20 Cheap and Easy Cheesecake Recipes

Is it cake? Is it pie? Who cares? Find a savory escape with the cool, creamy taste of cheesecake. This selection of recipes -- including a few spins on classic ingredients -- will save dessert lovers from pricier options at a restaurant or bakery.

Start with a classic. This recipe uses five ingredients, including a ready-to-use graham cracker crust, and delivers a finished dessert to cool in the fridge in less than an hour.

Recipe: Kraft

There's no scrimping on quality or oven required for a version by the domestic diva that draws rich, creamy flavor from sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and a hint of lemon.

Recipe: Martha Stewart

"Food Network Star" finalist Addie Gundry takes an easy no-bake recipe, fills cupcake tins, adds cherry pie filling, and comes up with a perfect party dessert.

Recipe: Easy Elegant Entertaining

A not-so-humbly named version comes to life with two full cups of fresh blueberries and a creamy topping, drawing near-universal five-star reviews.

Recipe: Food.com

Chef Ree Drummond sometimes likes to skip the traditional springform pan and use a rectangular one, cutting up the results into tasty little squares.

Recipe: The Pioneer Woman

The candied ginger may not be in your kitchen, but the remaining ingredients probably will be, so splurge a bit.

Recipe: Rachael Ray Every Day

This straightforward recipe by Trisha Yearwood was featured as part of a make-ahead meal episode of "Trisha's Southern Kitchen" -- to rave reviews.

Recipe: Food Network

A Southern Living recipe adapted by Christin Mahrlig combines two favorite desserts, using vanilla wafers for the crust and a banana-and-brown-sugar filling.

Recipe: Spicy Southern Kitchen

Have a classic, well-reviewed recipe on the table in less than an hour (but not as little as five minutes). Suggested variations might even call for chilling it overnight.

Recipe: Food.com

New York or Italian cheesecake? The battle rages on. A ricotta-based recipe from a clinical dietician gives fans of the Italian an argument in their favor.

Recipe: Eat Good 4 Life

It's powered by Oreo cookies and semi-sweet chocolate, but don't discount the value of the freshly sliced strawberries that get added before serving.

Recipe: Kraft

This recipe uses canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice to get you started. Optional additional touches include caramel topping and pecans.

Recipe: Betty Crocker

LuAnn Mason offers up an interpretation of the cheesecake-themed eatery's tart sensation that's called ideal for lovers of Key Lime Pie.

Recipe: Food.com

Need an unexpected dish for Sunday brunch? Alton Brown's recipe features sour cream, cream cheese, smoked trout, and chives. A crust featuring crushed bagel chips makes it even funkier.

Recipe: Food Network

Featuring pineapple, flaked coconut, and pecans, this recipe from Heather Sury offers unexpected island flavors.

Recipe: Allrecipes.com

You might obsess over the cranberry variation on this no-bake recipe, which calls for simply adding a cup of whole-berry cranberry sauce to the proceedings. But there are more possibilities to try.

Recipes: Back of the Box Recipes

Pucker up! Lemon juice and lemon zest are featured in this recipe, which combine all ingredients in a food processor, pouring the mixture into a pie crust, and baking.

Recipe: Real Simple

Finish a meal or host a dessert party with something sparkling to accompany this dip, which has plenty of options in choosing flavor and the dippers.

Recipe: I Heart Naptime

When dietary restrictions are on the menu, try a New York cheesecake with a gluten-free graham cracker crust and cherry pie filling for topping.

Recipe: The Spruce

A family favorite for decades, this was pulled off a container of Cool Whip frozen topping. But for a touch of elegance, try skipping the crust and serving it in wine glasses.

Recipe: Food.com