Cheetos are a snack that are incredibly popular, and it is easy to see why!
These cheesy puff snacks are a treat of choice for so many people thanks to their tasty moreish nature, but they are also popular because of how versatile they are.
Not only are they a tasty standalone snack, they can also be used in a variety of ways in different recipes.
With this in mind, we are going to be looking at twenty-five Cheetos recipes- for both the Mild flavor and the infamous Flamin’ Hot flavor- that incorporate the snack into a range of different kinds of food in creative and unique ways.
Let’s get started.
1. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Fries
This recipe involves using crushed, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos as a garnish for fries that are drenched in melted cheese, making for an incredibly decadent snack that uses Cheetos in a subtle way.
If you have a food processor, use it to blend your Hot Cheetos.
If you don’t, just put them in a ziplock bag and crush them until it turns into a fine powder that is almost like dust.
Once your fries are cooked, pour on your cheese and then top it off with the Cheetos dust.
2. Cheetos Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup
If you are looking to make a meal with Cheetos that isn’t quite as unhealthy as some of the others that we are going to be looking at, then this Cheetos based grilled cheese and tomato soup could be the perfect choice for you.
Both the grilled cheese sandwich and the tomato soup incorporate Cheetos, with the sandwich including Cheetos in the filling along with tomatoes and bacon and the soup featuring coarsely chopped Cheetos.
You can also include Cheetos in the serving process by using finely pulverized Cheetos and covering the rim of the soup bowl or cup with them!
3. Cheetos Marshmallow Crispy Treats
It might be considered a strange combination, but if you are willing to give it a try- and are a fan of both Cheetos and rice krispies treats-, then you might find that you love these Cheetos marshmallow crispy treats!
You only need three ingredients to make these treats, those being Cheetos, miniature marshmallows and butter.
The sweet and savory nature of these treats are unique, but could be a great talking point to serve up at a party.
4. Cheetos Cookies
Much like with the Cheetos rice krispies treats, these Cheetos cookies are a unique creation that might be a little too scary for some!
This is another recipe that leads to a sweet and savory treat, but it doesn’t use anywhere near as much as sugar as in regular cookies in order to emphasize the savory, cheesiness of the baked treat.
5. Five Alarm Cheetos Steak
This next recipe is another unique one, combining the luxury of steak with the deliciousness of cheddar jalapeño Cheetos.
The Cheetos come into play in a few different ways in this recipe, being found in the seasoning of the steak, mixed together with salt and pepper, as well as in the butter of the dish and the rice side dish, which simply use crushed Cheetos and mix them in.
6. Candied Caramel Cheetos
The ultimate salty and sweet treat, these candied caramel Cheetos have a taste similar to that of both caramel and cheese popcorn but with an added crunch thanks to the texture of the Cheetos.
It might seem like an odd recipe, but they are basically just a cheesy caramel corn creation!
7. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Burrito
If spicy burritos are more your thing, then this burrito with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos could be the perfect Cheetos recipe for you.
This recipe is sure to make for an explosion of flavors when you bite in, thanks to the combination of ingredients such as avocado, chili sour cream sauce, cheese, short rib and those aforementioned Hot Cheetos.
8. Cheetos Crusted Fried Pickles And Creamy Ranch
If you are a fan of super salty and savory snacks, then these Cheetos crusted fried pickles are a delicious choice for a finger food treat.
These Cheetos crusted fried pickles are combined with a creamy, homemade ranch dressing, which you can use to dip your regular Cheetos into as well!
9. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken Mozzarella Sticks
Combining chicken fries, mozzarella sticks and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, this snack can easily be made at home and is the perfect accompaniment to pizza, beer or a wealth of other weekend treats!
The Cheetos crust offers a unique texture in comparison to to regular mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers, creating a crispy crunch that contrasts well with the creaminess of the cheese and the juiciness of the chicken.
10. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Mac And Cheese
When it comes to a cheesy and spicy junk food treat, this macaroni and cheese with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos is the perfect choice.
The Cheetos are incorporated into the dish via the topping, with a layer of crunchy, fried Cheetos covering the gooey, cheesy pasta bake. It also features in the cheese sauce, adding a bit of spice to it.
11. Cheetos Meatballs
Italian food meets Cheetos with this next recipe, combining soft and tasty meat balls with cheesy Cheetos in a unique fusion dish.
The meatballs themselves combined pork, veal and beef, but the Cheetos also come into play here.
When making the meatballs, you will combine your meats with parsley, Parmigiano, eggs, salt and five cups of pulverized Cheetos as well as onions and water.
This should lead to a cheesy taste that permeates through the meatballs.
12. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Fried Chicken
For a unique take on spicy fried chicken, consider this Flamin’ Hot Cheetos fried chicken.
This recipe is a twist on the traditional southern fried chicken recipe, adding some heat to your tender chicken.
The hot Cheetos act as the crust of the chicken, making for a crispy and spicy treat.
13. 500 Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Pizza
Pizza is the treat of choice for many people and if you are partial to some spiciness with your pizza, then this Flamin’ Hot Cheetos pizza is sure to be a delicious treat for you!
As the recipe suggests, you will use a whopping 500 Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in this recipe, which are incorporated into the pizza by layering them in groups underneath the cheese and sauce.
Make sure to pat down the Cheetos as much as possible, or blend them into a fine dust to make the pizza easier to eat.
14. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Honey Ham
Another major dish that uses Cheetos in the recipe, this honey ham with a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crust, could make for a talking point when you hold your next dinner party!
This spicy and sweet ham utilizes a range of ingredients including mustard powder and pineapple, as well as honey and cinnamon to create a delicious combination of flavors.
The Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crust for the ham adds a spicy crunch that blends well with the sweetness of the dish as a whole.
15. Cheetos Crusted Mac And Cheese
Another macaroni and cheese dish that uses Cheetos- though not the spicy ones this time-, this gooey, cheesy recipe is sure to be a smash hit for fans of the classic pasta dish.
The Cheetos are used alongside breadcrumbs, melted butter and grated cheese to create the crunchy, cheesy topping for the macaroni.
16. Cheetos Chicken Strips
We mentioned Cheetos chicken and mozzarella strips earlier on in this list, but if you would rather stick to chicken strips, then this recipe is sure to be a treat.
You still get that cheesy taste with this chicken strip recipe, though it isn’t quite as intense as the cheesiness that you would get with the mozzarella and chicken strip’s recipe, which is sure to be appealing for those who want a more muted cheese taste.
17. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Microwave Ramen Noodles
Ramen noodles are the meal of choice for university students, as are Cheetos, so why not combine both together with this tasty recipe?
If you are a fan of spicy food, then make sure to use some spicy ramen along with your Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to make for some particularly intense heat with your ramen.
18. Cheesy Cheetos Turkey Parm
Looking for a way to make your turkey parm dish more interesting during the holiday season? Consider this turkey parm with a crunchy Cheetos crust!
This dish is easy to make as well as delicious, as all you need to do is blitz your Cheetos in a food processor, coat your turkey cutlets with the Cheetos dust and then fry it up.
For some extra cheesiness, add in some Parmigiano Reggiano, and some sliced mozzarella.
19. Cheetos Waffles
For a special treat come breakfast time, these Cheetos waffles are the perfect choice!
When crushed into fine crumbs, Cheetos dish can create an awesome cornmeal matter to create your very own cheesy, fluffy waffles.
To increase the decadence of this recipe, pair the Cheetos waffles with some maple syrup for that sweet and savory taste.
20. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Corn On The Cob
Corn on the cob is a popular side dish, but it isn’t always the most interesting choice.
Spice up your corn in a literal sense with this Flamin’ Hot Cheetos corn on the cob recipe.
This recipe is inspired by the Mexican street food dish known as elote, wherein corn is covered in chili powder.
The recipe simply switches up the chili powder for crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to create a spicy, crunchy side dish.
21. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball
This giant ranch and bacon ball is loaded with both pepper jack and cheddar cheese and then covered in a crust made of crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, making for a spicy burst of flavors with every bite.
22. Flamin’ Cheetos And Arugula Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Combining cheese, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and arugula- a green, leafy vegetable also called rocket-, this sandwich makes for a spicy and cheesy taste sensation, with the arugula adding a burst of freshness to the proceedings.
23. Cheetos Bombs
The perfect Cheetos, cheesy snack, these bombs are melt in the mouth and chock-full of gooey mozzarella cheese and doughy biscuits.
The crunchy exterior of the bombs are made up of crushed Cheetos, which add some beautiful texture to the snacks.
24. Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Quesatacos
For some trendy Mexican fare that incorporates Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, consider these delicious quesa-tacos.
The spiciness of the Cheetos combines with the chipotle peppers within the tacos- as well as the other ingredients such as beef chuck roast- to create the ultimate fiery hot taco.
25. “Hot” Chocolate Shake
Last but not least, this “hot” chocolate shake is definitely one to try if you are feeling brave enough!
Combining crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos with chocolate ice cream and raspberries, this is a milkshake that you aren’t going to forget anytime soon thanks to the odd but creative combination of flavors.
Can I Use Cheetos in any of the Mexican Shrimp Recipes?
Yes, Cheetos can be used in some Mexican shrimp recipes to add a unique crunch and flavor. One popular dish is Cheetos-crusted shrimp, where the shrimp is coated in crushed Cheetos before being cooked. This simple twist can give your easy shrimp recipes a fun and unexpected twist that’s sure to impress your guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! To do so, you’ll need to make your own imitation cheese powder and dough and then fry the dough in oil in a pan.
Once fried- and you’ve drained the excess oil-, coat your dough logs with your homemade cheese powder and voilà!
You have your own, homemade Cheetos.
In one bag of Hot Cheetos, there are around 196 calories.
Final Thoughts
So there you have twenty-five interesting recipes that incorporate Cheetos, making for some fun and delicious creations.
If you are a fan of Cheetos, these recipes can make for some unique ways to bring a snack that you enjoy into a full meal, in both sweet and savory dishes.
We have included a wide range of recipes for you here so that no matter what your preferences are in terms of cuisine, you are sure to find something that you enjoy!
- 15 Traditional Greek Breads - July 31, 2023
- 30 Delicious And Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes - July 29, 2023
- 30 Of The Best European Desserts - July 29, 2023