12 Melty, Gooey, Cheesy Recipes That'll Make You Happy

Any way you slice it, cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Whether you melt it in a sandwich, toss it with pasta, or bake it into a dip, you can't help but feel happy when you're eating cheese.
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Any way you slice it, cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Whether you melt it in a sandwich, toss it with pasta, or bake it into a dip, you can't help but feel happy when you're eating cheese.

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Thanks to store bought puff pastry, this fancy-looking appetizer is easy to make. It also comes with a most popular person at the party guarantee. GET THE RECIPE

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This classic French quiche is made decadent with heavy cream and Gruyère. There's also a good bit of spinach in it, which balances out all that richness and -- dare I say -- makes it just a little bit good for you. GET THE RECIPE

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Crisp tortillas filled with gooey melted cheddar and shredded chicken in a sweet and smoky chipotle sauce -- these are the best quesadillas! The recipe is adapted from the website of Curtis Stone, one of my favorite chefs and cookbook authors. GET THE RECIPE

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In this quick and easy riff on spinach and ricotta cannelloni, penne pasta is tossed in a creamy spinach, basil and ricotta sauce, topped with cheese, and then baked until gold brown. You can get the pasta in the oven in just 20 minutes; toss a salad while it bakes and dinner is done! GET THE RECIPE

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Soda bread is a quick and easy table bread leavened with baking soda instead of yeast. This version is made with extra sharp cheddar, which gives it a crisp golden crust and tender, cheesy interior. The dough takes just 10 minutes to put together and bakes in under an hour -- all the while making the house smell divine. GET THE RECIPE

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Sausage and cheese make these meatballs tender and also add great flavor without the need for a ton of other ingredients. The meatballs are browned under the broiler rather than in a frying pan -- that means no stovetop splatters, and you can get the rest of dinner ready while the meatballs cook. GET THE RECIPE

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Made with three types of cheese, a quick sausage bolognese sauce, and no-boil lasagna noodles, this lasagna is a much-requested family favorite at my house. GET THE RECIPE

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These pizzas are covered with a generous layer of pesto before baking, and then topped with more pesto and fresh basil when they came out of the oven. Not only do they taste very "pesto-y," they also look gorgeous. GET THE RECIPE

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Perfect for football parties, these Southern-style ham and cheese sliders doused in a tangy butter and mustard sauce feed a crowd, can be made ahead -- and boys love them. GET THE RECIPE

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Skip the Velveeta: from-scratch queso is so much better! This version -- made with jalapeños, Cheddar and Pepper Jack -- is rich, creamy, and dangerously addictive. GET THE RECIPE

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This creamy and spicy dip has all the great flavor of Buffalo wings, but without all the mess. Made with a shredded rotisserie chicken, cheddar, and blue cheese, it's a super-easy, super-cheesy appetizer for football season. GET THE RECIPE

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Topped with crisp homemade croutons, this creamy broccoli and cheese soup is a hearty meal unto itself. Gruyère cheese gives it a wonderful nutty flavor. GET THE RECIPE

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