When you think of a grilled cheese sandwich, most of us think of sliced cheese that comes in little plastic wrappers and the satisfying sizzling sound of butter in a skillet and a side of tangy tomato soup. But the humble grilled cheese can be so much more than the comfort food we grew up with. Carbs, protein, cheese, fats — and yes, even veggies — yield what just might be the world’s most perfect comfort food.
From breakfast to dessert, we’ve got twenty-seven ways to gussy up your standard grilled cheese.
A World of Cheeses
Read More »Since grilled cheese is already a decadent treat, you shouldn’t feel compelled to stick to one cheese either. Make it a party! Load up your sandwich with a blend of soft and hard cheeses. (Pro Tip: unless eating a sandwich with a knife and fork is your thing, avoid adding so much that the cheese oozes out and creates a big mess.)
Fontina is an Italian cow’s milk cheese that many of us forget about because of the ubiquity of provolone. But the nutty, buttery flavor of a good fontina will transform the simple farmer’s-style apple and cheese sandwich.
If you go wild for a raclette at your favorite fancy restaurant, you should definitely consider adding gruyere into your grilled cheese recipes. This Swiss-made cheese is a gold standard of melty goodness. Paired with a simple side salad, you’ll have a meal worthy of an international bistro.
While this recipe invites you to make your own pimento cheese, store-bought pimento cheese has been a staple in southern homes for decades. Try adding it to your grilled cheese for an unexpectedly piquant, soulful sandwich.
Another cheater fix is to add store-bought spinach and artichoke dip to your bread for a scrumptious sandwich. If you’re feeling fancy, you can always make your own.
Move over pasta! This sandwich is now our favorite way to use ricotta. This soft cheese is perfect between crunchy, salty sourdough. Don’t forget tomato sauce for dipping!
Pick Your Protein
Pack your grilled cheese with unexpected protein like bacon and eggs, roast beef, pepperoni, and turkey.
Chicken Parmesan isn’t just for pasta night. Make a hand-held delight with breaded chicken and cheese. (Okay, you might need a knife and fork for this bad boy, too.) Forget a boring sub shop footling. Meatballs can make an appearance on a grilled cheese.
Vegetarians, we didn’t forget about you. You will delight in an avocado grilled cheese.
Beyond White Bread
White sandwich bread is the standard, but almost-stale bread is actually a great choice for grilled cheese. Don’t toss it out just yet! The fat in butter and olive oil will bring it back to life. (Pro-tip: too-fresh bread might be gummy in the middle.)
Grown-up grilled cheeses can be made on whole wheat and sprouted varieties, croissants and challah loafs, and even sweeter carbs like cinnamon bread and donuts. (Yes, donuts.)
While it might be tempting to experiment with thick-sliced bread, the cheese melting to bread toasting ratio will be off. Nobody wants a burned outside and cold middle.
Transform regular sandwich bread into a gourmet slice by studding it with parm and jalapeños. Chrissy Teigen broke the internet with this grilled cheese recipe.
Turn a backyard hotdog into a grilled, cheesy delight your kids will love.
And speaking of kids, slime isn’t just for Halloween. Sneak some fun into dinner with a waffle-based sandwich oozing with green cheese slime.
London is calling. Use a fluffy crumpet or English Muffin for a breakfast-for-dinner treat.
International Flavor
Leave it to the French to have invented the perfect grilled cheese. But what about turning their famous French onion soup into a grilled cheese? Caramelize an onion low and slow to build depth of flavor for a soup-and-sandwich combo that you don’t want to miss.
We love Manchego and Serrano ham on a charcuterie board, but did you know Manchego melts like a dream? Try it in your next grilled cheese. Ole!
Tour the Mediterranean. Go Greek with a feta-loaded griller. Or take time to sit under the Tuscan sun with a flavorful, meatless option featuring Portobello mushroom caps. https://www.food.com/recipe/bada-bing-bettys-tuscan-portobello-melt-grilled-cheese-193692
And while not technically a grilled cheese, we couldn’t forget the ultimate cheesy sandwich: The Cuban.
Dessert Course
Whether you want to wow your family at brunch or whip up a quick and easy dessert, try making a grilled cheese for dessert! Top with powdered sugar for extra flair, or, if the pairing is right, some cocoa powder.
With a nod to the Europeans who delight in a cheese course after dinner and dessert, why not combine them in a tangy, soft goat cheese and sweet fig and honey sandwich?
86 the green onions in this recipe for an après dinner treat. But for a really indulgent bite, whip up this raspberry cheesecake French toast grilled cheese.
If raspberry isn’t your jam, cheery preserves, apricot, or blueberries would be dynamite in this incredibly decadent treat.
Everybody loves a s’mores. Recreate that flavor profile with this go-to grilled cheese recipe you will want to make, winter or summer.
And for the pièce de résistance, Grilled Cheese Social crafted a boozy bananas foster grilled cheese with sweet mascarpone cheese that will make a grown man cry. (She gives the Pro Tip of adding everyone’s favorite chocolate hazelnut spread in addition to the creamy cheese mixture.) Heaven!
