10 Cheesy Holiday Recipes to Brighten Your Feast

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Celebrate the holiday season with a selection of rich and comforting recipes, each featuring cheese as the star ingredient. From appetizers like the Party-Perfect Pineapple Cheese Ball and Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip to hearty sides like Cheesy Green Bean Casserole and Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes, these recipes bring warmth and flavor to the table. Finish the feast with a sweet twist—try the Apple Cream Cheese Bundt Cake or Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake for a delightful ending. Each dish is crafted to make holiday gatherings extra special with cheesy goodness.

Cranberry Turkey Sliders

Two stacked sandwiches with poppy seed buns, cream cheese, and cranberry sauce.
Image Credit: Quiche My Grits

Cranberry Turkey Sliders layer turkey, cheese, and cranberry sauce on Hawaiian rolls, making leftover turkey perfect for holiday snacking. Baked to golden perfection, these sliders bring a cheesy, sweet-savory option to the table.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Turkey Sliders

Party-Perfect Pineapple Cheese Ball

The image features a cheese ball coated with chopped nuts and herbs, topped with paprika. It is encircled by a ring of crackers.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Party-Perfect Pineapple Cheese Ball mixes pineapple and cheddar with a cream cheese base, rolled in crunchy Ritz crackers and pecans. This fun, cheesy snack is a hit at holiday gatherings and an easy crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Party-Perfect Pineapple Cheese Ball

Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes

An oval white dish containing creamy mashed potatoes topped with rosemary sprigs.
Image Credit: Flavor the Moments

Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes are packed with creamy cheese and a hint of rosemary, turning ordinary mashed potatoes into a holiday favorite. These can be prepared ahead, making them a stress-free, cheesy side for special meals.
Get the Recipe: Twice Baked Mashed Potatoes

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

The image features a dish topped with melted cheese, crispy onions, and fried shallots.
Image Credit: The Wooden Skillet

Cheesy Green Bean Casserole takes a classic to the next level with plenty of melted cheese for that ultimate holiday comfort. Made with fresh ingredients, this dish brings warmth and creamy flavor to family gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy Whole Wheat Biscuits

A stuffed muffin with melted cheese inside, garnished with herbs, on a white plate.
Image Credit: Dizzy Busy & Hungry

Cheesy Whole Wheat Biscuits bring together the nuttiness of whole wheat flour with gooey cheese, making them a cozy holiday choice. Quick to whip up and packed with flavor, these biscuits add a warm, cheesy touch to the table.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Whole Wheat Biscuits

Apple Cheese Danish Dessert

A rectangular apple pastry with thin apple slices layered on top, surrounded by other pastries.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Apple Cheese Danish Dessert wraps flaky pastry around creamy cheese and honey-sweetened apples, making it a warm and cheesy autumn treat. Perfect for the holiday season, this dessert adds elegance and a touch of sweetness.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cheese Danish Dessert

Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

A white casserole dish filled with melted cheese, topped with cranberries and rosemary. It is surrounded by sliced bread and crackers, all placed on a red and white cloth.
Image Credit: The Fresh Cooky

Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip combines creamy cheese with tangy cranberry sauce, creating an irresistible blend of sweet and savory. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this warm dip brings everyone back for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Best Baked Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake

A sliced bundt cake with berries and small fruit pieces on top, served on a white plate. A spoon lies beside the plate, with drinks in the background.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake brings together pumpkin, cranberries, and a creamy cheese center for an irresistible holiday dessert. Each slice is filled with warm spices, making it a perfect treat for the season.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

A cheesy casserole dish with two gold spoons.
Image Credit: The Wooden Skillet

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes offer a rich, gooey spin on traditional mashed potatoes, making them a top choice for holiday meals. With each bite packed with melted cheese, these potatoes bring serious comfort to the holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters

A close-up of several golden-brown, breaded cheese balls, with one broken open to show a creamy filling inside.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

Indulgent and downright irresistible, Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters with Warm Bourbon Glaze are the kind of holiday snack that could justify hosting your family for the big day. Imagine the crispiness of a fritter, the cheesiness of a gougère, and a playful hint of bourbon—all coming together in bite-sized treats!
Get the Recipe: Smoked Gouda and Ricotta Fritters

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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