10 Recipes for Cheddar Cheese Lovers

Considering just how big the cheese universe is, picking a favorite is near impossible — but, in our humble opinion, you can never go wrong with cheddar. It's a staple in macaroni and cheese and sandwiches, and we love to use it in everything from soup (especially with beer) to biscuits for a savory kick. Read on for some of our favorite cheddar recipes.

Cheddar-Scallion Biscuits

The beauty of these biscuits is that you get a double punch of grated sharp cheddar. The cheese is mixed into the dough, of course — and the biscuits are baked on top of a pile of cheddar, resulting in crispy, lacy "feet" that form around the edges and add beautiful caramelized flavor.

Beer and Cheddar Soup

This recipe got a resounding five-star rating from our readers, and it's easy to see why. The soup not only combines two kinds of cheddar — sharp yellow and smoked — but also slab bacon, garlic, jalapeño, thyme, and more for flavor. Serve with garlic-rubbed toasts and you've got yourself a seriously indulgent meal.

Cheddar Rillettes

Rillettes, a traditional spread made from meat, poultry, or fish that's similar to pâté, relies on fat to preserve and flavor the meat. F&W Culinary Director at Large Justin Chapple's pimento cheese-like version (another cheddar-forward recipe) uses rendered bacon fat to add smokiness — plus, a little crispy bacon on top for texture.

Smoked Cheese Cocktail Cookies

Swap your sweet shortbread cookies for this savory snack. Baking maven Dorie Greenspan uses both sharp cheddar and smoked Gouda for these cocktail cookies, heightened with a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. Try them with a palate-cleansing, bitters-based cocktail like a Negroni.

Cheddar-Stuffed Burgers with Pickled Slaw and Fried Shallots

Instead of acting as a topping, extra-sharp cheddar cheese is the filling in these "Juicy Lucy" burgers, oozing out of the patty with each bite. If you want to pair the burger with wine, we suggest a robust Cabernet from Washington state, which will stand up to its richness.

The New American Grilled Cheese

Extra-sharp shredded cheddar is mixed with butter — yes — and spread onto bread in this grilled cheese sandwich. Then, more sliced cheddar is added, along with Monterey Jack, Dijon mustard, halved cornichons, and cooked andouille sausage. The end result is a rich, savory sandwich that creates the cheese pull of your dreams.

Cheddar Cheese Pound Cake with Brandy Caramel Apples

Why not put cheese in your dessert? This poundcake created by chef Dawn Burrell gets a bit of a savory edge from the mellow cheddar cheese mixed into the batter and sprinkled on top of the cake as it bakes. It's excellent with afternoon coffee or tea on its own, but the Brandy Caramel Apples move it clearly into dessert territory (add a scoop of ice cream to take it over the top).

Buttermilk Macaroni and Cheese with Baby Kale

This recipe contains a full pound of glorious cheddar. A quick sauté renders baby kale leaves perfectly tender, allowing them to almost melt into the buttermilk-enriched béchamel in chef and cookbook author Alexander Smalls' version of mac and cheese.

Crispy Cheese Burritos with Chorizo and Eggs

When Richard Chang was chef and owner of the Tacos La Tehuanita truck in Los Angeles, he wowed crowds with his burnt-cheese-roll taco, made by griddling cheese until crisp and rolling it up around various fillings. This version of his cheddar-encrusted delicacy pairs chorizo-studded black beans and eggs with creamy avocado for richness.

Open-Face Cheese Toasts with Broccoli Rabe Relish

Chef Stephanie Izard loves topping sourdough cheddar toasts with her tangy, slightly bitter broccoli rabe relish.