to the next level. Panko breadcrumbs are sprinkled over the dish before it's baked for a crispy, golden topping. You could use another smoked creamy cheese like mozzarella if you can't find Gouda.
Nothing says comfort more than hot, gooey melted cheese. Upgrade your regular grilled cheese sandwich with a spicy chili twist and serve it with homemade coriander chutney. You won't regret it.
One of the world's favorite cheesy recipes, we couldn't leave mac 'n' cheese out. Sharp, mature Cheddar is obviously the king of a classic mac 'n' cheese sauce, but for a more intense flavor, try combining a few different cheeses. Gouda melts beautifully and has a subtle nutty flavor, salty Gruyère helps cut through the heavy fats and cream cheese makes for a perfectly smooth sauce.
As much as we love the classic, the mac 'n' cheese is ripe for variation. Butternut squash adds a sweetness to the savory cheese and sprigs of thyme add another savory note. This recipe is an easy and economical family supper.
Mac 'n' cheese can also be a fun dish as this whimsical take on the classic proves. Blitzed up cheese puffs are mixed with the macaroni, making this dish bright orange and adding an incredibly savory, tangy layer of flavor. Topped with breadcrumbs, this mac 'n' cheese has got a good crunch and texture.
This one-pot wonder is an easy veggie take on lasagna, with mushrooms, zucchini and spinach. Parmesan and mozzarella is stirred through the sauce but some is reserved for scattering over the top. The pan is then slid under the grill for a perfectly golden and melted cheesy finish.
Cheese isn't just for savory dishes – there are plenty of cheeses, like mascarpone and cream cheese, that are ideal in desserts. In this easy take on a classic tiramisù, full-fat mascarpone is combined with heavy cream for an especially luscious filling.
Another cheesy dessert classic is American cheesecake. Either baked New York-style or fresh with lashings of cream cheese, it's hard to beat. This recipe tops it with irresistible banana fritter bites and berries for an extra-special touch.
This is an extraordinary cake that’s light, moist and rich. It’s made with a combination of ground almonds and all-purpose flour, then infused with pomegranate molasses (using the same technique as lemon drizzle cake). It’s topped with creamy mascarpone icing and jewel-like pomegranate seeds.
For those with a sweet tooth, chocolate will never go amiss. This indulgent dessert is super simple but takes cheesecake to the next level. Plenty of melted white chocolate is added to the classic cheesecake mix with soft cream cheese, and the finished cake is decorated with white chocolate shavings.