Quesadilla is a simple Mexican snack consisting of a flour or corn tortilla filled with cheese that melts well. It is commonly folded in half and consumed. A quesadilla can also have some other ingredients on the inside such as meats, beans, or potatoes, but cheese is always mandatory (with the exception of Mexico City, where cheese in a quesadilla is often an afterthought).
Sometimes, it is cut into wedges and served with salsa or guacamole on the side, and it can be topped with vegetables such as diced tomatoes, onions, lettuce, or hot chiles. The origins of quesadilla are somewhat murky, but it is known that the cheese was brought to Mexico by the Spaniards along with other dairy products in colonial times, and the thin flatbreads were already a staple of the Mesoamerican people.
MOST ICONIC Quesadilla
View moreFlaming saganaki is an American appetizer originating from Chicago's Greektown. Essentially, it's a different way of preparing saganaki – a dish that's originally from Greece, made by frying cheese in a small pan. Flaming saganaki was invented in 1968 at The Parthenon restaurant – after it has been fried, the cheese is flambéed with Metaxa or Ouzo and the flames are extinguished with a squeeze of lemon juice.
The cheese used in this dish is usually sheep's milk feta, halloumi, graviera, kasseri, or kefalotyri. This appetizer is traditionally prepared tableside.
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Queso fundido is a tasty Mexican comfort food dish that is typically served as an appetizer. It consists of pieces of chorizo, tomatoes, onions, poblano peppers, and gooey, stringy melted cheese. The dish is often prepared tableside in restaurants, where it is flambéed and presented bubbling hot in small casserole dishes.
Queso fundido is traditionally spooned onto soft corn tortillas so that it could be eaten individually, as the dish is typically shared between groups of people, making it a great party food as well. It originated in northern Mexico, where it was originally prepared as a campfire dish.
MOST ICONIC Queso fundido
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Even though its name stems from the French boudin—a word that usually refers to the pudding-like fillings of sausages—this soppy treat originating from the French Canadian province of Quebec consists of french fries drowned in a thick, brown gravy dotted with clumps of pale, soft, semi-creamy cheese curds.
The potatoes are more coarsely cut than regular fries, and they are sometimes even fried twice so that the exterior remains crispy while the interior remains soft, whereas the cheese does not melt but just softens, adding that special squeakiness to the dish, and the gravy is made with either beef or chicken stock with the addition of vinegar.
MOST ICONIC Poutine
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A local delicacy in the cuisine of the Midwestern United States and Canada, deep-fried cheese curds are made from curds that form before cheeses like cheddar are formed into blocks or wheels and left to age. Fresh curds have a rubbery texture and squeak slightly when bitten into, which is why they are sometimes referred to as squeaky cheese.
The squeak is a sign of its freshness, and after about twelve hours, the curds begin to lose their squeak, so they should be eaten on the day they are produced. Since there are many cheese factories and dairies in Wisconsin, the best and freshest cheese curds are produced in that state.
MOST ICONIC Cheese curds
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Mozzarella sticks are one of America's favorite cheesy snacks consisting of battered, breaded, and deep-fried pieces of mozzarella cheese. Although they are traditionally served as an appetizer with marinara sauce, these cheesy sticks can also be paired with plum sauce, honey mustard sauce, raspberry sauce, Ranch dressing, or barbecue sauce.
Mozzarella sticks were not common before the late 1970s and the early 1980s, and some food experts believe that they were first served in sports bars and bowling alleys.
MOST ICONIC Mozzarella Sticks
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This simple fast food dish is made by topping french fries with melted cheese. Depending on the varieties of the dish, the cheese is sometimes enriched with the addition of various vegetables, meats, and spices. Although not much is known about the history of cheese fries, it is believed that it gained popularity after 1952, when canned cheese products became available in the United States of America.
What is known, however, is that this comforting side dish is a staple of numerous diners and fast food joints across the country.
MOST ICONIC Cheese Fries
View moreCheese - specifically the sharp cheddar cheese - has left a whole nation divided between those who cannot imagine their apple pie without cheese, and those who refuse to spoil something as noble as a slice of American apple pie with cheese that is aged and slightly pungent.
Although believed to have its roots in New England, some suggest that cheddar cheese apple pie can be traced back to England, and even further to ancient times, when the combination of cheese, fruit, and nuts was common. The consumption of apple pie with cheese is typical of and often deeply rooted in the tradition of regions such as New England, Pennsylvania, and the Midwest, as well as certain parts of Canada and Britain.
MOST ICONIC Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie
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Mac and cheese—a seemingly simple combination of macaroni and melted cheese—is one of the most popular dishes in the United States. The preferred American combination consists of curved macaroni pasta and Cheddar cheese, but modern varieties include vegetables, breadcrumb toppings, or gourmet ingredients such as crab, lobster, or truffles.
Although it is an American staple, the dish was probably inspired by similar pasta dishes enjoyed in Italy and France. In the United States, it was popularized by none other than Thomas Jefferson. He fell in love with the combination of pasta and cheese during his European travels, and soon after returning, he started importing macaroni and had the pasta machine shipped to Virginia.
MOST ICONIC Mac and Cheese
View moreThis is not your ordinary mac & cheese. What differentiates the Haitian makawoni au graten (also spelled macaroni au gratin) from mac & cheese are the noodles – there are no elbow macaroni here, since they are replaced by larger pasta types such as rigatoni and penne, along with some unusual flavorings such as mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and white pepper.
All of the ingredients are typically placed in a casserole dish and sprinkled with grated cheese such as parmesan or cheddar. Some cooks like to add other flavorful additions such as ham or shredded chicken. It is said that makawoni au graten is best consumed during the colder seasons as it is a typical comfort food dish.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 17 North American Cheese Dishes” list until April 15, 2025, 3,164 ratings were recorded, of which 2,672 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.