Name: Baked Cheese Crisps
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 1 cup shredded cheese ((freshly grated or pre-shredded))

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These crispy homemade baked cheese crisps are a delicious high-protein snack that you can make with just one simple ingredient—shredded cheese! Enjoy the cheese crisps on their own or as a crunchy topping for soups or salads.

⏰ TIME: 15 mins | 🤑 COST: $2.00
🧀 1 INGREDIENT

Got a handful of leftover cheese in the fridge, but have no idea what to do with it? I’ve got the most life-changing recipe for you today: 1-ingredient baked cheese crisps!

Yes, you read that right. With just 1 ingredient, you can make a cheesy high protein, low carb snack that’s incredibly delicious!

This is honestly my new favorite way to use up leftover shredded cheese that would otherwise go to waste. Why throw away that extra cheese from taco Tuesday when you can turn it into a cheap snack in just 15 minutes?!

I love eating these cheese crisps plain as a snack, but you can also serve them on a cheese board, crumble them on top of soup/salad, or pair them with a sandwich for a filling lunch. They’re also great inside school lunchboxes or served as an after school snack.

You can use any kind of firm cheese that shreds well for this recipe. I used parmesan cheese but cheddar would also be a great pick for this recipe.

By the way, if you like easy snack recipes like this, make sure to check out my list of 101 snack ideas that are kid-approved and travel-friendly. Or just snag the free printable PDF below! 👇🏽

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Ingredients You’ll Need

The only thing you’re going to need for this recipe is some shredded cheese! I recommend shredding a fresh wedge of cheese, but you can also use a bag of pre-shredded cheese for this recipe.

I used parmesan cheese because that’s what I had in the fridge, but you can use any firm cheese that shreds well. Cheddar, Monterey jack, pepperjack, gouda, or even asiago cheese would be suitable picks.

PSA: the Trader Joe’s cheese section is the best cheese section ever. Go check it out.

📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: If you want to elevate your cheese crisps, you can add a dash of garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, or black pepper!

SUBSTITUTION IDEAS

📌 Experiment with different cheeses like pecorino romano, asiago, sharp cheddar, swiss, or even gouda cheese. You can also blend two different types of cheese if you want!

📌 Add spices like paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or everything bagel seasoning for a flavor boost

📌 Using vegan cheese – I haven’t tried this personally, but I think it should work just as well as regular cheese. Just watch the oven closely to avoid burnt crisps

Equipment You’ll Need

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Baking sheet – a large baking sheet to bake your cheese crisps on
Parchment paper – so your cheese crisps don’t stick to the baking sheet. It also makes it easy to clean up afterwards!
Cheese grater – I like using a large grater like this one

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Cheese Crisps

1. Preheat the oven & shred the cheese

Preheat your oven to 400℉. While the oven is heating up, shred your cheese. Mix in any optional toppings like garlic powder, pepper, or paprika – if you’re using them.

2. Arrange the shredded cheese into mounds

Make even sized mounds of shredded cheese on the parchment paper. I used about 2-3 tablespoons of shredded cheese for each mound, but you can make them bigger or smaller depending on your preference (although just note that this will change the baking time!).

Gently flatten each cheese mound so the tops are flat.

3. Bake the cheese crisps

Bake for about 7-8 minutes until the cheese crisps are golden with a light brown hue on top.

Watch the oven closely especially after the 5-minute mark. Depending on how thick you made your cheese mounds in step #2, it may change the baking time.

Cool for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

4. Serve and enjoy!

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Notes & Suggestions

Don’t crowd the pan – the cheese will spread as it bakes, so make sure to leave space in between each cheese mound
Watch the oven closely – every oven is different, so keep a close eye especially towards the end. Baking times may also vary depending on how thick your cheese mounds are. You can bake them in the oven for a little longer if you like them extra crispy!
Serving suggestions:
- Eat them plain!
- Crumble on salads and soups
- Put it in a school lunchbox
- Give it as an after-school snack
- Add it to a charcuterie board
- Sprinkle on top of casseroles
- Make DIY lunchables
- Pair it with a dip

Storage Instructions

Cool completely before storing: Let the crisps cool fully on a wire rack. This helps them firm up and prevents condensation, which can make them soggy
Store in an airtight container: Once cooled, transfer cheese crisps to an airtight container. Keep them at room temperature for up to 3 days
Re-crisp if needed: If your crisps soften, just pop them in a toaster oven or air fryer for 1-2 minutes. Let them cool again before eating
Do not freeze – Parmesan crisps tend to lose their texture and become chewy after freezing, so it’s best to enjoy them fresh or store at room temp in small batches

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re looking for a simple, clean, high-protein snack then yes this recipe is healthy – especially when compared to store-bought chips or crackers.

However, if you’re looking for a low-fat or low-calorie snack, or if you’re on a low-cholesterol heart healthy diet, then I would skip this recipe.

Here’s some of the good stuff you’ll find in this recipe:

High protein, low carb – cheese is a great source of protein! It also contains little to no carbohydrates for those following a keto or low-carb diet
Calcium – cheese is also a good source of calcium, which is important for healthy bones and teeth
Baked, not fried – these cheese crisps are baked and don’t require any oil, making it a great alternative to fried snacks or potato chips
Clean eating – with just 1 ingredient, this is a perfect recipe for those looking for clean recipes made with minimal ingredients

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your own doctor or your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to your diet or your child’s diet/feeding approach. Read the full disclaimer here.

🤑 The cost estimate for this recipe is about $2.00 for 12 crisps! The price will vary depending on what type of cheese you use.

Here are some tips to save money while making this recipe:

Use leftover cheese – use up whatever you have in the fridge first! You can even mix different types of cheeses and experiment
Grate your own cheese – buying a block of cheese is usually cheaper per ounce than buying a pre-shredded bag of cheese. Plus, it’s more fresh!

I do not recommended these cheese crisps for babies or young toddlers because they’re too crunchy and a potential choking hazard. They’re best suited for older toddlers (3+ years) who can handle firm textures.

The Printable Recipe Card

Baked Cheese Crisps

These crispy homemade baked cheese crisps are a delicious high-protein snack that you can make with just one simple ingredient—shredded cheese! It's the perfect way to use up leftover cheese for a quick snack, as a topping for salads, or even in a charcuterie board!

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 8

Total Time 13

Course Side Dish, Snack

Servings 12 crisps

Equipment

Baking sheet
Parchment paper
Cheese grater

Ingredients

1 cup shredded cheese (freshly grated or pre-shredded)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400℉.
Shred the cheese if you're using a fresh block or wedge of cheese.
Arrange on baking sheet. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Make 10-12 mounds of shredded cheese on the baking sheet, using 2-3 tablespoons of shredded cheese per mound. Space each mound about 2 inches apart. Lightly flatten the top of each mound.
Bake for 7-8 minutes or until the edges are golden and the cheese is bubbly. Baking times may vary, so watch your crisps closely after the 5-minute mark.
Remove from oven and let the crisps cool on the baking sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to crisp up fully.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Don’t crowd the pan – the cheese will spread as it bakes, so make sure to leave space in between each cheese mound

Watch the oven closely – every oven is different, so keep a close eye especially towards the end. Baking times may also vary depending on how thick your cheese mounds are. You can bake them in the oven for a little longer if you like them extra crispy!

Top with seasonings for an extra flavor boost – try mixing the shredded cheese with garlic powder, paprika, everything bagel seasoning, Italian seasoning, or even a little pepper before baking

Keyword 1-Ingredient Recipe, Cheese Recipes, High Protein Recipes, High Protein Snacks, Quick Recipes

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it went!

I’m always open to suggestions, comments, or feedback on tweaking my recipes. If something wasn’t clear or if you think a step could be done better, or you added your own edits to this recipe, send me a message!

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