5 foods that instantly taste better with melted cheese

Cheese lovers from every corner of Vancouver will attest to the fact that you can jazz up even the most bold and bizarre food combinations with a layer (or several) of warm melted cheese. It’s like a magic potion that makes everything better. Even the endless rains of Vancity.

This goes far beyond making a simple grilled cheese at home after a long day and even longer Skytrain commute (although that’s always a winning option). In those desperate moments where you crave melted cheese but don’t have the right food around you, it’s time to get weird with it.

We teamed up with Wendy’s, masters of all things melty and cheesy, to blow your mind with these unconventional cheese combos. Because while going out of your comfort zone is all well and good, it’s equally important to kick back and enjoy a tried-and-true favourite like a Wendy’s cheeseburger, as you’ll see at the end of this list.

As for all the other entries: Don’t knock ’em ’till you’ve tried ’em.

Hot cheesy puffs over pasta

Cheetos/Facebook

Melting a layer of cheese on top of spicy cheesy puffs over a helping of pasta is like a win-win-win situation. Foodies may notice how the melted cheese pairs well with the spicy cheese puffs, which in turn unlocks the subtle umami factor in the cheesy pasta. (Also: We made all that up.)

Cheese-stuffed plantains

Plantain Canoe/Shutterstock

No, that’s not a banana, but its superior (we said it, don’t @ us) cousin: The plantain. The mild saltiness of the plantain is absolutely improved with some melted white cheese. Add whatever other fillings you want, all of them are secondary to the cheese.

Hot chocolate with melted mozzarella

Hot chocolate and cheese/Shutterstock

Yeah, we went there. It’s getting cold outside, so we dare you (we double dog dare you) to embrace this South American delicacy. Mozzarella cheese melted inside of hot chocolate (especially the richer, spicier hot chocolate made famous in the southern hemisphere) has been a staple in Colombian food for generations. It’s time to drink your cheese, like you’ve always secretly wanted to.

Toasted peanut butter and pear grilled cheese sandwich

Peanut butter, melted cheese and pear sandwich/Shutterstock

You might have already been wise to the life hack of adding green apple slices to your grilled cheese: This is the next level. The mix of peanut butter, pears, and melted cheese creates a sweet-tart-salty taste explosion that will literally change your life. Prepare yourself.

The Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt

Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt/Wendy’s

There’s nothing more satisfying than a hamburger made with rich portabellas, Applewood smoked bacon, fresh, never frozen Canadian beef, and a melty cheese sauce on a warm, toasted bun.

This is something you don’t have to DIY at home, because Wendy’s has brought back the fan-favourite for a limited time. You’ve probably been waiting for the return of the Bacon Portabella Mushroom Melt, and now it’s here!

The more you tweet about getting your #MeltOn, the longer it could stick around: You, and you alone, have the power to keep this burger in existence. So make sure to tweet at @WendysCanada using #MeltOn, and you can enjoy the best way to introduce melted cheese to your mouth for another glorious day before it’s gone.

Did we miss your favourite cheese-melting recipe? Let us know in the comments below so we can all benefit from your cheese-flavoured wisdom.