Food & Cooking 14 Cozy Melted Cheese Recipes We Love to Make All Winter Long These gooey cheese dishes are irresistible. By Dakota Kim Dakota Kim Website Dakota Kim is a food, culture, and outdoors writer living in Los Angeles. Dakota specializes in providing gear reviews, authoring ecommerce articles, interviewing chefs and cookbook authors, and exploring food culture and history. Previously, she worked at Sunset and Edible San Luis Obispo, and owned a restaurant. Editorial Guidelines Published on January 3, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Marcus Nilsson Melting cheese adds special magic to a winter recipe. Not only is it the perfect finishing touch, melted cheese is also an ideal main ingredient. Plus, it's a surefire method for getting everyone to the table, whether gathered around a plate of toasty nachos dripping with melted cheddar, or a classic French onion soup topped with bubbly, golden-brown Gruyère. And if one rich, gooey melted cheese is not enough, try a recipe like our creamy baked ziti, which calls for three kinds of cheese—and makes a welcome addition to any potluck, church lunch, or Sunday night supper. There's nothing like melted cheese to make a cozy recipe even warmer and heartier. Stretch the way you think about melted cheese recipes with this delightful collection of comfort foods. Which Cheeses Are Best for Casseroles? 01 of 14 Arancini with Sage Anna Williams Every Italian nonna could tell you that the secret to a memorable arancini is the rice, but a perfectly stretchy Taleggio pull never hurt a crispy ball of rice. View Recipe 02 of 14 Khachapuri Bryan Gardner If you haven't tried making khachapuri, a Georgian cheese bread, it's time to whip out the feta and mozzarella for this hearty, craveable cross between pizza and fondue. View Recipe 03 of 14 Meatball Casserole Anna Williams Don't make regular meatballs; make exceptional ones. Broil mozz on top of savory pork and beef meatballs, using the toasting power of a high-heat source to elevate this classic comfort dish. View Recipe 04 of 14 Croque Madame Con Poulos Do you love a good Parisian croque monsieur, the ham-and-cheese sando? You're sure to fall for the even richer tastes of a croque madame, which has a fried egg on top. Creamy, nutty Gruyère is the right choice for this decadent lunch. View Recipe 05 of 14 Tartiflette Anna Williams Don't be intimidated by the fancy French name—the tartiflette is just a layered casserole of potatoes, bacon, and cheese. If you can't find the traditional Reblochon cheese, swap in brie or Robiola Bosina. View Recipe 06 of 14 French Onion Soup Jenny Huang This super savory spin on a classic incorporates sweet Vidalia onions and Marsala, Madeira, or port for extra flavor, plus Gruyère broiled on top. View Recipe 07 of 14 Fondue with Seared Steak Anna Williams If you put away your fondue pot in the '90s, it's time to get it out again. This flexible meal is the hot equivalent of a cheese board spread, with melted Gouda and Gruyère flavored with white wine, brandy, and freshly grated nutmeg. View Recipe 08 of 14 Baked Camembert Marcus Nilsson Baked brie is great, but if you can find a wheel of Camembert, it's the ultimate aromatic French treat when baked and decorated with fragrant rosemary, crumbled bacon, and pine nuts. View Recipe 09 of 14 Creamy Baked Ziti Bryan Gardner Because three melted cheeses are better than one. Add cream cheese to your sauce, then layer mozzarella and Parmesan for an enticingly gooey treat. View Recipe 10 of 14 Macaroni and Cheese Bryan Gardner Toss out the cardboard boxes—you've never made a homemade mac this good! With sharp white Cheddar and Gruyère, this main dish stunner is thickened with flour and finished with toasty breadcrumbs. View Recipe 11 of 14 Hot Spinach Dip Minh + Wass Cream cheese and mozzarella are a tantalizing combination in this party table favorite, which is both utterly dippable and super spreadable. View Recipe 12 of 14 Grilled Ham-and-Broccoli-Rabe Sandwiches Anna Williams This recipe takes a classic sandwich combo to a new level. A few tweaks—fontina cheese (which melts so well), fig jam, and peppery broccoli rabe provide sweet, salty, and pungent touches. View Recipe 13 of 14 Skillet Chili Nachos Justin Walker The flavor combinations in this dish contrast hearty chips, chili, and cheddar cheese with cool sour cream, piquant salsa, and creamy avocado. Plus, you can sub in Monterey Jack or American if you don't have cheddar. View Recipe 14 of 14 Cheesy Soppressata Pull-Apart Bread Lennart Weibull Slices of whole-milk mozzarella and soppressata are tucked inside pizza dough and then drizzled with spicy honey in this decadent snack. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit