Cheddar Cheese Alternatives

Cheddar cheese is a widely popular semi-hard cheese known for its tangy, nutty flavor. Its smooth texture and melting properties also make it an extremely versatile ingredient used in dishes like grilled cheese, mac and cheese, burgers, and more.

However, you may sometimes find yourself without cheddar when a recipe calls for it. Whether you have an intolerance, are looking to cut calories, or simply ran out of cheddar, finding a good alternative is key.

Luckily, many delicious substitutes can mimic both the taste and texture of cheddar cheese.

What Is Cheddar Cheese

Cheddar cheese originated in the village of Cheddar in England. To be labeled "cheddar", the cheese must be made up of cow's milk and follow a specific process of curdling, cutting, heating, and pressing the curds.

True cheddar has a tangy, nutty taste that can range from mild to extremely sharp depending on its age. Mild cheddar is aged around 3 months, while specially aged varieties are left to intensify in flavor for years.

The natural color of cheddar is white, but many commercial producers add an orange coloring. The color does not affect flavor.

Cheddar also has a smooth, sliceable texture that melts very well. This makes it perfect for cooking, from grilled sandwiches to baked pasta dishes.

Nutrition

While tasty, cheddar is high in saturated fat and sodium, so alternatives can provide nutritional benefits:

Finding the Best Substitute

When finding an alternative for cheddar cheese, the most important factors to consider are:

• Flavor - You want something with a similar tangy, nutty taste. Level of sharpness should match the type of cheddar called for.
• Texture - The substitute should have a smooth, sliceable texture that easily melts.
• Purpose - If cheddar is being melted, the alternative must melt smoothly. On a cheese board, texture/sharpness may be more important.
• Dietary needs - Account for dairy/nut allergies, vegan diets, etc.

Keeping these factors in mind, let's explore some delicious cheddar swaps!

Cheddar Substitutes

Gouda

Gouda makes an excellent substitution for cheddar cheese in just about any recipe. This Dutch cheese shares a similar texture, taste, and nutritional profile.

Like cheddar, gouda has a nutty, sweet, buttery flavor that intensifies with age. Young gouda is mild like white cheddar, while aged gouda takes on a sharpness comparable to aged orange cheddar.

The texture is also smooth and dense enough to slice or shred for cooking applications. And because gouda has high fat and low moisture, it melts superbly without becoming oily.

For an easy swap, use young gouda to replace mild cheddar. Swap aged gouda anywhere you would use aged/sharp cheddar. Adjust quantity to account for differences in moisture.

Havarti

Havarti's smooth, creamy texture makes it melt like a dream - perfect for grilled cheese or quesadillas. Its flavor is also buttery and slightly tangy but much milder than cheddar.

Therefore, havarti works nicely as a 1:1 substitute in recipes where cheddar is called for mainly its melting ability vs strong flavor. Think about dishes featuring other bold ingredients like spices.

You can also mix havarti with small amounts of a sharp cheese like Parmesan. This balances the mildness while maintaining that awesome melted texture.

Colby

Colby cheese has an extremely similar taste and texture to mild cheddar. In fact, it was first created in Wisconsin to replicate cheddar!

Like mild cheddar, colby has a smooth, dense texture and faint sweetness with just a bit of tang. It also shares that signature orange color thanks to added annatto.

The main difference is colby lacks the buttery/nutty sharpness that aged cheddar takes on. But for recipes calling specifically for mild cheddar, colby makes possibly the best substitution out there.

Use colby as a 1:1 replacement anywhere mild cheddar is required. It melts, grates, and tastes almost identically.

Monterey Jack

Those looking specifically for a substitute for white cheddar will do well with Monterey Jack. While more bland than orange cheddar, Monterey Jack closely mimics the smooth, creamy texture of white cheddar.

Monterey Jack has a very mild flavor described as buttery and slightly tangy. It melts exceptionally well too, making it perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches, nachos, mac and cheese, etc.

For best results, stick to recipes where white cheddar is called for specifically or used more for its texture vs robust flavor. Use Monterey Jack in a 1:1 ratio.

Swiss

Swiss cheese makes a better replacement for mild cheddar since it lacks the same sharpness that comes with age. But its smooth, dense texture melts very similarly.

Flavor-wise, Swiss cheese is sweet and nutty like mild cheddar but has a fruitier, less tangy taste. Still, that nuttiness paired with excellent melt makes it a smart substitute in cooked dishes.

For sandwiches or boards, the sweeter Swiss flavor offers an interesting contrast to salty meats and bold accompaniments instead of mimicking cheddar.

Pepper Jack

Pepper jack cheese infuses colby or Monterey Jack (mild cheddar equivalents) with spicy jalapeños. This doesn't mimic cheddar's flavor exactly but can add excitement to sandwiches, Tex-Mex dishes, pizza, and more.

Pepper jack melts smoothly like mild cheddar. But that mild cheesy base allows the flavor of peppers to take center stage. This gives you that necessary melted texture with a completely different taste.

Use pepper jack anywhere you want to add heat but need the meltability of mild cheddar. Adjust jalapeño level to your spice preference.

Fontina

Fontina works wonderfully for recipes requiring shredded cheddar, like pizza or pasta topings. When melted, this Italian cheese delivers that perfect gooey, creamy texture to coat each bite.

Flavour-wise, fontina is much milder and more delicate than aged cheddar with a distinctive nutty aroma. There's a subtle earthiness though with no bitterness.

While fontina lacks the tang of sharp cheddar, its smooth melt helps fill the textural role on dishes like chicken parm, salads, eggs, and more. Enjoy this substitute when cheddar's boldness would overpower.

Parmesan

Fresh Parmesan has a sharp, gritty texture and deep umami flavor that distinguishes it from smooth cheddar. But when grated finely, Parmesan can mimic cheddar wonderfully in terms of purpose.

That savory taste and fine texture make it perfect for dusting onto pasta, salads, pizza and more to add a sharp depth and salty crunch. The subtle tang gives that little bite like cheddar. Just avoid Parmesan in recipes needing cheese that melts.

Also try blending Parmesan with softer cheeses like mozzarella or Monterey Jack to balance the texture in melty applications.

Edam

This Dutch cheese makes an excellent 1:1 substitute for mild cheddar cheese in terms of both taste and texture.

Edam has a smooth density with a glossy yellow interior and shiny red wax coating. Flavor-wise it is mildly salty and nutty like white cheddar but without bitterness.

Additionally, Edam doesn’t crumble easily making it perfect for slicing. And it melts wonderfully in dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches, casseroles, macaroni and cheese, etc. Overall Edam closely mimics mild cheddar.

Manchego

Manchego offers the crumbly texture and salty zing of good Parmesan cheese along with nutty notes reminiscient of cheddar. This makes Manchego an interesting substitute to grate or crumble onto dishes seeking that sharp cheddar bite.

Made from sheep's milk, this Spanish cheese delivers full-flavored richness balanced by a subtle sweetness. The buttery finish replaces cheddar's acidic tang too.

Beyond grating onto pasta or salads, manchego also pairs tastily with cured meats, olives, fruits and wine.

Vegan Cheddar Substitutes

Vegans or those avoiding dairy have fabulous cheddar alternatives made from plant-based ingredients like nuts, coconut, potatoes, etc. Here are some popular options:

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast offers serious "cheesy" flavor thanks to naturally occurring glutamic acid (gives Parmesan that umami taste).

This inactive yeast has a flaky texture and savory taste that make it perfect for sprinkling onto popcorn, nachos, pasta - anywhere needing that aged cheddar bite.

Mix with plant-based milks and oils to make a smoother cheese sauce too. Fortified varieties provide B12, an essential nutrient for those avoiding animal products.

Cashew Cheese

By fermenting cashew nuts you can create tasty cheese with a similar smooth, spreadable texture as soft cheddar. Most recipes combine cashews with garlic, lemon, nutritional yeast, etc. for a tangy bite that feels indulgent.

Use cashew cheese in cheddar applications like grilled cheese, dips, sandwiches, etc. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container, for up to a week.

Vegan Cheddar Blocks

Pre-made vegan cheddar blocks eliminate the work of creating nut-based cheese substitutes from scratch. Brands like Daiya offer shreds, slices, and blocks with spot-on orange color and convincing flavors.

Many vegan cheddars melt smoothly too, though some brands hold up better than others when cooked. Adding tapioca or coconut oil improves performance. Experiment to find a brand you like.

Tofu Feta

For a plant-based, protein-packed cheddar alternative, try marinated tofu feta!

Press firm tofu to remove moisture then cube or crumble it. Toss with lemon, garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar and olive oil. Then marinate overnight, to infuse flavors.

The tofu takes on a slightly tangy, salty flavor with feta-like crumbles perfect for Mediterranean dishes, pastas, eggs, you name it!

Smart Ingredient Swaps

Don't have a melty cheese on hand? Here are some clever ingredient substitutes to fill the texture role:

Mashed Potatoes

Oddly enough, mashed potatoes can mimic melted cheddar in certain recipes.

Potatoes easily adopt surrounding flavors, offer creaminess, and visually resemble cheddar sauce when mashed smooth with butter and milk.

For a tasty, nutritious replacement in veggie or potato-based bakes, mix herbs, garlic, or other seasonings into potatoes instead of cheddar.

Greek Yogurt

Like mashed potatoes, Greek yogurt develops an almost cheesy tanginess when blended with seasonings. This makes a smart, high-protein sub for cheddar in dips, spreads, bakes, etc.

For 1 cup cheddar, swap 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt blended with salt, garlic, onion powder, etc. Stir thickened yogurt into hot fillings right before serving to prevent curdling.

Miso Paste

Smooth and ultra-savory, white or yellow miso paste makes an umami-rich flavor substitute for cheddar without the dairy, fat, or sodium.

Whisk about 1 Tbsp into dressings, marinades, grain or veggie bowls. Or thin miso into soups and sauces instead of cheese powder for rich body.

The salty fermented flavor isn't identical but satisfies similarly. Red miso works too but has a stronger taste.

FAQs

What's the best cheddar substitute for mac and cheese?

For mac and cheese, mild gouda and Gruyère make fabulous substitutions to mimic melty cheddar texture and flavor. Colby or Monterey Jack also work very well.

If avoiding dairy, try blending cashew cheese or vegan cheddar shreds into the mac and cheese sauce.

What cheese tastes most like cheddar?

Colby cheese tastes practically identical to mild cheddar with just subtle differences detected by cheese experts. Young gouda also closely mimics mild cheddar.

Aged gouda is best for replacing aged/sharp cheddar since intensity ramps up similarly.

What can I use instead of cheddar cheese?

Depending on factors like intended use, dietary needs, etc., havarti, Swiss, Monterey Jack, fontina, Parmesan, edam and manchego all make tasty cheddar subs. Vegan options like cashew cheese, vegan cheddar shreds, and tofu feta work too.

In a pinch, try mashed potatoes, Greek yogurt or miso paste to mimic melty texture and tang.

Is there a healthy substitute for cheddar cheese?

Lower-fat cheese options like part-skim mozzarella or reduced-fat Swiss/cheddar provide fewer calories and fat. Cottage cheese is high protein.

Vegan cheeses made from nuts and plant starches eliminate cholesterol while providing nutrition from ingredients like cashews.

Conclusion

Cheddar cheese adds memorable flavor, color, and meltability to some of the world's most popular dishes. Luckily, excellent substitutes can mimic cheddar for those avoiding dairy, watching fat/sodium intake or simply lacking cheddar when a recipe calls for it.

Whether you need a perfect match for cheddar’s tang and texture, or an interesting flavor contrast with similar behavior in cooking, options like gouda, colby, havarti and even mashed potatoes fit the bill beautifully.