There’s almost nothing better than a classic, melty grilled cheese and a steaming bowl of tomato-basil soup on a chilly winter day, but it really doesn’t take very long for most people to start wanting a little more variety. Fortunately, an ordinary grilled cheese can be transformed into a culinary masterpiece! No matter what flavor you’re craving, here are seven grilled cheese secrets that will make your mouth water.
- Use different “bread.”
Shifting away from the classic white-bread grilled cheese can do wonders for your tastebuds. Try a breakfast grilled cheese made of a waffle, American cheese, bacon, and green onion, or for an extra twist, put frozen tater tots in your waffle iron for a comforting hashbrown crust instead of batter. You can also swap your bread for a donut and add one to two slices of mild cheddarn Another option is to use a soft pretzel and melt some muenster cheese, sausage, and sauerkraut inside. - Sweeten it up.
Who says that a grilled cheese can’t be eaten for breakfast or dessert? A great breakfast option is to melt some cream cheese and blueberries between two slices of bread, which will pair perfectly with your morning coffee. You can also make a casual dessert grilled cheese by putting some caramel and mascarpone cheese between two slices of bread. You can also try out a sandwich made of melty dark chocolate, fresh raspberries, and brie cheese! - Go for meats and veggies.
Make your grilled cheese a completely balanced meal by upping the nutritional value with some protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Turn a classic deli sandwich into a grilled cheese version by creating a turkey, bacon, and guacamole sandwich combined with some Swiss cheese, or keep it simple with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mild cheddar. Or, go even more unconventional with grilled chicken, roasted tomatoes, and mozzarella or barbeque pulled pork with jalapenos and sharp cheddar. - Get saucy.
Nothing will take your grilled cheese to the next level quite like a delicious sauce! One popular option is to slather on some basil pesto with fresh tomato slices, mozzarella cheese, and some grilled chicken or turkey. You can also add some ranch, chipotle aioli, or even barbeque sauce to a sandwich with grilled chicken, turkey, pulled pork, roast beef, or even ground beef. - Channel your favorite foods.
If you can dream it, you can grill it. What’s your favorite food? Tacos? Add some ground beef, taco sauce, diced tomatoes, guacamole, and Mexican cheese. Cheeseburgers? Ground beef, onion, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, tomato, lettuce, pickles, and cheddar. Pizza? Mozzarella, pizza sauce, and your favorite toppings. Baked potatoes? Fry some potato slices and add them to your sandwich along with bacon, chives, sour cream, and cheddar cheese. - Fixate on fruit.
Combining sweet and savory flavors is a tried-and-true tactic, and that rings true when you add some fruit to your cheesy, salty sandwich. Apples and cheddar go together, or you can add a kick of spice with peach slices and pepper jack cheese (with a touch of barbeque sauce if you're up for it!). Another winning combo is havarti cheese, fresh arugula, blueberries, balsamic vinegar, and brown sugar on sourdough bread. - Change shape.
You can capture all the essence of a grilled cheese sandwich even if it’s not in sandwich form. You can flatten your bread with a rolling pin, roll it up with sliced of American cheese inside, and place it on the griddle for a perfect, handheld snack. Or, before grilling, cut your sandwich into bite-sized pieces and cook them until they're extra crispy to create some grilled cheese croutons to toss into your bowl of tomato soup.
