I am always excited to try new creative grilled cheese recipes. In our home as a kid there was only one grilled cheese recipe available. I’ll share it with you.
Slap a Kraft Singles cheese slice between two slices of Wonder bread and throw it in a pan with a pat of butter. Brown one side. Flip it. Brown the other. Serve.
Voila! Grilled cheese in 5 minutes.
Who invented the grilled cheese Americans know today? We will never know, but we can (given the ingredients) place it in time. Culinary evidence suggests our modern grilled cheese (consisting of processed cheese and sliced white bread) began in the 1920s. That’s when affordable sliced bread and inexpensive American cheese hit the market.
Food Timeline
Goverment issue cookbooks tell us World War II Navy cooks broiled hundreds of “American cheese filling sandwiches” in ship’s kitchens. This makes sense. The sandwich was economical, easy to make, met government nutrition standards.
It wasn’t until I finished college and met and fell in love with my foodie husband that the world of elevated grilled cheese opened up to me. I owe him that.
For advice on what bread to use for your grilled cheese, check out our handy guide to sandwich bread here.
Here are our top picks for creative grilled cheese recipes that take the simple grilled cheese sandwich to the next level.
Inside-Out Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This simple recipe from Chef John at AllRecipes takes the simple grilled cheese sandwich and stands it on it’s head. It’s the ultimate out-of-the-box thinking and the results are delicious!
Chef John says: “In my humble opinion, this crispy, crunchy, cheesy masterpiece is the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich. Make sure you follow some basic rules for this to work properly. Only use airy, nutritionally insignificant white bread. Use a nice sharp cheddar and be sure to use a quality non-stick pan over medium to medium-low heat.”
Get Recipe: Inside-Out Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Double-Decker Truffle Grilled Cheese
Loaded with figs, Brie cheese and the sweet nectar called truffle oil, this Food Network creation by Sandra Lee is grilled cheese elevated to the nth degree.
One Reviewer Says: “This was really tasty! I used Brie and baby Swiss along with thinly sliced apples with the figs. The addition of the chutney was great but it would still be a great sandwich without it!“
Get Recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/double-decker-truffled-grilled-cheese-recipe.html
Ultimate Gourmet Grilled Cheese
Amanda at the Chunky Chef isn’t shy with proclaiming her recipe the ultimate gourmet grilled cheese but this sweet little concoction is deserving of the accolades.
3 cheeses, thyme, rosemary, and brown sugar. And Mayo. This sandwich is a culinary revelation.
Amanda Says: “This gourmet grilled cheese is loaded with herbed caramelized onions, gooey Gruyere and white cheddar cheeses, and is cooked in a savory rosemary butter!”
Get Recipe: https://www.thechunkychef.com/ultimate-gourmet-grilled-cheese/
Glamorous Gourmet Grilled Cheese
This scrumptious take on grilled cheese by Loreto and Nicoletta of Sugar Love Spices is absolutely exquisite. This is one of our favorites at KA HQ.
Nicoletta says: “Imagine a rustic French traditional bread, buttery Brie, creamy Gorgonzola, fresh figs, and beautiful prosciutto all fried up in a cast pan to get melted and golden. Consequently, only one word to describe it. INSANE! “
Get Recipe: https://www.sugarlovespices.com/glamorous-gourmet-grilled-cheese/
Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This awesome variation of the grilled cheese sandwich from Kate at Cookie & Kate is pure comfort food.
Get into your favorite pair of sweat pants, get the Netflix streaming and enjoy this delicious gift to the palate.
Kate says: “I’ve been disappointed by some grilled cheese sandwiches in my life, so I set out to create my ultimate grilled cheese recipe. I aimed for a favorite grilled cheese sandwich that I could make any time the craving strikes. I wanted gourmet flavor without any complicated ingredients or methods. Grilled cheese now, or bust!”
Get Recipe: https://cookieandkate.com/favorite-grilled-cheese-sandwich-recipe/
Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Pear
Here’s a wonderful version of the grilled cheese sandwich that your family will lover.
Anjali from The Picky Eater really hits it out of the park with this one and we’ve literally never served it to someone who didn’t love it!
Anjali says: “Melted brie and taleggio cheese, sliced pear, arugula, and honey are sandwiched between a whole wheat baguette and pressed to perfection to create this gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. Ready in just 15 minutes and kid-friendly too!“
Get Recipe: https://pickyeaterblog.com/gourmet-grilled-cheese-sandwich/