We dig it on our pizza, require it on our burgers and have even been known to melt it on our fries. It’s cheese, the well-loved ingredient that gets a whole lot richer when things are heated up. In these side dishes, cheese isn’t simply an afterthought to be dashed on top. It’s an integral part, giving things a creamy, rich edge in all the right ways. Tune into our roster of cheesy, decadent sides — each recipe is complete with a good showing of spring vegetables.

Think of Food Network Magazine’s Spring Shells and Cheese (pictured above) as a grown-up mac and cheese — with its mature fix of veggies, too. Zucchini gives it a nice crunch, while spinach slides in for some good green.

Or unload a batch of spring peas into this creamy Four Cheese Pasta With Peas and Ham by Food Network Magazine.

Due to Arborio rice’s natural starch content, risotto on its own has a creamy quality. But, according to Ina Garten, you simply can’t have risotto without the Parmesan. Her veggie-packed Spring Green Risotto comes together with freshly grated Parm and smooth, rich mascarpone. In the spirit of spring, Ellie Krieger’s Garden Risotto has a garden variety, with peas, asparagus and baby spinach.

Food Network Magazine’s French Onions are loaded with Gruyere, and they would go idyllically beside a seared steak. Or try Ina’s Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, which douses the tender spears in the sharp Italian cheese.

For a cheesy side that still goes heavy on the veggies, Ina’s Spinach Gratin transforms the leafy green into a side that is smooth and creamy, but with that vital crusty surface.

When you’re squaring away tonight’s dinner lineup, just know that these cheesy, decadent spring sides are sure crowd-pleasers.

More cheesy spring side recipes from friends and family:

Jeanette's Healthy Living: Fresh Tomato Burrata Cheese Pesto Dip

Napa Farmhouse 1885: Roasted Asparagus With Balsamic Vinegar and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese

Red or Green: Grilled Vegetable and Cheese Quesadillas

Feed Me Phoebe: Skillet Lasagna With Zucchini, Arugula and Fontina Cheese

Cooking With Elise: Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas

Weelicious: Cheesy Corn on the Cob

Devour: Cheese-Filled Summer Side Dishes

Made by Michelle: Broccoli Cheese "Meatballs"

The Heritage Cook: Creamy and Cheesy Potato Casserole (Gluten-Free)

Dishin & Dishes: Baked Squash Casserole

The Sensitive Epicure: Frico: Parmesan Cheese Crackers

Virtually Homemade: Easy Cheesy Enchilada (Gluten-Free)