3 Cheesy Side Dishes for Easter

Easter is one of those food holidays that’s an all-day eating affair with brunches, lunches and dinners – and we’re here for it and you with these three cheesy side dishes that will have everyone begging for seconds.

Baked Asparagus au Gratin

If you’re looking to have your guests bowing down to your culinary mastery, just add the most-awarded cheese in American history to your dish: enter Upland Cheese’s Pleasant Ridge Reserve.

This recipe smothers and covers crisp asparagus with a rich, melty, salty, fruity cheese sauce made from Uplands Cheese Pleasant Ridge Reserve and tops it with crunchy breadcrumbs. 

Featured Cheeses

Uplands Cheese Pleasant Ridge Reserve: Wisconsin’s cheesemakers are no strangers to winning awards, but this awe-inspiring alpine-style from  Uplands Cheese takes things to a whole new level.

Having won Best of Show at American Cheese Society’s annual competition (the only cheese to have ever done so) you know that every bite is something special. Pleasant Ridge Reserve is only made from summer cow milk resulting in uniquely complex, rich, and subtly fruity cheese.

Recipe Tip

Perfecting a roux (French for the butter and flour base of a cheese sauce) is easy-cheesy if you remember to keep a 1:1 ratio of fat and flour.

Get the recipe for our Bake Asparagus au Gratin here.

Gouda-Bacon Potato Bake

There’s comfort food, and then there’s comfort food. This is the latter. The creaminess of the gouda combined with the salty, crunchy bacon and starchy potatoes will have your guests’ mouths’ watering and headed back for seconds and thirds.

Honestly, is there a more iconic food trio than cheese, bacon and potatoes? Go ahead, we’ll wait.

Featured Cheeses

Carr Valley Aged Gouda: This Dutch-inspired cheese has a special place in our hearts, and this recipe. Carr Valley Cheese strikes a perfect balance of light yet complex with this gouda that combines some of our favorite aspects of both aged and young varieties. 

Cheese Knowledge

Want to learn more about gouda? Lucky for you, we have everything you need to know right here in The Cheese Lover’s Guide to Gouda. Enjoy!

Get the recipe for our Gouda-Bacon Potato Bake here.

Fresh Mozzarella-Strawberry Caprese Salad

Bright flavors, fresh ingredients and a festive twist make the Fresh Mozzarella-Strawberry Caprese Salad an instant new classic for your Easter table. The fresh baby spinach combined with the minty, peppery basil complements the acidity of the juicy tomatoes perfectly.

Your tastebuds get an unexpected sweetness with the addition of the strawberries and the milky texture of the fresh mozzarella that are tied together with the honey-balsamic dressing. The finishing touch are the adorable, edible mozzarella bunnies, that are almost too cute to eat. Almost.

Featured Cheeses

Crave Brothers Farmstead Classics Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: Few cheeses say spring like fresh mozzarella! This delicate dream of a cheese is pillowy, light, and refreshing—just like a sunny spring day. We use both Ciliegine (cherry-sized balls) and log-style fresh mozzarella (cut into rabbit shapes).

Both taste the same, but just add some visual interest to our strawberry caprese salad. Crave Brothers Farmstead Creamery uses only the highest quality milk, so you know you’re getting Wisconsin’s finest.

Recipe Tip

A footed glass trifle bowl is a grate way to showcase your expert layering skills and adds visual dimension to your tablescape.

Get the recipe for our Fresh Mozzarella-Strawberry Caprese Salad here.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to take your Easter meal(s) to the next level, it doesn’t get cheddar than these flavorful side dishes. Need help finding a specific cheese? Get all your favorite Wisconsin cheeses delivered to your door with our continuously updated list of cheesemakers and retailers that allow you to order cheese online.

Hungry for more? Browse our selection of over 400 recipes featuring Wisconsin Cheese, and don’t forget to share your creative cheesy creations with us on Facebook and Instagram.