Cheesy Appetizer Recipes

Thanksgiving entertaining is easy with these simple cheese appetizers from Food Network that'll make the whole family melt.

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Baked Brie

Tyler Florence keeps things simple by wrapping a wheel of Brie cheese in foil, baking it until it's gooey and serving it with snacks for dipping, like apples, pretzels or sliced baguettes.

Get the Recipe: Baked Brie

Fried Cheese Ravioli

If frying pasta sounds strange to you, keep an open mind. There's a crispy pasta shell, soft cheese filling and ample marinara sauce for dipping — what's not to like?

Get the Recipe: Fried Ravioli

Blue Cheese and Walnut Crackers

Ina Garten's homemade crackers are an unforgettable treat. Pair them with chilled Chardonnay, or serve them with your favorite fall soup.

Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese and Walnut Crackers

Mozzarella-Stuffed Portobellos

Michael Chiarello transforms portobello mushrooms into easy-to-eat appetizers with melty mozzarella cheese and a crunchy Parmesan and breadcrumb topping.

Get the Recipe: Mozzarella Stuffed Portobellos

Goat Cheese with Fresh Dill

Ree Drummond rolls goat cheese in freshly chopped dill and serves it with crackers for an appetizer that's ready in just 20 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese with Fresh Dill

Cheese-Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto

Giada De Laurentiis' simple snack will have you out of the kitchen and mingling with your guests; just wrap prosciutto with creamy goat and mascarpone cheeses.

Get the Recipe: Cheese-Stuffed Dates with Prosciutto

Pretzel-Crusted Fried Cheese

Sink your teeth into these crisp fried pretzels and you'll find an ooey-gooey center made with Parmesan and cheddar cheeses.

Get the Recipe: Pretzel-Crusted Fried Cheese

Crispy Smoked Mozzarella with Honey and Figs

Store-bought phyllo dough makes this dried fig, honey and smoked mozzarella appetizer a breeze to put together.

Get the Recipe: Crispy Smoked Mozzarella with Honey and Figs

Stuffed Mushrooms with Pecorino and Herbs

Stuffed mushrooms always have a place on a holiday buffet, especially when they're topped with pecorino cheese and Italian-style breadcrumbs.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Mushrooms with Pecorino and Herbs

Winter Fruit Compote with Selection of Cheese

This sweet fruit-filled compote of golden raisins, Granny Smith apples, dried cherries and apricots pairs perfectly with a hunk of Gorgonzola or sharp cheddar.

Get the Recipe: Winter Fruit Compote with Selection of Cheese

Manchego with Honey Brown Butter Sauce

Tyler Florence's simple appetizer comes together in seconds and will leave guests wondering why they didn't think of the ingenious honey-Manchego combo.

Get the Recipe: Manchego with Honey Brown Butter Sauce

Brie and Onion Puff

Claire Robinson adds caramelized onions to her version of the classic baked Brie appetizer.

Get the Recipe: Brie and Onion Puff

Apple Galette with Goat Cheese, Sour Cherry and Almond Topping

If you think a cherry and almond galette sounds like a dessert, well, you're right. But with the addition of creamy, tangy goat cheese, this dish is totally welcome either before or after the main course.

Get the Recipe: Apple Galette with Goat Cheese, Sour Cherry, and Almond Topping

Bruschetta with Peppers and Gorgonzola

Beautiful peppers (in all your favorite fall hues) provide a satisfying crunch next to Gorgonzola's creamy bite.

Get the Recipe: Bruschetta with Peppers and Gorgonzola

Country Bread Stuffing with Goat Cheese, Kale and Bacon

Bobby Flay's hearty stuffing is basically your favorite salad amplified by loads of cubes of country bread. Yes, please!

Get the Recipe: Country Bread Stuffing with Goat Cheese, Kale and Bacon

Three-Cheese Crostini Appetizer

A trio of cheeses — Romano, ricotta and blue — are melted atop a crunchy French baguette for an easy two-bite treat.

Get the Recipe: Three Cheese Crostini Appetizer

Crostini with Sun-Dried Tomato Jam

By making a jam out of sun-dried tomatoes, Giada harnesses their intensity. The goat cheese is a great tangy complement, but it smooths the sharpness, too.

Get the Recipe: Crostini with Sun-Dried Tomato Jam

Ham, Tomato and Swiss Quiche

A pre-dinner quiche is an unexpected way to kick off your celebration (it's basically a savory pie — and who doesn't want pie on Thanksgiving?). Thanks to ready-made dough, this dish is ready in a flash.

Get the Recipe: Ham, Tomato and Swiss Quiche

Holiday Salad

Giada says this festive salad is like "cool confetti in your mouth," since the ingredients (including corn, apples, cranberries and cubes of Gruyère!) offer so many different flavors and textures.

Get the Recipe: Holiday Salad

Swiss and Bacon Dip

Rachael Ray's super-savory, cheesy, creamy dip will be the first dish to disappear at your party.

Get the Recipe: Swiss and Bacon Dip

Superb Squash Soup with the Best Parmesan Croutons

Butternut squash soup is a classic fall dish, but it's more sweet than savory. And that's where Tyler's giant Parmesan-topped crotons come in; they make the dish extra cheesy.

Get the Recipe: Superb Squash Soup with the Best Parmesan Croutons