The “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” commercial from the early ’90s is seared into my mind like steak on a grill. Lately, though, red meat rarely appears on my plate. My weeknight move for making satiating meals in shockingly little time is the other other white meat—cheese. It’s a rich source of protein that will keep you full, and it can be cooked in all sorts of ways.
For anyone who wants to eat more vegetarian meals, cheese is the answer. You can certainly grate a block of cheddar over your salad, but the dairy aisle offers quite a few more options these days. Grab any variety that catches your eye and what once seemed like a side can easily turn into a hearty main. Look for salty finishers like Cotija, rich orbs of buffalo mozzarella and burrata, grill-friendly Halloumi, dense planks of paneer, and crumbly feta. Each one offers something unique, and they’ll all help you get dinner on the table as fast as a catchy commercial might have you believe.
Scroll on for my favorite recipes that prove dairy is the main dish.
