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7 Grilled Cheese Twists That Take the Classic Sandwich to the Next Level
Grilled cheese is one of those wonderfully simple meals that never really goes out of style.
Bread, cheese, butter, and a skillet. That's all you need for the classic version.
But grilled cheese can be so much more than two slices of bread with cheddar tucked between them.
Add a little tomato and basil. Try apple and sharp cheddar. Make a spicy buffalo chicken version. Add caramelized onions, pesto, mushrooms, bacon, or even a little hot honey.
Suddenly, the humble grilled cheese becomes a completely different sandwich.
Here are seven delicious combinations to try when you're ready to give your grilled cheese a little makeover.
1. Classic Cheddar Grilled Cheese
Sometimes the original really is the best.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sandwich bread or sourdough
- 2 to 3 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or sliced
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
Directions
Butter one side of each slice of bread.
Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet over medium-low heat.
Add the cheddar and top with the second slice of bread, butter-side up.
Cook until the bottom is golden brown and crisp, about 2 to 4 minutes.
Carefully flip and cook until the second side is golden and the cheese has melted.
Crunchy Moon Tip
Use freshly shredded cheese when possible. It melts beautifully and lets you control how much cheese goes into the sandwich.
For an extra-crispy crust, cook the sandwich slowly over medium-low heat rather than turning the heat way up.
Burnt bread with cold cheese in the middle is not the grilled cheese dream. 😂
2. Tomato and Basil Grilled Cheese
This one tastes like summer.
The combination of creamy melted cheese, juicy tomato, and fresh basil makes a simple grilled cheese feel a little more special.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough or rustic bread
- 2 to 3 ounces mozzarella, provolone, or cheddar
- 2 to 3 thin slices ripe tomato
- 3 to 5 fresh basil leaves
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
Directions
Butter the outside of the bread.
Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet.
Layer on the cheese, tomato, and basil.
Top with the second slice of bread.
Cook over medium low heat until golden on the bottom.
Flip carefully and continue cooking until the cheese melts and the second side is golden.
Tip
Pat the tomato slices dry with a paper towel before adding them. This helps keep the sandwich from becoming overly watery.
For extra flavor, add a sprinkle of Italian seasoning or a tiny drizzle of balsamic glaze after cooking.
3. Ham and Three Cheese Grilled Cheese
If you're looking for something hearty, this one is it.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough or sandwich bread
- 2 slices ham
- 1 ounce cheddar
- 1 ounce Swiss cheese
- 1 ounce provolone
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
Directions
Butter the outside of both bread slices.
Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet.
Layer on the ham and cheeses.
Top with the second slice of bread.
Cook over medium-low heat until golden brown.
Flip and continue cooking until the cheese is completely melted.
Easy Variations
Try adding:
- Thinly sliced pickles
- Dijon mustard
- Caramelized onions
- Apple slices
- Hot honey
- Roasted peppers
A little Dijon is especially good with ham and Swiss.
4. Apple and Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese
Sweet and savory grilled cheese is seriously underrated.
Crisp apple slices pair beautifully with sharp cheddar, especially when tucked inside warm, buttery bread.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough or whole-grain bread
- 2 to 3 ounces sharp cheddar
- 4 to 6 very thin apple slices
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
Directions
Butter the outside of both slices of bread.
Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet.
Add the cheddar and arrange the apple slices over the cheese.
Top with the second slice of bread.
Cook slowly until golden and crisp.
Flip and continue cooking until the cheese is melted.
Flavor Boost
Try adding a tiny drizzle of honey or hot honey.
You can also add a sprinkle of fresh thyme or a few caramelized onions.
Best Apples
Choose an apple that stays pleasantly crisp rather than becoming mushy.
Tart apples are especially good with sharp cheddar.
5. Pesto Mozzarella Grilled Cheese
Pesto and melted cheese are basically best friends.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough bread
- 2 to 3 ounces mozzarella or provolone
- 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
Directions
Spread pesto on the inside of both slices of bread.
Place the cheese between the slices.
Butter the outside of the bread.
Cook in a skillet over medium-low heat until golden and crisp on both sides and the cheese is melted.
Add More Flavor
Try adding:
- Sliced tomato
- Roasted red peppers
- Fresh basil
- Spinach
- Sliced mushrooms
- Thinly sliced chicken
A tomato and pesto grilled cheese is especially delicious when fresh tomatoes are in season.
6. Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
Now we're getting into serious sandwich territory.
This is a fantastic way to use leftover cooked chicken.
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread
- 1/2 cup cooked shredded chicken
- 1 to 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce
- 2 ounces cheddar or Monterey Jack
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
- Optional ranch or blue cheese dressing
Directions
Mix the shredded chicken with buffalo sauce.
Butter the outside of both bread slices.
Place one slice butter-side down in a skillet.
Add half the cheese, the buffalo chicken, and the remaining cheese.
Top with the second slice of bread.
Cook over medium-low heat until golden.
Flip carefully and continue cooking until the cheese is melted and the chicken is hot.
Serving Idea
Drizzle with ranch or serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Add thinly sliced celery or green onion for a fresh crunch.
Make It Spicy
Add sliced jalapeños or a few shakes of your favorite hot sauce.
7. Mushroom and Swiss Grilled Cheese
Earthy mushrooms and nutty Swiss cheese make an incredibly satisfying combination.
Ingredients
- 2 slices sourdough or rustic bread
- 2 ounces Swiss cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
- Optional: fresh thyme
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add the mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture and become golden brown.
Season with salt, pepper, and thyme if desired.
Remove the mushrooms from the skillet.
Butter the outside of the bread.
Place one slice butter-side down in the skillet.
Add Swiss cheese and the sautéed mushrooms.
Top with the second slice of bread.
Cook over medium-low heat until golden and crisp.
Flip and cook until the cheese is melted.
Extra Good
Add caramelized onions for an even richer sandwich.
A thin layer of Dijon mustard also works beautifully with the mushrooms and Swiss.
Grilled Cheese Tips for the Perfect Sandwich
The ingredients matter, but technique matters too.
Use Medium-Low Heat
This is probably the biggest grilled cheese secret.
High heat can brown the bread before the cheese has time to melt.
Medium-low heat gives the cheese time to become gooey while the bread slowly develops that beautiful golden crust.
Butter the Bread, Not the Pan
Spread softened butter evenly over the outside of the bread.
You can butter the skillet if you prefer, but putting the butter directly on the bread gives you better control over the crust.
Don't Overload It
More cheese isn't always better.
A mountain of filling can make the sandwich difficult to flip and leave you with bread that is perfectly toasted while the middle is still cold.
Aim for a generous but manageable layer.
Use a Lid When Needed
If the bread is browning faster than the cheese is melting, lower the heat and cover the skillet for a minute or two.
The trapped heat can help melt the cheese without burning the bread.
Press Gently
A spatula can be used to gently press the sandwich while it cooks.
Don't smash it flat.
You want a crisp exterior and a soft, melty interior.
Let It Rest for a Minute
Once the sandwich is finished, give it a minute before cutting.
This allows the cheese to settle slightly and makes the sandwich easier to eat.
More Grilled Cheese Combinations to Try
Once you start experimenting, the possibilities get ridiculous.
Try combinations such as:
Bacon and Tomato
Cheddar + bacon + tomato + a little mayonnaise or basil.
Jalapeño Popper
Cream cheese + cheddar + sliced jalapeños.
Pear and Brie
Thin pear slices + Brie + a drizzle of honey.
Caramelized Onion and Gruyère
Sweet onions + Gruyère + sourdough.
Spinach and Feta
Mozzarella + feta + sautéed spinach.
Pizza Grilled Cheese
Mozzarella + pepperoni + pizza sauce for dipping.
BBQ Chicken
Cheddar + shredded chicken + barbecue sauce + red onion.
Turkey and Cranberry
Turkey + Brie or provolone + cranberry sauce.
Pickle and Cheddar
Sharp cheddar + thinly sliced dill pickles + mustard.
Caprese
Mozzarella + tomato + basil + a little pesto.
What to Serve With Grilled Cheese
A grilled cheese sandwich can absolutely be the whole meal, but a few simple sides can turn it into a complete lunch or dinner.
Try serving it with:
- Tomato soup
- Vegetable soup
- Lentil soup
- Chili
- Green salad
- Cucumber salad
- Coleslaw
- Pickles
- Fresh fruit
- Roasted vegetables
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Simple garden salad
And don't underestimate the classic combination of grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Some food pairings simply know what they're doing.
Make It a Family Grilled Cheese Bar
For a fun lunch or casual dinner, set out bread, cheeses, and fillings and let everyone create their own sandwich.
Offer options such as:
Cheeses
- Cheddar
- American
- Swiss
- Provolone
- Mozzarella
- Monterey Jack
- Pepper Jack
- Gouda
- Gruyère
Fillings
- Ham
- Turkey
- Cooked chicken
- Bacon
- Tomato
- Apple
- Pickles
- Mushrooms
- Peppers
- Spinach
- Caramelized onions
- Jalapeños
- Pesto
Dips and Sauces
- Tomato soup
- Marinara
- Ranch
- Buffalo sauce
- Mustard
- Honey
- Hot honey
Just make sure any meat or other perishable ingredients are kept refrigerated until you're ready to use them.
The Best Thing About Grilled Cheese
Grilled cheese doesn't need to be complicated.
That's part of its charm.
It's inexpensive, adaptable, comforting, and a fantastic way to use ingredients you already have in the refrigerator.
The classic cheddar version will always have a place at the table, but once you start adding different cheeses, vegetables, fruit, herbs, meats, sauces, and spreads, you quickly realize that grilled cheese is less of a single recipe and more of a sandwich-building adventure.
So grab the skillet.
Butter the bread.
Pick a cheese.
Add something delicious.
And make yourself a grilled cheese worth slowing down for. 🧀🥪
Technical Recipe Note
For the best results, keep the skillet around medium low heat and adjust as needed for your particular pan and stovetop. Thicker bread, heavier fillings, and harder cheeses may require slightly longer cooking or a brief covered cooking period to melt the center without over-browning the bread.
