This gourmet grilled cheese recipe is an elevated take on the classic! A few tricks make it taste gooey, smoky and savory sweet.

Some days call for grilled cheese, and why not step the classic? Try this Gourmet Grilled Cheese! This spin is every bit as toasty and gooey as the original, with a few tricks to elevate the flavors. It’s smoky, salty and savory sweet, with just the right crunch from the golden bread into the molten cheese. You’ll find yourself sighing in delight after every bite. (At least, we were!) Here’s how to construct a gourmet grilled cheese in minutes!

Best cheese for a gourmet grilled cheese

The best cheese to take this sandwich to gourmet level? Here are three tips for stepping up your sandwich:

Use shredded cheese. That’s right: no slices of cheese here! Shredded makes just the right texture for melting into a gooey mess (trust us).
Use smoked gouda! It’s worth seeking out this incredibly flavorful cheese. It makes the entire sandwich taste smoky and gourmet (there’s no substitute).
Accessorize with another cheese. Another way to make it gourmet? Multiple cheeses. Add another cheese or two here: we used a yellow sharp cheddar. Other ideas: white cheddar, mozzarella, or Manchego would be fantastic.

Best bread for a gourmet grilled cheese

What’s the best bread for a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich? Here are a few pointers:

Use an artisan bread. No Wonderbread or mushy wheat bread here! Use an artisan bread like a crusty loaf or sourdough. Bonus points for homemade bread!
Make sure the bread is not too crusty. Artisan bread that’s too crusty can make for very tough crusts, which can be hard to bite. Here we used a storebought sourdough bread which had just the right texture.

Add a hint of sweet!

Another trick for making a gourmet grilled cheese? Add a hint of sweetness to pair with the salty and savory notes! This is a way to make it taste elevated with no effort at all. Here are a few ideas:

Jam like fig, apricot, jalapeno, or tomato (we used a locally made tomato jam which was excellent!). Pick flavors that pair well with cheese!
Honey like straight honey or even hot honey
Apple or pear slices also add a lovely hint of sweet freshness (skip the jam)

Want to cook many sandwiches at once? Once you layer up the sandwich, go to Grilled Cheese in the Oven.

Other add-ins for gourmet grilled cheese

Use this recipe as a template for your own creative ideas for this elevated sandwich! Here are a few more fun ideas for add-ins:

Fresh herbs like thyme, basil or oregano
Sauteed mushrooms like sauteed baby bella mushrooms or smoky sauteed button mushrooms
Caramelized onions like easy caramelized onions

What to serve with gourmet grilled cheese

The best way to make gourmet grilled cheese into a meal? Grilled cheese with tomato soup or a few stellar salads would be perfect. Here are some of our top ideas for serving alongside:

Tomato soup like Classic Tomato Soup, Tomato Basil Soup or Tomato Artichoke Soup
Salads like Goat Cheese Salad with Arugula, Arugula Beet Salad, Celery Salad with Apples, Best Kale Salad, Fennel Salad, Frisee Salad, or Fennel Orange Salad
Slaw like Broccoli Slaw or Red Cabbage Slaw
Gourmet fries like Best Sweet Potato Fries, Carrot Fries, Baked Avocado Fries or Parmesan Truffle Fries
Brussels sprouts like Brussels Sprout Salad or Brussels Sprouts with Maple Glaze

This gourmet grilled cheese recipe is…

Vegetarian.