Easy dinner recipes: Three delicious ideas for cheese lovers

We’re keepin’ it extra cheesy today with these ooey-gooey recipe ideas for cheese lovers.

Chicharrones de queso with tomatillo-radish salsa and tortillas: It’s like taking those crispy bits of cheese that escape from your grilled cheese sandwich while it’s cooking ... and supersizing them. Chicharrones de queso are crisp, grilled “chips” of shredded Monterey cheese. If you can keep from eating them all as you’re making them, they’re great served with tortillas and salsa.

Rabbit with a bite: Whatever you think of British cuisine in general, they certainly got it right with Welsh rabbit. I mean, what’s not to love about gooey melted cheese served over toast? For a nice little twist, fold in tangy sour cream and add some chipotle pepper in adobo sauce for smoky heat.

Molten cheese and sausage (queso fundido con chorizo): Cheese, garlic, onion, chorizo, some fresh cilantro, more cheese. It’s a quick cheese-lover’s casserole you make using a handful of ingredients and serve with a side of chips. Hungry yet? You can find the recipe below.

MOLTEN CHEESE AND SAUSAGE (QUESO FUNDIDO CON CHORIZO)

Total time: 45 minutes | Serves 12

4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chopped onion
4 teaspoons oil
1 pound pork chorizo
3 cups shredded Jack cheese
3 cups shredded panela cheese
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Fried tortilla chips

1. Saute garlic and onion in oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes. Remove casing from chorizo. Add chorizo to skillet. Saute, stirring chorizo to break up, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.

2. Spoon 2 tablespoons chorizo mixture into bottom of each of 6 (16-ounce) oval baking dishes. Sprinkle combination of 1/2 cup Jack cheese and 1/2 cup panela cheese over chorizo in each casserole. Spoon dollops of remaining chorizo mixture over top of each.

3. Place casseroles on back of grill to melt cheese or bake at 400 degrees until cheese is melted and begins to brown around edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle each casserole with green onion and cilantro. Serve with fried tortilla chips.

Each serving, casserole only: 355 calories; 931 mg sodium; 70 mg cholesterol; 29 grams fat; 2 grams carbohydrates; 21 grams protein; 0.12 gram fiber