Did you know that people’s addiction to cheese is backed by scientific research? According to nutritionists, cheese contains a chemical called casein that triggers receptors in the brain responsible for addiction. So, don’t feel bad whenever you ask for extra cheese on your pizza—it’s perfectly natural!

There are a ton of cheese dishes all over the world for you to try. From Brie to Swiss to Colby-Jack to Emmental to Havarti, there’s something for everyone in the cheese world. Let’s take a look at how different cultures use cheese in their cuisines and dishes!

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1. Fondue (Switzerland)

Fondue is a cheese dish that consists of a hot pot of melted cheese and a variety of side dishes like crackers, bread, and vegetables. The premise is simple—just dip these dishes in the cheese! Fondue is one of the national dishes of Switzerland and is so common that even their convenience stores sell mini fondue sets.

These days, fondue doesn’t just mean cheese too. It can also be used for chocolate! So, why not end your cheese fondue meal with a chocolate fondue dessert?

2. Raclette (Switzerland)

Did we mention that Switzerland is addicted to cheese? Their love for cheese is so famous that we just had to mention them twice on this list—nobody does cheese better than the Swiss.

If you don’t believe me, just take a look at raclette. It’s not really a dish but more a garnish—here, your plate of food is positively smothered and drowned in gooey, bubbling hot cheese. You can add it to pasta, potatoes, and anything else your cheese-obsessed heart fancies!

3. Mac & Cheese (United States)

Macaroni and cheese is the quintessential comfort food in the United States. It’s beloved by many in all stages of life, from ordering it off a kid’s menu to boiling an instant pack as a broke college student, and to making it from scratch in your kitchen as an adult. You’ll be hard-pressed to find any American that doesn’t love macaroni and cheese!

The best part about the dish is how versatile it is. You can use any combination of macaroni (e.g., elbow macaroni, penne, fusilli) and cheese (e.g., mozzarella, cheddar, gruyere).

4. Buldak (South Korea)

If you’re a fan of spicy food, then you should definitely give this South Korean dish a go. It’s a combination of the words ‘bul’ meaning fire, and ‘dak’ meaning chicken. Essentially, it’s chicken breasts or thighs marinated in a spicy chili paste and served with a generous layer of mozzarella cheese. The cheese helps to lessen the spiciness of the chili, and overall, both components just make for a fantastic combination.

5. Pizza Margherita (Italy)

According to historical claims, pizza Margherita was named after Queen Margherita of Savoy during her visit to Naples. She loved it so much that she kept coming back for more!

Despite the lack of ingredients that we so typically associate with pizza nowadays, pizza Margherita is remarkably tasty. It’s made with fresh tomato sauce, crisp basil, and delectable cheese that melts in the mouth. The beautiful colors are strangely reminiscent of Italy’s iconic green, white, and red flag.

6. Arepas Rellenas de Queso (Colombia)

Arepa is a pan-fried cake that’s common in Colombia and Venezuela. Many younger kids would probably recognize it from Disney’s hit movie, Encanto. Made with dried corn that’s been ground and soaked, it’s combined with butter and water to make a tasty dough. Then, you fill it with anything you’d like and top it with toppings before cooking!

Arepas rellenas de queso is a type of arepa that’s filled with loads of cheese before frying. Fresh off the skillet, you can pull it apart to take a good look at that stretchy cheese pull. It’s like South America’s version of grilled cheese!

7. Tiropita (Greece)

Let’s take a trip to the Mediterranean with the tiropita, which is a savory Greek pie filled with a combination of cheese and eggs. This is a rich and heavy dish that’s perfect for the early mornings as it’ll give you the energy to last the whole day.

Tiropita is filled with a ton of different cheeses including feta, cottage cheese, ricotta, cream cheese, and even parmesan. Then, it’s wrapped in a buttery, flaky crust that falls apart easily. This one is definitely a food fit for the gods!

8. Aligot (France)

Aligot is a seductive blend of potatoes and cheese. Here, you blend cheese fondue with creamy, mashed potatoes. When done right, aligot is super elastic and can actually stretch a few inches off the pot!

Of course, aligot isn’t just made of plain potatoes and cheese. Did you really think the French would create something as simple as that? Of course not! Aligot is seasoned with a ton of different flavorings like salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, butter, and cream too.

9. Quesadilla (Mexico)

Quesadilla is a traditional Mexican dish that’s super easy to make. All you need is tortillas and a bunch of other ingredients you’d like to add, the most common of which is cheese.

To make a quesadilla, you simply have to slap a tortilla onto your pan, add in your cheese, salsa, ground beef, guacamole, and other ingredients, and top it off with another tortilla. Then, serve it with more salsa or sour cream, or just eat it as is! Either way, you get a scrumptious meal that’s ready in less than 10 minutes—perfect for the busy bee!

10. Matar Paneer (India)

Last but not least is the matar paneer of India. Paneer, which is a type of cottage cheese, is cooked in a spicy, flavorful curry that’s perfect for serving over basmati rice or dipping with naan. Matar, which means peas, is also added to the stew for some extra flavor and is great for your skin and eyesight.

This dish is 100% vegetarian for the people out there who abstain from animal products for ethical and health reasons!