Six ideas for a grown-up grilled cheese

They’re melty, gooey, buttery and crispy.

Whether served as a standalone or paired with a piping hot bowl of tomato soup, the grilled cheese sandwich checks every box among criteria for the ideal comfort food. The texture, warmth and flavor evoke some great childhood memories. Yet if you dismiss grilled cheese as a kid’s meal, it only means you need to step up your game.

There’s nothing wrong with the plain, old grilled cheese on inexpensive sandwich bread. Yet with some creativity and high-quality ingredients, you can create a sandwich with sophistication while still maintaining all the ease that made the grilled cheese a classic lunch-time staple. The grown-up grilled cheese has taken off in popularity, inspiring home chefs to get inventive and create an array of delicious flavor combinations.  

Here are some great options to get started:

Cheddar and apple grilled cheese: Pie enthusiasts can attest that the sharpness of a high-quality cheddar pairs wonderfully with the tart taste of Granny Smith apples. Believe it or not, it also makes for a delicious sandwich. Place a slice of cheddar on a slice of sourdough bread, then top with thin slices of apple. Top with another slice of cheddar before completing the sandwich. Grill and enjoy!

Muenster and bacon grilled cheese: Offering a mild flavor and even melt, muenster is an ideal choice for stepping up the common grilled cheese sandwich. And as we all know, everything tastes better with salty, crispy bacon. An artisanal whole wheat bread serves as a great foundation for what might well become a new, favorite lunch.

Caprese grilled cheese: Use olive oil rather than butter to toast either sourdough or a crusty white bread. Pile your sandwich with a high-quality mozzarella, slices of Roma tomato and chopped, fresh basil. Once grilled, rub the hot sandwiches with a clove of garlic to impart additional flavor. It’s the perfect Italian take on an American favorite.

Feta and spinach grilled cheese: Bring a fresh, Mediterranean taste to your grilled cheese repertoire. The salty, tangy flavor of feta adds a surprising and delicious element. Use a quality crusty bread and top with feta and provolone. Wilt your spinach, then pile it onto your sandwich before grilling.

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese: Generously butter your favorite bread and top with it with a thick slice of monterey jack. Slice a jalapeño pepper the long way and remove the seeds. Fill each half of the pepper with cream cheese and place it on top the sandwich. Grill until golden brown for a creamy, kicked-up grilled cheese interpretation.

French onion grilled cheese: Use provolone cheese, which carries a mild, piquant flavor. Its even melt and nice stretch lend to a decadent grilled cheese experience. Place your provolone on well-buttered slices of rustic multi-grain bread. Caramelize onions on low-medium heat until soft, then pile them onto the sandwich. Top it with a whole grain mustard for a spicy tang before grilling.  

The grown-up grilled cheese is a phenomenon beyond the home kitchen, with versions on menus at a variety of restaurants. Not much of a cook? Order one on your next night out! And if your cheese tastes great, it might just be from Agropur. We’re the cheese of choice for restaurants and prominent brands around the world. Producing more than 1 billion pounds of high-quality cheese annually, our cheeses continually earn top honors at the world’s most prestigious contests. Click here to learn more about Agropur cheese.