cheddar cheese Archives - Cooking Classy with a sprinkle of fancy Mon, 21 Jul 2025 03:33:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 44235149 Burger Bowls https://www.cookingclassy.com/burger-bowls/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/burger-bowls/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2025 03:33:05 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=77042 A summery Burger Bowl that can be prepared any day year round, no grill required! Made with seared ground beef, tender oven fries, tart baby dill pickles, tangy cheddar, sweet tomatoes, vibrant onions, crisp lettuce and a flavorful burger sauce.

Single serving burger bowl showing ground beef, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, onion, baked fries and lettuce.

Burger bowls may seem all wrong at first glance because many of us grew up eating a classic burger not long after we could chew. So to take that special something that's American tradition that we've eaten for decades and modifying it to something that looks like a salad can just seem so strange. But to that I'd say, wait to give it your final opinion until you've tried them yourself and tasted of their exceptional flavor!

Burger bowls are simply a deconstructed burger made with the best things you get in a diner style burger and then some. The typical bun is traded for golden brown oven fries and it's polished off with a generous drizzle of savory burger sauce. A sauce that's similar to the spread at In-n-Out or Smash Burger sauce - being lightly sweet, slightly tangy, and extra creamy.

It's an exciting new way to switch up the typical piled high burger on a bun, into a piled high bowl spread out into an appetizing blend of colors and a satisfying variety of textures. It's a must try recipe for all burger lovers!

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Mini Quiche https://www.cookingclassy.com/mini-quiche/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/mini-quiche/#comments Sun, 16 Feb 2025 23:06:15 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=74171 These easy Mini Quiche are tasty individual serving size quiches made with a shortcut of flakey store-bought pie crust and a rich egg filling dotted with cooked ham, melted cheddar and flavorful fresh herbs.

Want to Make a standard full size quiche? Use my recipe here.

Mini quiche stacked on a white oval platter over a teal cloth.

Mini quiche are perfect for a weekend breakfast, a holiday brunch or a make ahead on the go breakfast. They are easy to make and brimming with enjoyable flavor thanks to the abundance of savory fillings.

While eggs may be pricey right now this breakfast recipe is a good way to stretch them and get more servings out of them (since you'll mix in cream and fillings rather than using whole eggs alone).

For me I think these will be a new Easter tradition, there's just something about quiche that's so fitting for the holiday.

You can adjust the fillings to suite your own personal taste and it's a good way to use up what you have on hand in the fridge (see ideas below).

Wondering what to pair with mini quiche? I recommend yogurt parfaits, breakfast potatoes or smashed potatoes, and a vibrant fruit salad.

Close up image of mini quiche with pie crust.

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Taco Pasta https://www.cookingclassy.com/taco-pasta/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/taco-pasta/#comments Sat, 26 Oct 2024 03:45:09 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=73672 Taco Pasta - Comforting, cozy, creamy, cheesy, Tex-Mex spiced pasta abundantly dotted with tomatoes, chilies and tender bits of beef. It's the ultimate weeknight family dinner!

Love these types of easy dinners? Also try my one pan Ground Beef Stroganoff and American style Goulash.

Serving of taco pasta in a pasta bowl with a fork.

This hearty, cheesy taco pasta is two homestyle dishes combined into one and people of all ages love it! It's a simple one pan dinner that you can have ready in just over 30 minutes.

If you aren't familiar with this dish it may sound strange but trust me it's actually such a super satisfying, completely enjoyable dinner. It's like those pasta dishes from the 90's that maybe started with a box, but this is 100 times better!

It's a very adaptable recipe too. You can add different mix-ins to use up ingredients you may already have, or try swapping out the protein or pasta. Just stick with the base and seasonings used, and always add cheese because it's truly a main highlight of the dish.

Watch the Video!

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Taco pasta shown close from overhead in a large skillet.

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Tofu Tacos https://www.cookingclassy.com/tofu-tacos/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/tofu-tacos/#comments Fri, 10 May 2024 15:07:56 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=71477 Fast, easy and flavorful Tofu Tacos! Made with inexpensive, protein rich, well seasoned tofu, corn tortillas and plenty of fresh toppings. You'll likely be surprised to find your whole family loving these!

Close up photo of tofu tacos.Healthy Tofu Tacos

For a long time tofu has had have a bad name. Not many people seem to care for it, and I used to be one of them. But I'm telling you if you season it right it can actually be really delicious and even something you'll want to make again and again!

In these tofu tacos the tofu is abundantly seasoned with a variety of Mexican spices, soy sauce and lime juice which builds up much more depth and a welcome vibrant flavor.

Believe it or not you may find you like them just as much as the classic ground beef tacos! And these are a healthier alternative to rotate with, plus tofu is about half the price of ground beef and ground turkey.

These tacos come together quickly for a simple weeknight meal, they are perfectly filling, and they make a great leftover lunch the next day if you have any left.

If you haven't given tofu a chance yet I'd say this is an excellent place to start. And as always with tacos, just be sure to pile high all those tasty toppings!

Row of ground tofu tacos shown from the side with lime wedges for serving.

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Chicken Taco Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-taco-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/chicken-taco-salad/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:58:36 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=68314 Loaded Chicken Taco Salad - Made with protein rich chicken and black beans, fresh veggies, tortilla chips, and all the best toppings. It's brimming with goodness and completely delicious!

Chicken taco salad shown with blue and yellow tortilla chips, corn, avocado, tomatoes, lettuce, chicken, cilantro, cheese and sour cream.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

In this bountiful salad you find it's rich in Tex-Mex flavor and has so much freshness in every bite. There's a beautiful variety of color, flavor and textures, with each ingredient enhancing the dish.

It's layered with nutritious Romaine lettuce, crispy tortilla chips, a zesty citrus marinated chicken, salsa coated beans and veggies, plus rich cheese, sour cream, and avocado.

The chicken is pan seared then the taco salad filling is cooked in that same pan. And it's convenient that you don't need a grill for this recipe and it can be made any day of year no matter the season.

If you happen to have any leftover filling you can use it in tacos, quesadillas or burritos the following day for lunch. There's just so much to love about this delicious Chicken Taco Salad!

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Pea Salad https://www.cookingclassy.com/pea-salad/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/pea-salad/#comments Sat, 23 Mar 2024 16:47:54 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=70816 Creamy Pea Salad - A delicious spring recipe made with petite peas, crisp bacon, toasted slivered almonds, buttery cheddar an herby ranch-like dressing. It's a classic recipe with upgraded flavor!

Pea salad with cheddar and bacon shown in an oval serving dish over a wooden board.

Chilled and Refreshing Cold Pea Salad

Who doesn't love that bacon, cheddar, ranch combo? Even here in this pea salad it works wonders and really builds a basic salad into a memorable side dish.

It's an excellent option for an Easter dinner to serve with a honey baked ham, mashed potatoes, and the best homemade dinner rolls. Then for dessert carrot cake of course!

This pea salad is a much tastier option than serving those frozen peas plain, it's worth the bit of extra effort especially for a holiday celebration or weekend dinner.

It has a tempting blend of textures and well rounded flavor with it's sweet pea freshness, salty bacon, toasty almonds, the depth from the cheese, and a rich creamy dressing to polish it off. It's a salad fit for a feast!

Close up overhead photo of creamy pea salad.

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Sheet Pan Eggs https://www.cookingclassy.com/sheet-pan-eggs/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/sheet-pan-eggs/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2024 03:51:46 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=70648 Sheet Pan Eggs are an incredibly simple, highly adaptable, crowd-friendly recipe made with a few staple ingredients. They're great for an on the go breakfast sandwich, a weekend brunch, or even for a make ahead freezer friendly breakfast option.

Bacon, tomato, spinach eggs in a baking sheet.

Sheet Pan Baked Eggs

This recipe, made with an abundance of 18 eggs, makes enough to feed plenty of hungry people. I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of cooking them this way before decades ago, but it works incredibly well to cook a large batch of eggs at once on a baking sheet.

They are similar to the texture of a baked frittata or like the eggs you'd find in a breakfast sandwich at a bagel shop.

The best part is that preparation is a total breeze. All the eggs are whisked together, creamy half and half is added, and then from there any optional add-ins are tossed in and it's all baked on one big sheet pan.

You can cut and serve them buffet style right from the pan, layer them between an English muffin breakfast sandwich with bacon and avocado, or pair them as a side to a hot griddle item such as pancakes or French toast.

Try them plain and simple with just cheese mixed in for a basic option, then when you are feeling more adventurous add lots of different mix-ins (just like you would a frittata. Lots of ideas listed below).

Watch the Video!

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Squares of eggs that were baked in the oven and cut.

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Loaded Baked Potato Soup https://www.cookingclassy.com/loaded-baked-potato-soup/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/loaded-baked-potato-soup/#comments Thu, 15 Feb 2024 03:32:32 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=69635 Loaded Baked Potato Soup - A hearty soup that taste just like a loaded baked potato! It's made with tender smashed russet potatoes and their crispy fried skins, salty bacon, flavorful sharp cheddar and parmesan, and it's all in a rich base of creamy milk and sour cream. Delicious!

Serving of baked potato soup in a gray bowl over a gray plate. It is topped with cheddar cheese, fried potato skins, bacon and green onions.

This cozy soup is everything you love about a cheese laden baked potato and more. You get all those layers of flavor built into the goodness of a soul warming, homestyle, sip-able soup.

This soup recipe begins with actual baked potatoes. Many recipes will just go the route of chopping and boiling the potatoes but I prefer the baked method so we can skip the step of peeling and chopping the potatoes, and rather just scoop the interiors out after baking and mash them into the soup. Plus it just feels more authentic if we are going to call it "baked potato soup" lets use the real deal.

The potato skins are chopped up into small pieces (after baking) and then pan fried for extra crispiness. They are a favorite ingredient to the soup among family members, everyone just likes to eat them on their own because they are so good!

Just be sure to load up on all of those various toppings when serving the soup as it will add a lot of the flavor. And don't drain the fat from the bacon as this also builds up flavor and adds richness to the soup.

Pot full of baked potato soup with a ladle scooping out.

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Breakfast Sandwich https://www.cookingclassy.com/breakfast-sandwich/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/breakfast-sandwich/#comments Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:39:44 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=68698 Easy and super delicious homemade Breakfast Sandwiches! A family favorite made with toasted English muffins, creamy herbed eggs, flavorful cheddar, and thin cut deli ham folded into layers to perfectly fit. Such a tasty way to start the day!

Stack of breakfast sandwiches.

A Simple Homemade Breakfast Sandwich

This is a classic breakfast sandwich with a few upgrades (hello herbs and cream!) plus a few simple swaps to make them faster (using stovetop scrambled eggs and pre-cooked meat like deli ham).

They are a classic morning comfort food and make a super satisfying lazy Saturday morning breakfast. They don't require any special cooking skill, and they are one of those breakfasts that everyone can agree on.

Plus I've shared lots of other options to switch them up including various filling ideas and cooking methods because this is the ever-so-versatile breakfast sandwich after all.

The key to the recipe is just that you don't walk away while they are toasting under the broiler and forget about them. I think we all have at least one memory of doing that to that blackened piece of garlic bread or what not. These are much too good to be wasted to charring.

Watch the Video!

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Breakfast sandwiches sliced in half.

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Christmas Tree Cheese Ball https://www.cookingclassy.com/christmas-tree-cheese-ball/ https://www.cookingclassy.com/christmas-tree-cheese-ball/#comments Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:15:05 +0000 https://www.cookingclassy.com/?p=69761 A festive and delicious Christmas Tree Cheese Ball! A Christmas appetizer made with rich cream cheese, sharp white cheddar, flavorful herbs and fresh vegetables. It's a holiday party favorite and a tasty twist on the classic cheese ball.

Christmas Tree Cheese Ball made with white cheddar, cream cheese, and covered in parsley, tomatoes, pine nuts and bell peppers.

A Fun Christmas Appetizer Recipe

This eye catching Christmas tree cheese ball is decorated with plenty of earthy green minced fresh parsley, dotted with tiny red tomatoes and yellow bell pepper pieces, its swirled with a ribbon of pine nuts, then finished with a vibrant golden bell pepper star practically shining atop.

It's a holiday classic with a sophisticated upgrade thanks to its enhancements of herby flavors and fresh vegetables (or technically fruits), the welcomed bold white cheddar goodness, a pine nut finish, and its impressive unique appearance. No boring typical rounded shape plus pecan coating here.

And even though it's quite large this savory treat will be devoured in no time. This charming centerpiece will be a highlight of your gathering and a new striking way you'll want to make the holiday cheese ball every year!

Christmas tree cheese ball with lights in the background and crackers around the tree.

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