What Is Cheddar cheese, reduced-fat and How Can I Use It?
Cheddar cheese, reduced-fat is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 61 recipes to get you started.
Key Points
- Cheddar made from part-skim milk, with about a third less fat than a full-fat block.
- Cold or barely warm, it tastes and shreds like regular cheddar.
- With less fat it melts stiffer and turns rubbery on high heat, so keep heat gentle.
- For a smooth sauce, grate fine into a roux or blend with some full-fat cheese.
What is cheddar cheese, reduced-fat?
Reduced-fat cheddar is cheddar cheese made with part-skim milk, so it carries roughly a third less fat than a full-fat block while keeping cheddar's familiar tang and color. It shreds and slices the same way and shows up wherever you want cheddar flavor for fewer calories.
Fat is what gives full-fat cheddar its smooth, even melt, so taking some out changes how the cheese behaves under heat more than how it tastes cold.
Cooking with it
Cold or barely warmed, it is hard to tell from the full-fat block. Shred it into an omelet, a wrap, or a biscuit and you get clean cheddar flavor, as in these Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits with Chives.
Direct high heat is where it struggles. With less fat to keep the proteins fluid, reduced-fat cheddar melts stiffer and can turn rubbery or oily if it gets too hot, so it browns rather than flowing into long strands.
Keep the heat gentle and the cheese moving.
For a sauce, grate it fine and melt it into a roux off the boil so the starch holds it smooth. On a pizza or tart like this Cheesy Roasted Vegetable Tart, blend it with a little full-fat cheese for a better melt.
Substitutes and storage
The obvious swap is full-fat cheddar, used one-to-one when melt quality matters more than calories. Part-skim mozzarella melts more smoothly at a similar fat level if you do not need the cheddar tang.
Because it holds more moisture than aged cheddar, the reduced-fat block keeps a little less long: wrap it in parchment then loosely in foil and use it within about two to three weeks.
Grate from the block rather than buying pre-shredded, since the anti-caking coating makes a stiff melt even stiffer.
Quick facts
- In Chinese
- 切达干酪，低脂
- British (UK) term
- Cheddar cheese, reduced-fat
- en français
- fromage cheddar, allégé
- en español
- queso cheddar, reducida en grasa
Recipes using cheddar cheese, reduced-fat
There are 61 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Cheddar mashed potatoes made creamy with buttery Yukon Golds, tangy buttermilk, and extra-sharp cheddar melted right into the mash. Fresh chives add a green oniony bite to this lighter comfort-food side.
Apple & Cheddar Corn Muffins
So moist and delicious. These muffins are one of our favorites for breakfast or snack.
Asparagus & Canadian Bacon Cheese Omelet
Quick, easy and tasty. This hearty breakfast can be done within 10 minutes. Serve it with a cup of orange juice and one or two slices of toast.
Vegetable Frittata with Cheese
This is a good breakfast selection, you can also serve it as a side dish with some meat main dish, it is great too.
Herbed Zucchini Soup
Smooth and cheesy, using fresh in season zucchini and shredded cheddar cheese, quick and easy to make.
Baked Potato Skins
Turned out super crispy, loaded with cheese and bacon and seasoned to perfection.
Delicious Carrot & Tarragon Tart
Looks beautiful and tastes delicious! Carrot gives the nice and bright color, tarragon is a great pairing with carrot. Using cheddar cheese, milk, yogurt and egg makes a cheesy, creamy and quiche like filling, which goes very well with the tasty crust.
Creamy Avocado & White Bean Wrap
Creamy avocado white bean wrap mashes white beans and avocado into a protein-rich spread, then layers in a smoky chipotle slaw of red cabbage and carrot. A no-cook, high-fiber vegetarian lunch.
Healthy Farmer's Market Vegetarian Quesadillas
Quick and easy to make, light, tasty and crispy. Serve with sour cream, salsa or guacamole.
Cheesy Green Garden Pizza
Fresh vegetables on top, spread the pesto evenly on the pizza dough, sprinkle cheddar cheese on top of the vegetables, great combination for a garden pizza.
Spinach Whole Wheat Quesadillas
Quick and easy to make. The spinach and cheddar cheese made a delicious filling for the quesadillas. A quick, tasty and nutrition packed breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Cheesy Roasted Vegetable Tart
Fresh fall vegetables: broccoli, fennel and leeks. Or you can use cauliflower, cheesy flavor in the delicate crust with a nice tang from the olive tapenade.
Cheddar Cornmeal Biscuits with Chives
Cheesy, moist and delicious! These biscuits are certainly one of the best ones we have ever had.
Breakfast Spinach & Tomato Cheese Omelet
Tomato and spinach omelette recipe that is perfect for a Sunday breakfast or brunch. Stuffed with juicy tomatoes, spinach, and cheese it's so quick and easy to make.
Black Pepper Crusted Steak Sandwiches
Grilled beef tenderloin coated in cracked black pepper, stacked on toasted croissants with aged cheddar, peppery watercress, and a punchy horseradish mayo. From grill to plate in 25 minutes.
Dinner Nachos Supreme
A 15-minute skillet dinner of taco-seasoned ground beef with instant rice and tomato soup, topped with salsa, cheddar, lettuce, and tortilla chips. Quick, easy, and kid-approved.
Philly Steak Sandwich
Lightened Philly cheesesteak-style sandwich with shaved lean roast beef, sautéed green peppers and onions, and melted reduced-fat cheddar on whole-wheat buns. A 20-minute cheesesteak shortcut for two.
Breakfast Loaf
A hollowed-out French bread loaf stuffed with layers of scrambled eggs, deli ham, Monterey Jack, cheddar, red peppers, and tomato slices, then baked until melty. A showstopping brunch centerpiece.
Mighty Mexican Pizza
Mexican pizza on cornmeal-dusted personal crusts topped with seasoned ground beef, taco sauce, cheddar, and finished with cool lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and scallions. Pizza-night-meets-taco-night.
Rice & Turkey Quiche
Crustless rice and turkey quiche with tomato, green pepper, basil, and reduced-fat cheddar. Uses egg substitute and skim milk for a lighter take on quiche. Great for using leftover turkey and rice.
Fettuccine with Chicken-Pepper Sauce
Fettuccine with chicken and peppers in a creamy basil-cheddar sauce over spinach pasta. Stir-fried broccoli and bell peppers keep it colorful and light.
Brunch Eggs
Make-ahead brunch egg casserole with sourdough bread, cheddar, Swiss cheese, and green chilies baked in an egg custard. Assembled the night before and baked the next morning.
Oven Easy Turkey & Potato Dinner
One-dish turkey and potato casserole with a hash brown crust, brown gravy, mixed vegetables, and melted cheddar. A smart way to use leftover turkey for a fast weeknight dinner.
Cheesy Creamy Broccoli Soup (Lacto)
Creamy broccoli cheddar soup made with skim milk and reduced-fat cheese for a lighter take on a steakhouse classic. Hot soup melts the cheese in the bowl. Ready in 25 minutes.
Quick Breakfast Taco
Quick breakfast tacos ready in minutes: warm corn tortillas with melty cheddar and salsa, then fill with fluffy scrambled eggs. A light, high-protein breakfast for busy mornings.
No Crust Crab- Vegetable Quiche
Crustless crab quiche with zucchini, mushrooms, reduced-fat cheddar, and evaporated skim milk. A lighter take on quiche with both microwave and oven instructions.
Southwestern Omelet
Love this omelet, it's easy to put together, and it tastes delicious. Best of all it's packed with goodness as well.
Tomato & Ham Breakfast Melt
Crispy multigrain toast loaded with thin-sliced ham, ripe tomato, and bubbly melted cheddar. This open-faced breakfast melt takes just 8 minutes from start to plate.
Tuna Arugula Sandwiches
Grilled albacore tuna steaks with melted cheddar on toasted ciabatta, topped with peppery arugula and sweet pickle mayo. A restaurant-quality sandwich in 20 minutes.
Three Step Taco Salad
Seasoned ground beef, crunchy tortilla chips, black beans, and sharp cheddar piled high on shredded lettuce with a creamy salsa dressing. Three steps, under 20 minutes, feeds a crowd.
BBQ Chicken Pizza
This is one of the most excellent pizza I have ever eaten, tomato chutney gives the pizza amazing flavor, so delicious.
Spicy Cheddar Stuffed Ultimate Burgers
The ultimate burger. Stuffed with cheese inside the patty and chipotle peppers give the burgers an extra smoky spicy kick. Perfect for the grill this barbecue season.
Spinach-Cheese Omelet
Spinach and cheddar omelet folded around fresh spinach, sharp cheese, and a spoonful of red pepper relish. A fast, protein-packed vegetarian breakfast with a gentle cayenne kick.
Mexican Moist Layered Cornbread
Moist Mexican-style cornbread layered with melted cheddar cheese and jalapeños. This savory quick bread is perfect alongside chili or as a hearty breakfast.
Low Cal Crab Dip
Low cal crab dip blended from reduced-fat cream cheese, light sour cream, sharp cheddar, fresh crab meat, and a kick of horseradish. The lighter take on a party staple, no oven required.
Spiced Lentil Tacos
Smoky, hearty lentil tacos loaded with chipotle sour cream, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. A low-fat vegetarian taco night that even meat lovers will devour.
Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Twice baked potato casserole gives you all the stuffed-potato flavor with none of the scooping hassle. Russet flesh baked with sour cream, bacon, cubed and grated cheddar, and green onions.
Tex-Mex Deviled Eggs
Tex-Mex deviled eggs with fresh cilantro, serrano chile, scallions, and shredded cheddar. A southwestern twist on the classic deviled egg with a gentle kick and chili powder dusting.
Philadelphia Cheese Steak Sandwich (Lower Fat)
Lower-fat Philly cheesesteak with thinly sliced flank steak, sauteed peppers and onions, and reduced-fat cheddar on hoagie rolls. Broiled until bubbly in 20 minutes.
Broccoli-Cheddar Soup
Lighter broccoli cheddar soup made with low-fat yogurt, reduced-fat cheddar, and low-salt chicken broth. Pureed smooth and creamy without the heavy cream.
Patio Salad (Australia)
Hearty Australian patio salad with kidney beans, hard-boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, celery, onion, sweet relish and sour cream. Protein-packed 5-minute salad.
Apple-Cheddar Tossed Salad
Salad greens, apple, cheddar, and toasted walnuts are tossed with a tasty honey vinaigrette.
Easy Fiesta Beans
An easy way to make this healthy fiesta beans, and these beans are very tasty, every ingredients in this recipe is good, so you can imagine how healthy it is!
Beef Taco Skillet
Beef taco skillet browns ground beef, then simmers it with tomato soup, salsa, and torn tortillas into a saucy one-pan supper crowned with melted cheddar. A 25-minute weeknight Tex-Mex dinner.
Barbecued Chicken Hash
Smoky chicken hash baked in a cast-iron skillet with hash brown potatoes, BBQ sauce, cumin, and chili powder, topped with melted sharp cheddar and jalapeno. A hearty one-skillet meal in 30 minutes.
Pineapple Enchiladas
I would definately say that this is a good recipe to try out, very good and unique.
Seven Layer Tortilla Pie
Awesome vegetarian mexican pie, we make in 2 pans instead of 1, so it really becomes 4 layers.
