What Is American cheese and How Can I Use It?

American cheese is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 128 recipes to get you started.

What is american cheese?

American cheese is a processed cheese. It is orange, yellow, or white in color and mild in flavor, with a medium-firm consistency, and melts easily. American cheese was originally only white, but is usually now modified to orange.

It has been made from a blend of cheeses, most often Colby and Cheddar. Today’s American cheese is generally no longer made from a blend of all-natural cheeses, but instead is manufactured from a set of ingredients such as milk, whey, milkfat, milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate, and salt.

The taste and texture of different varieties of American Cheese vary considerably, and mostly depend on the percentage of cheese versus additives used during emulsification.

Varieties with lower percentages of additives tend to taste more like natural, unprocessed cheese. Depending on the food manufacturer, the color of the cheese (orange, yellow, or white) may indicate different ingredients or processes.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find american cheese: American cheese is usually found in the cheeses section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: American cheese is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

美国奶酪

British (UK) term

American cheese

en français

fromage américain

en español

queso americano

How much does american cheese weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

Recipes using american cheese

There are 128 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cheese & Corn Chowder

This simple, creamy, comforting chowder combines tender potatoes, sweet corn kernels, and cheese in a lightly spiced milk-based broth. It’s a quick, hearty soup perfect for chilly days, ready in about 30 minutes and serving 4 as a main dish.

Goey Crispy Grilled Cheeser Sandwiches

Yummy Delicious Cheesy Golden brown bread YUM YUM YUMMY (LIKE JOSH HUNTER) YUM YUM YUMMY YUM YUM YUM UHMM YUM YUM UHM BLOOOOOP

Double Decker Hamburger

Big Mac copycat double decker hamburger with two thin smashed patties, special sauce, shredded lettuce, and American cheese. Includes the homemade hamburger sauce that nails the fast-food flavor at home.

Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Very tasty. An excellent way to make and serve grilled cheese sandwiches.

Cheesy Cauliflower Casserole

A comforting dish that combines tender cauliflower florets with a rich and creamy cheese sauce. This delicious casserole is baked to perfection, creating a golden and bubbly top that is simply irresistible. It's a great vegetarian main or side dish for any weeknight, and a great way to sneak in some veggies for those who might be a bit picky.

Bbq Cheeseburgers

Quick and easy to make, and these burgers taste delicious. Enjoy the juicy bites with some homemade fries or coleslaw aside.

Best Vegetarian Broccoli Casserole

A hearty vegetarian broccoli rice casserole with brown rice, two cream soups, melty American cheese, and tender broccoli florets. The Sunday dinner casserole made meat-free without the fuss.

Kicked Up Breakfast Sandwich

A spicy-sweet variation of the typical breakfast egg sandwich.

Easy Cheesy Potato Soup

Potatoes and onions boil in chicken broth until tender, then get mashed right in the pot and stirred with melted American cheese for creamy, comforting potato soup in 20 minutes flat.

Tuna Salad Sandwich

A quick, easy yet delicious tuna salad sandwich is ideal for a week-day lunch or supper.

Au Gratin Potatoes & Ham

Easy no-fuss Slow cooker (Crockpot) potatoes, cheese and ham.

Philly Cheese Steak Wraps

The combination of sauteed sweet bell peppers, onions, roasted beef and gooey-melted cheese was super tasty, then wrapped with a whole-grain flour tortilla. A quick and well balanced meal on both flavor and nutrients is ideal for a busy week day.

Easy Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes

Mom's recipe that's easy to add to. Try adding ricotta cheese to create more of a main dish, or mushrooms for a "meatier" version of this vegetarian dish.

Creamy Chicken & Rice Bake with French Onion Rings

Creamy Chicken and Rice Bake with French Onion Rings recipe

Loafer's Loaf

Easy meatloaf with ground beef, oatmeal, American cheese, tomatoes, and celery salt. Mix, pack, bake. Three steps and dinner is done.

Tasty Potato & Egg Casserole

Potato and egg casserole built on bacon-fat-fried potatoes layered with American cheese, whole eggs cracked in, and evaporated milk. A 40-minute brunch bake with crisp potato edges, runny yolks, and serious bacon flavor.

Elfies Vension In a Pot Casserole

Ground venison casserole layered shepherd's-pie style with green beans, creamy mashed potatoes, and melty cheese on top. A hearty one-dish dinner that puts lean game meat to good use.

Top Stove Meat Loaf

Stovetop chicken meatloaf browned in a skillet and simmered in tomato soup with melted cheese on top. A lighter, faster twist on classic meatloaf with no oven required.

Cheesy Ham, Bacon, & Sausage Stuffed French Toast

Cheesy Ham, Bacon, and Sausage Stuffed French Toast recipe

Easy Breakfast Pizza (4-Ingredient)

Ultra-simple breakfast pizza with just 4 ingredients: pizza dough, eggs, bacon, and cheese mixed together and baked until golden. No fuss, no separate steps, ready in 35 minutes.

Matt's Queso

Loaded queso dip with sausage, jalapeno, red bell pepper, and melted American cheese in chicken broth. A Tex-Mex cheese dip that doubles as a sauce for potatoes or noodles.

Brunch Quiche

A hearty crustless quiche loaded with elbow macaroni, crispy bacon, two cheeses, and bread cubes, lightened with whipped egg whites. Baked in a water bath until set and golden. Serve with salsa on the side.

Cheesy Zucchini Pizza

Layers of sliced zucchini, fresh tomatoes, onions, melted cheese, and crispy bacon seasoned with oregano and garlic. This crustless zucchini pizza bake delivers all the pizza flavor without the dough.

Welsh Rabbit (Rarebit) with Beer

Beer-spiked Welsh rarebit with melted cheese, dry mustard, and Worcestershire poured over warm toast. A 20-minute pub-style supper that's pure comfort food.

Gory Gorilla Tonsils

Gory Gorilla Tonsils are Brussels sprouts drizzled with melted cheese "pus" and paprika "blood specks" for Halloween. A fun, gross-out way to get kids eating their veggies.

Flavorful Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese loaded with chopped ham, crushed pineapple, green bell pepper, and onion in a creamy American cheese sauce. Hawaiian pizza flavors in pasta form.

Shepherd's Pie #4

Classic shepherd's pie with ground beef, tomato soup, green beans, and egg-enriched mashed potatoes topped with melted American cheese. A pantry-friendly casserole the whole family loves.

Drive-In Nut Burger I & II

Two versions of the classic drive-in nut burger: one topped with salted peanuts, American cheese, and Thousand Island, the other slathered with chunky peanut butter and Russian dressing. Retro burger bliss.

Burger Casserole

Stacked hamburger patties layered with melted American cheese and onion rings, baked in a casserole dish with a splash of milk. A retro weeknight dinner the kids will love.

Salad Supreme

Warm ham salad with a cooked vinegar dressing tossed with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and green pepper. Topped with American cheese strips and sliced hard-boiled eggs.

Snappy Bean Dip

Snappy bean dip melts sharp American cheese with tomatoes, green chilies, and jalapeno bean dip into a hot, scoopable party dip. Ready in minutes and made for a big bowl of tortilla chips.

Easy Cheesy Apple Pie

Sliced apples tossed with pudding mix, layered over a press-in oat crust, topped with shredded American cheese and a buttery crumble. A sweet-savory apple pie with no rolling pin needed.

Tostada Pizza

Tostada pizza with a homemade biscuit-style crust topped with refried beans, taco-seasoned beef, melted cheese, and fresh lettuce and tomato. Ready in 30 minutes.

Apple Bagel Broil

Apple bagel broil with sliced apples, cinnamon sugar, and melted cheese on a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel. A sweet and savory 10-minute breakfast.

Fruit Tarts

Fruit tarts with a retro cheese pastry shell filled with orange and pineapple pastry cream, finished with sharp cheddar. Sweet meets savory in this cheddar-apple-pie-school classic.

Beer Cheese Bread

Bread machine beer cheese bread with American cheese melted into beer and Monterey Jack cubes folded through. Push the start button and walk away. Beer-yeast bread with hidden pockets of melted cheese.

Freezer Mix Pizzawiches

Open-faced pizza sandwiches made with a seasoned beef freezer mix, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and bubbly melted cheese on bread or hamburger buns. Ready in under 20 minutes from freezer to table.

Barbecued Beef in Crusty Rolls

Barbecued beef in crusty rolls uses leftover cooked beef tossed in a tangy microwave sauce with ketchup, Worcestershire, and brown sugar. A weeknight sandwich shortcut that skips the smoker entirely.

Awesome Tuna Burgers

Hot tuna burgers stuff hamburger buns with tuna salad, diced American cheese, celery and onion, then bake them sealed in foil until the cheese melts. Vintage church-supper handheld dinner with built-in nostalgia.

Fruits Tarts

Fruit tarts with cheddar cheese pastry shells filled with pineapple and orange curd. A vintage sweet-and-savory dessert where sharp cheddar meets tropical citrus.

Noodle & Spinach Ring

Retro noodle and spinach ring mold with layers of egg noodles, chopped spinach, American cheese, and bread crumbs baked in a milk custard. A vintage casserole with a beautiful presentation.

Grilled Garden Sandwiches

Grilled garden sandwiches: a loaded grilled cheese stacked with sauteed mushrooms and red onion, fresh tomato, and two melting cheeses, griddled in butter until golden and crisp. A hearty meatless lunch.

Chile Con Queso

Chile con queso made on the stovetop with melty American cheese, sauteed onion, fresh tomato, and green chiles spiked with hot sauce. A smooth, scoopable queso dip ready in minutes for chips and game day.

Oven Cheese & Spinach Fondue

Baked cheese and spinach fondue with cubed white bread, eggs, and American cheese in a savory custard. A make-ahead brunch casserole that's part strata, part souffle.

Chili Cheese Roll

Chili cheese roll made with American cheese, cream cheese, and pecans, coated in chili powder. A no-cook appetizer that slices into 40 rounds for crackers and Melba toast.

Lyons Spaghetti

Lyons spaghetti is a baked beef and macaroni casserole layered with tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, green peppers, and American cheese. Old-school church potluck food, the kind that feeds a crowd without fuss.

Potato & Egg Casserole

Potato and egg breakfast casserole with bacon-fat-fried potatoes, melted American cheese, whole eggs nestled into the top, and a finish of evaporated milk. A retro one-dish brunch.

My Easy Macaroni & Cheese

Classic baked macaroni and cheese with American cheese, milk, and a paprika-dusted top. Simple, creamy comfort food that tastes like childhood in a casserole dish.

Sweet Onion Quiche

Sweet onion quiche with a triple-cheese filling of American, Swiss, and caraway cheese, sauteed ham, sour cream custard, and crumbled bacon on top.

Vegetable Cheese Puff

Vegetable cheese puff casserole layered with bread, American cheese, mixed vegetables, and an egg-milk custard, baked until puffed and golden brown.

All 128 recipes