18 Delicious Recipes You Can Make with Leftover Cheese

Whether you bought pre-shredded cheese or grated a block yourself, leftover shredded cheese never needs to go to waste. It’s one of the most useful ingredients to have on hand — with shredded cheese in the fridge you can quickly transform simple meals into comforting, flavorful dishes. Below are common types of shredded cheese, what to expect from their flavor and texture, and a long list of great recipes to use up any leftovers.

Different Kinds of Shredded Cheese

Many recipes name a specific cheese, but most are flexible: use what you like or what you have. A sharp cheddar will give more bite than mozzarella, while Monterey Jack melts beautifully but is milder. Below is a quick guide to common shredded cheeses to help you choose the best option for your dish.

Cheddar

Firm cow’s milk cheese available in white and orange varieties and in many levels of sharpness. Choose a mild, medium, or sharp cheddar depending on how assertive you want the cheese flavor to be.

Monterey Jack

A semi-soft cow’s milk cheese that melts smoothly and pairs well with many ingredients. Its flavor is mild, so it’s often blended with stronger cheeses.

Pepper Jack

Monterey Jack with spicy pepper pieces (usually jalapeño), adding both heat and texture.

Mozzarella

Available in part-skim and whole-milk varieties, mozzarella is soft, very mild, and melts easily — the classic choice for pizza and many Italian dishes.

Provolone

Firm with a slightly smoky note; flavor intensity is medium and it melts well, making it a good choice for sandwiches and baked dishes.

Parmesan

Parmesan is available grated to different textures from fine to coarse. It’s nutty, salty, and intensely flavored, so a little goes a long way. Because it’s bold and not as creamy when melted, consider blending it with a milder cheese if you want both flavor and smooth melt.

Shredded Cheese Blends

Pre-blended shredded cheeses (Mexican Blend, Italian Blend, Pizza Blend, etc.) are convenient and deliver a variety of flavors with no extra effort. Blends like Cheddar-Jack, Colby Jack, and Mozzarella-Provolone are handy for many recipes.

18 Things to Make with Leftover Cheese: If you have leftover cheeses of all kinds, these recipes will help you put them to fabulous use.

What is added to shredded cheese?

Pre-shredded cheeses often include a small amount of cellulose or potato starch to prevent clumping. Check the package label if you prefer to avoid additives; shredding a block of cheese at home ensures no anti-caking agents.

18 Things to Make with Leftover Cheese

Also see:

• 10 Things To Make With Leftover Shredded Chicken
• 10 Things To Make With Leftover Ground Beef