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

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

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.
Gourmet Grilled Cheese

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:

Tomato soup recipe

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:

This gourmet grilled cheese recipe is…

Vegetarian.

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Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Gourmet Grilled Cheese


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 sandwich 1x

Description

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


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 slices sourdough bread
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons grated smoked gouda cheese
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons grated cheddar cheese (or other cheese of choice)
  • 1 tablespoon fig, tomato or apricot jam, 1 teaspoon honey, or 6 apple or pear slices

Instructions

  1. Spread mayonnaise on the outside of each slice of bread, and jam or honey on the inside of one of the slices.
  2. Place a skillet over medium high heat and add one slice of bread, mayo side down. Top with the shredded cheese (and apple, if using) and other slice of bread.
  3. Cook until the bread is golden brown and toasted, then flip and cook a few minutes more until the second bread slice is toasted and the cheese is warm. (Want to cook many sandwiches at a time? Go to Grilled Cheese in the Oven.)
  • Category: Sandwich
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: Gourmet grilled cheese, gourmet grilled cheese recipes

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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