Wednesday, January 20th is National Cheese Lover’s Day. Personally, I don’t need a holiday to celebrate cheese, but I’ll take any excuse there is to make a delicious cheesy recipe!
Here are a few of my family’s favorites!
Instant Pot Potato and Cheese Soup
With this instant pot recipe, you will be eating hot yummy homemade soup in no time at all! Perfect for a chilly evening or a weekend spent cozying up at home.
Ingredients
- 6 cups potatoes, cubed
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup corn
- 6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
- 2 T butter
- 3 oz. cubed cream cheese
- 2 cups half and half
- ½ cup chopped yellow onion
- 28 oz. canned chicken stock
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 T dried parsley
- 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 2 T cornstarch
- 2 T water
Directions
- Set your instant pot to Saute mode and add butter and melt it.
- Add onion, stir and cook for 5 minutes.
- Next add half of the stock.
- Add salt, pepper, pepper flakes, and parsley and stir.
- Put potatoes in the steamer basket, seal the instant pot lid and cook on High for 4 minutes.
- Release the pressure naturally for 15 minutes. Release the remaining pressure by turning the valve to “venting” and then transfer potatoes to a bowl.
- In another bowl, mix cornstarch with water and stir well.
- Set the pot to simmer mode, add cornstarch, cream cheese and shredded cheese and stir well.
- Add the rest of the stock, corn, bacon, potatoes, and half and half.
- Bring to a simmer.
Cheesy Potato Casserole
This versatile side-dish works well for both breakfast and dinner!
Ingredients
- 8 oz. shredded pepper jack or Mexican cheese blend
- 12 oz package shredded hash browns
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup frozen chopped onion
- 4 oz. jar chopped green chiles
Directions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Set aside ½ cup of shredded cheese. Combine all remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
- Pour into an 8 x 8 inch glass baking dish.
- Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until center is hot and edges are golden brown.
- Sprinkle ½ cup of cheese over top of potatoes.
- Heat in oven 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Cheese Fondue
Making homemade fondue may sound a little intimidating, but actually, it’s fairly easy. Fondue can be used for a fun appetizer, or a full meal. I would recommend using a fondue pot, but if you don’t have one, you can make this in a saucepan as well.
Ingredients
- ½ pound shredded Swiss cheese
- ½ pound shredded Gruyere cheese
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 2 T flour
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. garlic powder
- Bread, vegetables, crackers, etc. for dipping
Directions
- Simmer wine in a fondue pot.
- Add cheeses, ¼ pound at a time. Stir after you add cheese until melted.
- Mix in flour.
- Stir in salt and garlic powder.
- Serve with cubed pieces of bread, veggies, crackers, or whatever else sounds yummy!
Cheese and Bean Burritos
This quick and easy burrito recipe is full of cheesy goodness (as well as lots of fiber!).
Ingredients
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 T vegetable oil
- 15 oz. can of blacked beans, drained
- 12 oz. jar of salsa
- 1 ½ tsp. chili powder
- 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
- ½ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- ½ cup sour cream (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- 8 (7-inch) flour tortillas
Directions
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
- Add garlic and onions and cook 2 minutes.
- Stir in beans, ¼ cup salsa, and chili powder. Cook 3 minutes and remove from heat.
- Stir in 1 ½ cups cheese.
- Spread 1/3 cup bean mixture down center of tortilla.
- Roll up and place in 11 x 9 inch greased baking dish.
- Cover burritos with remaining salsa.
- Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until hot.
- Garnish with black olives, sour cream, and cilantro.
Some other cheesy recipes to try: Bacon Ranch Cheeseball, Baked Macaroni and Cheese, or the Classic Cheese Fondue. I hope you enjoy some of these delicious cheese recipes and celebrate National Cheese Lover’s Day!
