51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (2024)

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (1)

What makes a great grilled cheese? Is it just two pieces of bread, filled with melty, gooey cheese? Does it count if it’s stuffed with a TON of other ingredients (you know how we do)? Does a panini count? What if there’s no bread? Can you switch up the cheese (mm, brie)? Whatever they are, we’re in LOVE. Grilled cheeses are so versatile, and we’re always making them as anytime snacks, quick dinners, or even as simple party appetizers. Don’t even get us started on the classic combination of tomato soup + grilled cheese (or Bloody Marys 😈). Check out our best grilled cheese recipes for ideas—trust us, they're SO much more than just cheese and bread.

We can’t imagine you’re unfamiliar with the concept, but just in case, we’ve made a guide for how to make the best grilled cheese. Top tips: Shred your own cheese (it melts better!) and use a good amount of butter or mayo to get your bread perfectly toasty. Once you’ve got that down, change it up. Check out our Greek grilled cheese, our antipasto grilled cheese, our bacon apple cheddar grilled cheese, or our pizza grilled cheese for ideas, but really, the sky’s the limit. We love a mashup, like our grilled cheese burgers (with grilled cheeses as the buns), our sloppy joe grilled cheese, our grilled cheese hot dogs, or our chicken Parm grilled cheese. American or cheddar are classic, but feel free to switch it up, like in our , our jalapeño popper grilled cheese (cream cheese), or our Caprese grilled cheese (mozzarella). You could even make them for breakfast with our grilled cheese pancakes or our waffle iron grilled cheese. Want all that cheesy goodness, without the carbs? Veggies to the rescue: try our cauliflower grilled cheese or our zucchini grilled cheese—they’ve got the cheese pull you desire, without the bread.

Want more sandwich inspiration? Check out our favorite easy lunch and dinner sandwiches too.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

1

Air-Fryer Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (3)

The convection provided by an air fryer displaces the heat throughout the entire sandwich, creating a crispy exterior and a perfectly gooey interior. Other than knowing the ideal grilled cheese is air fried for 8 minutes at 370°, the rest of your sandwich creation is in your hands, so get creative with your fillings if you like!

Get the Air Fryer Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

2

Best Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (5)

It's all about the crust. Choose a hearty bread, butter it up, and shred your favorite cheddar for the best grilled cheese ever: crispy-crunchy on the outside, melty, cheddar middle, and the world's most impressive cheese pull.

Get the Best Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

3

Cauliflower Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (7)

All you need is cauliflower rice, eggs, Parmesan and oregano to make a low-carb bread fit for even the meltiest of grilled cheeses. Is there anything cauliflower can't do?!

Get the Cauliflower Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

4

Grilled Cheese Dogs

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (9)

Can't choose between a hot dog and a grilled cheese sandwich? Why not both? 😈 Now you don't have to debate over whether "Is a hot dog a sandwich?", especially when it means perfectly seared hot dogs and melty cheese.

Get the Grilled Cheese Dogs recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

5

Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese

We thought sloppy Joes were perfect as is, that is until we added cheese. You might never make them without it again. Bonus: The cheese actually helps hold them together—but don't worry, they're still gloriously messy.

Get the Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

6

BLT Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (13)

Be warned: This recipe might ruin you for the classic BLT.

Get the BLT Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7

Avocado Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (15)

Who knew guac and grilled cheese were meant to be together? We call for one avocado, but if yours are extra large, serve chips on the side of this sandwich and dip them in any leftover mashed avo.

Get the Avocado Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

8

Pizza Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (17)

Craving pizza, but can't be bothered with all that work (or heating your oven to 500°?!)? This saucy sandwich is for you.

Get the Pizza Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

9

"Grilled Cheese" Burgers

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (19)

You already know the standard cheeseburger, you might have seen cheese-stuffed patties, but have you ever added cheese to the bun? This recipe does just that by combining our two favorite comfort foods: burgers and grilled cheese.

Get the "Grilled Cheese" Burgers recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

10

Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese

If you love the crispy cheesy bits of grilled cheeses (and who doesn't?!) you gotta try this genius waffle iron hack.

Get the Waffle Iron Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

11

S'mores Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (23)

When crushing your graham crackers, don’t go too crazy. Some bigger bits will provide a nice crunch to this whole deliciously melty, messy situation. (P.S. If you're really into this sandwich, you need to try our s'mores quesadilla next.)

Get the S'mores Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

12

Hawaiian Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (25)

Consider this a grilled cheese straight from paradise. It might seem crazy, but the sharpness of white cheddar pairs perfectly with the bite of soy sauce and pineapple.

Get the Hawaiian Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

13

Parmesan Crusted Kale Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (27)

There's an ENTIRE bunch of leafy green kale in this grilled cheese. Thanks to a quick braise in sweet and spicy apple cider vinegar, it reduces considerably, transforming into dark lacquered greens with just the right amount of tang.

Get the Parmesan Crusted Kale Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

14

Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (29)

This is basically a buttery, extra cheesy pressed Philly cheesesteak, and WE. ARE. HERE. FOR. IT.

Get the Cheesesteak Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

15

Grilled Cheese Pancakes

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (31)

We love pancakes and we love grilled cheese, so it was only a matter of time before we put the two together for the ultimate food mash-up. We proudly present to you the grilled cheese pancake, complete with three of our most humble household cheeses: Cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan.

Get the Grilled Cheese Pancakes recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

16

Chicken Parm Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (33)

We LOVE a mashup, and this might be one of our favorites ever—chicken Parm, which is already deliciously cheesy on its own, paired with a melty grilled cheese? This sandwich haunts our dreams in the best way possible.

Get the Chicken Parm Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

17

Mac & Cheese Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (35)

This IS a little over the top, we admit, but sometimes you just need a heavy does of carbs—THIS is the recipe for those times.

Get the .

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

18

Greek Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (37)

Want a little more oomph in your grilled cheese? Take inspiration from all your favorite Greek flavors (like in our Greek salmon or our Greek pasta), and add in your favorites. We like kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and feta, but you do you.

Get the Greek Grilled Cheese recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

19

Grilled Cheese Bombs

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (39)

These are wonderful paired with everything from tomato soup to chili, or taken as a snack on the go. They have the perfect cheese to bread ratio.

Get the Grilled Cheese Bombs recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

20

Pickle Bacon Grilled Cheese

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (41)

You only need 5 ingredients to make these super flavorful grilled cheeses—mayo (for the crispiest crust), sourdough bread (or use whatever you got!), Cheddar, bacon, and, of course, a few dill pickles. We can't believe we never thought of this before.

Get the Pickle Bacon Grilled Cheese recipe.

51 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are More Than Just Cheddar And Bread (2024)

FAQs

How do you make grilled cheese more interesting? ›

Deli meats: They're easy to add, salty, meaty... basically just what you want in a grilled cheese. Jams, chutneys, and other condiments: Anything that would work well on your cheese plate will work well in a grilled cheese. I particularly like sweet, jammy things like guava paste, cranberry relish, or fig jam.

What are the top 3 cheeses for grilled cheese? ›

The 9 Best Cheeses for Grilled Cheese
  1. Cheddar. For most of us, our first grilled cheese sandwich was made with American cheese. ...
  2. Mozzarella and Pepper Jack. Every now and then, it's nice to change things up a bit. ...
  3. Gouda. ...
  4. Fontina. ...
  5. Gruyère. ...
  6. Havarti. ...
  7. Provolone. ...
  8. Swiss.
Feb 21, 2024

Is grilled cheese just cheese and bread? ›

Grilled cheese is made with cheese and condiments hetween two slices of bread, cooked in a frying pan or on a griddle. Wben you get them in restaurants, it's usually just American cheese on white or whole wheat, but at home you can get a lot more creative.

How to jazz up grilled cheese? ›

Crisp bacon, thinly sliced apple, caramelized onion, prosciutto, jam, roasted tomatoes, fresh herbs... there are tons of ingredients out there that can add sweet or salty (or both!) flavor to a grilled cheese sandwich. Play around with different combinations!

What is the secret to the best grilled cheese? ›

Starting your grilled cheese (slathered in mayo, obviously) in a cold nonstick skillet, then slowly and gently heating it up is the trick to achieving evenly golden brown, supremely crisp exteriors, with molten cheesy interiors.

What 2 cheeses go well together for grilled cheese? ›

Sharp cheddar, Gouda, Fontina, Monterey Jack, Gruyere, Pepper Jack, and brie are all good options. The amount of cheese you use will depend on the size of your bread. I love sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda together.

What cheese does Panera use on grilled cheese? ›

Sliced American cheese grilled on thick-sliced Classic White Miche.

What is the best melting cheese for grilled cheese? ›

With both meltability and flavor in mind, here are the five best cheeses to use for your next grilled cheese.
  • Mozzarella. From pizza to mozzarella sticks, we already know what mozzarella is capable of when it comes to epic cheese pulls. ...
  • Brie/Bloomy Rind. ...
  • Comté/Raclette/Gruyère. ...
  • Young Gouda. ...
  • American Cheese.
Sep 1, 2023

What is a fancy name for grilled cheese? ›

Familiar names are: toastie (UK), grilled cheese sandwich (US), jaffle (Australia), panini (Italy), and croque monsieur (France). The toasted sandwich is not limited to these countries, however. You will find this popular snack, lunch, or dinner in every corner of our planet.

Is Velveeta real cheese? ›

Since 2002, Velveeta has been labeled as a "pasteurized prepared cheese product." What does that even mean? Because of the ingredients and the way it is prepared, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consider it real cheese.

How to make grilled cheese Martha Stewart? ›

Place sandwiches in skillet (in two batches, if needed). Reduce heat to medium-low; gently top sandwiches with a lid slightly smaller than skillet for even cooking. Cook, flipping once halfway through, until crisp and golden on both sides and cheese is melted, 7 to 9 minutes. Serve immediately.

What was grilled cheese called during the Great Depression? ›

The cheese dream, an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, became popular in the U.S. during the Great Depression.

What is the most expensive grilled cheese? ›

New York City's Serendipity3 holds the Guinness World Record for the most expensive sandwich. It is a decadent grilled cheese that will cost you $214, and it is back in honor of National Grilled Cheese Day.

How do you perk up a grilled cheese sandwich? ›

5 Ways to Spice It Up

Using your spice rack can add flavor without extra sodium: Mix dried oregano and garlic powder in your butter before you smear it on the outside of the bread, sprinkle chili flakes on the inside of your sandwich for some spice, or simply layer in some freshly torn herbs.

How do you upgrade a grilled cheese sandwich? ›

ways to upgrade your grilled cheese sandwiches! The first upgrade is to use some high quality bread, preferably sourdough, from your local bakery. The next upgrade is to add a sauce. or spread to the inside of the sandwich. I usually use mayonnaise, but you can really use anything.

How do you pimp grilled cheese? ›

Grilled cheese sandwiches only require a few ingredients and are the perfect comfort food. Out-of-the-box kitchen staples like peanut butter can easily elevate your grilled cheese sandwiches. Avocado, tomatoes, pickles, and bacon also make delicious additions.

What else can you add to a grilled cheese? ›

It doesn't have to be fancy or anything wild – just a little bit of something extra to push a grilled cheese to greatness.
  1. 1 of 20. Apples. Fairfax Media via Getty Images. ...
  2. 2 of 20. Avocado. ...
  3. 3 of 20. Bacon. ...
  4. 4 of 20. Bacon jam. ...
  5. 5 of 20. Caramelized onions. ...
  6. 6 of 20. Herbs. ...
  7. 7 of 20. Honey. ...
  8. 8 of 20. Kimchi.
Apr 1, 2024

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 5724

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (58 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.