21 Warm Cheese Appetizer Recipes Perfect for Any Occasion

Gorgonzola & Pear Focaccia

For party food that's guaranteed to please, cheese appetizers are a must. Savory, melting, and versatile, cheese makes the dish in each of these recipes. Choose a few and watch these appetizers disappear.

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Cheddar and Bacon Loaf

Cheddar & Bacon Loaf

So many great appetizer recipes start with a loaf of French bread. Here, simply layer a basic baguette with bacon, butter, and cheddar—then watch your guests enjoy pulling it apart, slice by slice.

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Cheesy Skillet Artichoke Dip

Cheesy Skillet Artichoke Dip

No stressing over cleanup after you've made this warm and hearty spinach-artichoke dip—the whole recipe uses just one skillet. Fill it with our cheese dip and top it all in a layer of frozen dinner rolls before baking.

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Pepperoni Pizza Cups

Pepperoni Pizza Cups

Please all your guests, both adults and kids, with our mini pizzas. They're surprisingly easy to make. Just press pizza dough into each cup and fill with a mix of marinara sauce, pepperoni, and cheese.

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Cheese Sausage Bread

Cheesy Sausage Bread

Fontina, mozzarellla, and Parmesan cheeses all find a home in our incredibly oozy cheese appetizer. Spicy Italian sausage and basil pesto add even more flavor to this hearty pull-apart bread.

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Cheddar-Beer Wienies

Cheddar-Beer Weenies

Salty bacon, melted cheese, and beer flavor our version of your favorite party appetizer: cocktail wieners. Add a little hot pepper sauce and chili powder to the sauce for an unexpected flavor kick.

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Spicy Fondue

Cheesy Mexican Fondue

There's no discussing cheese appetizers without talking about the ultimate cheese snack: fondue. Our recipe is prepared with chile peppers for a hint of heat.

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Herb and Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Herb- and Goat Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are a popular appetizer, so why not use a mix of herbs and goat cheese for the the filling? To save time, assemble them the day before your party, and stick them in the oven 15 minutes before guests arrive.

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Double-Cheddar Cheese Biscuits

Take a quick cooking lesson with top chef Scott Peacock as he shows you how to master his double-cheddar cheese biscuits.

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Asiago Cheese Dip

Asiago-Artichoke Dip

Let bold Asiago cheese be the star in our full-bodied slow cooker dip. We mixed the cheese with artichokes, roasted peppers, and green onions for a robust appetizer that pairs best with a hearty dipper (consider bread rounds, baguette slices, or pita chips).

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Tuscan Mac 'n' Cheese Cups

Tuscan Mac and Cheese Cups

Sophisticated ingredients (Gorgonzola, Fontina, prosciutto, and kale) and individual servings prove that even a classic recipe like mac and cheese can be an elegant affair. Turn to your muffin tin to create the single-serving sizes.

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Blue Cheese and Pine Nut Puffs

Blue Cheese and Pine Nut Puffs

Our cheese puffs are delightfully light and airy, but they don't skimp on flavor. In fact, these appetizers are rich and perfectly crisp, thanks to the blend of Roquefort and Gruyere cheeses in the star puffs.

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Cheese Rolls

Cheese Rolls

Cinnamon rolls get a savory makeover when prepped with a cheddar and onion filling. The slightly sweet dough makes every bite of the buttery rolls feel like a reason to celebrate.

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Baked Mozzarella and Tomato-Basil Antipasti

Baked Mozzarella and Tomato-Basil Antipasti

If you're searching for an easy appetizer you can count on to satisfy everyone, look no further than this recipe. The "nothing-fancy" crowd will love the pizza flavors, while sophisticated foodies will tap right into the fresh-mozzarella angle.

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The Best Way to Shred Cheese

Did you know there are two main ways to shred cheese? Learn how to pick the best method to use, depending on the cheese you're shredding.

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Warm Brie with Fig and Pistachio Tapenade

Warm Brie with Fig and Pistachio Tapenade

You can never go wrong serving baked Brie, and our melted version is the best around. Simply pop it into the oven before adding a topping of homemade tapenade made of dried figs and pistachios.

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Oregano-Manchego Cheese Straws

Oregano-Manchego Cheese Straws

Spain's most famous cheese, Manchego, is rich and buttery with a semihard texture. Here, we've paired it with oregano to make our crisp and sophisticated cheese straws.

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Hot Fennel Cheese Dip

Hot Fennel Cheese Dip

For a delicious, easy, and always crowd-pleasing hot dip, try our bacon and blue cheese version the next time you're in a pinch.

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The Top Tip for a Great Cheese Tray

There's no appetizer more classic than a basic cheese tray. Learn how to choose the best cheeses for an unforgettable presentation.

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Beer and Cheddar Fondue

Beer & Cheese Fondue

When you're after melted-cheese appetizers, what could be more perfect than fondue? This version calls for beer, a great flavor complement to cheddar cheese. Try it with a variety of dippers.

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Roasted Cherry Tomato Pizza Poppers

Grilled Pizza Poppers

Make mozzarella your go-to cheese when it comes to appetizers—it melts into incredible deliciousness. You'll love the way it provides a rich base for the bright cherry tomato topping in these fun bites.

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Gorgonzola and Pear Focaccia

Gorgonzola & Pear Focaccia

For an easy appetizer, simply choose a handful of ingredients that mingle beautifully together. Blue cheese, pears, and walnuts are a classic trio, and they pull off some major magic here.

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