Cheese-Lover's Comfort Foods
If you love cheese, a melty dish topped with your favorite variety is what comfort food dreams are made of. Here are our chefs' best takes on macaroni and cheese — and more cheese-filled comforts.
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Photo By: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
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Photo By: Jessica Brooks ©© 2016, Cooking Channel, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
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Photo By: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
Photo By: Brian Kennedy ©2013, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.
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Eggplant Parmigiana
Alex has two secrets for stellar eggplant Parmesan. First, if you have time, salt the eggplant rounds to remove excess moisture and temper any bitter flavor. Second, take the time to make a simple homemade tomato sauce.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Parmigiana
Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions
Amp up this childhood classic by combining sweet caramelized onions with aged cheddar cheese. Griddle the sandwich in a skillet until golden brown and crusty, and serve it with a tangy bowl of tomato soup.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions
Disco Fries
Get the party started with Tiffani Thiessen's crispy fries drenched in cheddar-Gruyère cheese sauce and gravy.
Get the Recipe: Disco Fries
Cheesy Potatoes au Gratin
Rev up the richness factor of potatoes au gratin by adding Havarti, Gouda and Cheddar cheeses, then baking until golden and gooey.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Potatoes au Gratin
Mac 'N' Cheese with Bacon and Cheese
A mountain of shredded white cheddar gives Tyler's mac satisfying sharpness, and a few sprigs of thyme play well with the smoky bacon topping.
Get the Recipe: Mac 'N Cheese with Bacon and Cheese
Kelsey's French Onion Soup
Kelsey speeds up the cooking process for this rich onion soup by using crisped croutons under a blanket of nutty Gruyere cheese.
Get the Recipe: French Onion Soup
Fresh Mozzarella Balls
Cut straight to the cheese chase with this fresh mozzarella.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Mozzarella Balls
Scalloped Potatoes au Gratin
Kelsey's ultra-creamy gratin is an essential recipe for any cheese lover. Infused with fresh thyme and garlic, this bubbly cheddar and Gruyere dish takes just 15 minutes to bake.
Get the Recipe: Scalloped Potatoes au Gratin
Italian Sausage, Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni
Kelsey rolls homemade sheets of pasta to make these cannelloni, which are stuffed with a sweet Italian sausage and ricotta filling, then slathered with her simple red sauce.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage, Spinach, and Ricotta Cannelloni
Pasta al Forno
Pasta al forno translates simply to "oven-baked pasta," but the ingredients included are as varied as the imaginations of their recipe creators. This dish is satisfyingly salty thanks to olives and sun-dried tomatoes lurking beneath the thick mozzarella topping.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Al Forno: Oven Baked Pasta
Chuck's Awesome Poutine
Chuck has mastered Canada's favorite comfort food: poutine. To make it, top hot french fries with fresh cheese curds and brown gravy.
Get the Recipe: Chuck's Awesome Poutine
Parmesan-Crusted Grilled Cheese
To craft this towering two-for-one comfort food hybrid, Kelsey piles homemade mac and cheese, hot peppers and tomato slices onto brioche slices, then griddles the sandwich over piles of grated Parmesan to create a crisp, nutty crust.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan-Crusted Grilled Cheese
Cauliflower and Broccoli Gratin Mac and Cheese
Whole-wheat pasta stands up to the slightly bitter flavor and firm texture of broccoli and cauliflower. Rachael tops the dish with sour cream, sharp cheddar and chives.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli and Cauliflower Gratin Mac n Cheese
Roger Mooking's Mozzarella Gratin
Honey and capers add surprising sweet, briny flavor to this bubbling bowl of melted Buffalo mozarella. When the bread crumb topping has browned, this broiled cheese ready for gratuitious dipping.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Mozzarella Gratin
Melanzane Alla Parmigiana
Debi and Gabriele's version of eggplant Parmesan layers thin slices of fried eggplant with homemade red sauce, mounds of mozzarella and fresh basil. This restaurant favorite is even better at home, baked until bubbly.
Get the Recipe: Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (Eggplant Parmigiana)
Crab Cake Mac and Cheese
This hybrid of two classics uses nutty Gruyere cheese alongside lump crabmeat. But the real kicker is the seafood seasoning, worked into the cheese sauce and sprinkled generously on top of the individual crocks alongside a panko breadcrumb topping.
Get the Recipe: Crab Cake Mac N Cheese
Mozzarella in Corrozza
Translated as "mozzarella in a carriage," this simple Italian treat sandwiches mozzarella di bufala between egg-battered bread slices, which are then fried until crusty and oozing with melted cheese.
Get the Recipe: Mozzarella in Corrozza
Penne ai Quattro Formaggi
Debi and Gabriele give mac and cheese an Italian identity by baking mezze pasta (similar to penne, but shorter) with a mixture of pungent cheeses like Taleggio and Gorgonzola in 6-ounce ramekins.
Get the Recipe: Penne ai Quattro Formaggi (Mac 'n' Cheese)
Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Kelsey adds sweet, savory and spicy notes to her grilled cheddar cheese sandwich with the addition of apple, bacon and mustard.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Shrimp Bisque Poutine
The cheese curd-covered Canadian specialty gets an underwater update when slathered in Kelsey's homemade, sherry-laced shrimp gravy.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Bisque Poutine
Rachael's Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Cheese is a great topping for both pasta and cauliflower, so why not combine them? Rachael tops the veggie-noodle mix with a sauce laced with cheddar, Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses.
Parmesan Spoon Bread
An example of Southern food at its finest, spoon bread is simple yet satisfying. This savory pudding comes together with just a few standard pantry ingredients and a handful of fresh Parmesan.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Spoon Bread
Kelsey's Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese
Get the Recipe: Skillet Bacon Mac and Cheese
Jamie's Easy Cheese Fondue
Fondue is a cheese lover's dream; luckily, it's also a snap to make. Dippers are up to you, but Jamie likes homemade croutons, breadsticks and roasted potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheese Fondue
Spaghetti Alla Carbonara
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Alla Carbonara
Goat Cheese Quiche With Prosciutto
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Quiche with Prosciutto
Baked Mac and Cheese With Duck Sausage
Nadia G. gives classic mac and cheese an upgrade with some high-quality ingredients: cured duck sausage, Brie cheese and aged cheddar.
Get the Recipe: Baked Mac 'N Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Duck Sausage
Hungry Girl's Too-EZ Mac 'n' Cheese
Can comfort food be fast and healthy? It's possible with Hungry Girl's combo of frozen broccoli and cheese, cooked rotini and creamy cheese wedges.
Get the Recipe: Too-EZ Mac 'n Cheese
Green Onion Spoonbread
Halfway between grits and cornbread, Emeril's creamy cornmeal-based side dish is flavored with cheddar and chives.
Get the Recipe: Green Onion Spoonbread
Aida's Cheese Quesadilla
Get the Recipe: Three Cheese Quesadillas
Baked Potato Soup
Get the Recipe: Baked Potato Soup
Sage Butter Macaroni and Four Cheeses
Get the Recipe: Sage Butter Macaroni and Four Cheese
Mozzarella in Carrozza
Get the Recipe: Mozzarella In Carrozza