A bag of shredded cheese looks small in the store. At home, after one quesadilla, it turns out to be most of a bag.
Here are three dinners for one from the 3Onions app that each use shredded cheese, so the bag gets a plan instead of a clip.
Three dinners that use it up
Shredded cheese is in all three. Shop once, cook it three ways. Anything left goes into next week’s plan first.
30 min · uses ¼ cup shredded cheese
Beef and potato skillet
Ingredients and steps
Ingredients for one
½ lb ground beef
1 potato
½ onion
¼ cup shredded cheese
From your pantry: salt, black pepper, oil, paprika
Steps
Dice the potato. Cut the potato into ½-inch cubes and chop the onion.
Crisp the potato. Cook the potato in a little oil in a covered skillet over medium, stirring now and then, about 10 minutes, until a fork slides in and the edges are golden.
Brown the beef. Push the potato aside, add the onion and beef, and cook 6–8 minutes, breaking up the beef, until browned and 160°F. Season with salt, black pepper and paprika.
Melt the cheese. Scatter the cheese over the top, cover for a minute to melt, and serve from the pan.
40 min · uses ¼ cup shredded cheese
Turkey & black bean chili
Ingredients and steps
Ingredients for one
½ lb ground turkey
½ can black beans
1 can canned tomatoes
½ onion
¼ cup shredded cheese
From your pantry: salt, oil, chili powder, ground cumin
Steps
Brown the turkey. Chop the onion and cook it with the turkey in a little oil in a pot over medium-high, breaking up the meat, 6–8 minutes, until browned and 165°F.
Toast the spices. Stir in chili powder (about 1 teaspoon per can of tomatoes), cumin and a pinch of salt. Cook 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Simmer the chili. Drain and rinse the beans. Add them with the tomatoes and simmer 20 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick.
Serve with cheese. Ladle it into a bowl and top with the cheese.
30 min · uses ¼ cup shredded cheese
Quick bean chili
Ingredients and steps
Ingredients for one
½ can black beans
½ can canned tomatoes
½ onion
¼ cup shredded cheese
From your pantry: salt, oil, chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder
Steps
Soften the onion. Chop the onion and cook it in a little oil in a pot over medium, about 5 minutes, until soft and turning golden.
Toast the spices. Stir in chili powder (about 1 teaspoon per can of beans), cumin and garlic powder. Cook 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Simmer the chili. Add the beans with their liquid and the tomatoes. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick. Season with salt.
Serve with cheese. Ladle it into a bowl and top with the cheese.
How to store an open bag of shredded cheese
Press the air out, seal the bag (or tip it into an airtight container) and keep it cold. Once it's open, most shredded cheese is best within about a week; go by the date on the bag.
FAQ
Can you freeze shredded cheese?
Yes, and it's one of the easiest cheeses to freeze. Freeze it in its bag with the air pressed out, and use it straight from frozen in anything that melts.
Why does shredded cheese mold faster than a block?
More surface means more air. Keep the bag sealed tight and reach in with a clean hand or spoon.
