Picky eaters don’t stand a chance with these dinners. They’re packed with enough cheese to win over even the most dramatic critic at the table. There won’t be any eye rolling or turning up of noses. These are solid meals that actually get eaten. The recipes are quick, easy and perfect for nights when you don’t have the energy to argue.

Greek Yogurt Mac and Cheese
This one brings the creamy, cheesy comfort without going overboard. It’s quick to make, easy to clean up, and picky eaters won’t care there’s yogurt involved when the cheese is front and center.
Get the Recipe: Greek Yogurt Mac and Cheese
Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese
Loaded with cheddar, spinach, and peppers, this one-pan dinner is cheesy enough to pass the kid test. It’s great for nights when you want something that feels like fast food but tastes way better.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese
Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Eggplant
This is what happens when you stuff a bunch of melted cheddar into chicken and throw it into a roasted eggplant. It’s quick, cheesy, and perfect for anyone who usually avoids vegetables.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Eggplant
Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Poblano Peppers
These peppers are packed with chicken, black beans, spices, and a serious amount of melted cheese. No one’s complaining about healthy swaps when dinner looks and tastes like this.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Poblano Peppers
Cream Cheese Chicken
This one checks all the boxes: easy, creamy, and packed with flavor. Five spices, one skillet, and a generous layer of cream cheese make it a great pick for anyone tired of dry chicken dinners.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Chicken
Sausage Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese doesn’t mess around. It’s rich, cheesy, and packed with sausage, which makes it a solid win with both adults and kids. No boxed mix can touch it.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Mac and Cheese
Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
Don’t let the sweet potato fool you—this dish is all about the cheese. It’s creamy, loaded with flavor, and sneaks in some spinach without a single complaint from across the table.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Mac and Cheese
Cottage Cheese Alfredo
This is how you pull off creamy Alfredo without heavy cream. It’s cheesy, smooth, and easy to make. No one at the table needs to know it starts with cottage cheese.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Alfredo
Chicken Sorrentino
This one layers breaded chicken with eggplant, prosciutto, tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese. It’s bold, cheesy, and exactly the kind of dinner that makes people go back for more.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Sorrentino
Spaghetti Alfredo with Broccoli
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with broccoli, this lighter Alfredo still brings all the flavor. It’s a great way to serve pasta that won’t get picked apart at the table.
Get the Recipe: Spaghetti Alfredo with Broccoli
Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Mozzarella, tomato butter, and basil get tucked inside chicken and finished with Marsala sauce. It’s cheesy, rich, and way better than anything out of a jar.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Mexican Ground Beef Casserole
This casserole is cheesy, loaded with beef and black beans, and has just enough kick. It’s quick, hearty, and great for picky eaters who pretend they don’t like “casserole” until they’re scraping the dish.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Casserole
Salsa Chicken
Dump it all in a dish—chicken, salsa, corn, and cheddar—and bake it. It’s cheesy, fast, and somehow even better the next day. No one argues with this one.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken
Traeger Cheesy Italian Shells
Cheesy pasta with Italian seasoning and a ton of flavor. Whether you make it on the grill or in the oven, it’s perfect for anyone who wants dinner with zero complaints.
Get the Recipe: Traeger Cheesy Italian Shells
Cheesy Ham & Broccoli Tater Tot Hotdish
Ham, broccoli, cheese, and tater tots baked into one dish. It’s easy, cheesy, and great for feeding people who don’t do vegetables unless they’re covered in cheese.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ham & Broccoli Tater Tot Hotdish
Cheesy Baja Chicken & Bell Pepper Skillet
Chicken breasts, peppers, and cheese all cooked in one skillet. It’s fast, filling, and a great way to clean out the fridge without anyone realizing.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Baja Chicken & Bell Pepper Skillet
One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ground beef, taco seasoning, and a cheesy sauce poured over macaroni noodles. It’s a one-pot dinner that tastes like something from a drive-thru—in a good way.
Get the Recipe: One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Orzo
One pan, lots of cheese, and just enough broccoli to call it a balanced dinner. It’s fast, family-friendly, and no one’s going to leave the table hungry.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Orzo
Cheesy BBQ Pork Baked Sliders
Pulled pork and melted cheese tucked into slider buns and baked until golden. These are perfect for dinner, leftovers, or anytime people need a reason to stop complaining about what’s for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy BBQ Pork Baked Sliders
Cheesy Chipotle Turkey Sliders
These sliders are cheesy, spicy, and just the right size for second and third helpings. Great for a casual dinner or something easy that still feels like effort.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Chipotle Turkey Sliders
Cheesy Meatball Sub Casserole

All the parts of a meatball sub—cheese, sauce, bread, and meatballs—baked into one dish. It’s cheesy enough for kids, hearty enough for adults, and nobody’s asking for a backup dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Meatball Sub Casserole
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.