6 Ways To Get Fancy With Grilled Cheese

 in Demos

If there’s one dish that brings back all the comforts and wonders of childhood, it’s grilled cheese. One bite of that hot, buttery, cheesy goodness and it’s just like the first time you had it. Grilled cheese has that kind of power. And while the Wonder bread and American cheese combo will always hold a special place in our hearts, getting fancy with our grilled cheese has made adulthood slightly more tolerable. From a Mexican-inspired version made with queso fresco, Chihuahua cheese, avocado and salsa to a vegetarian one with feta, roasted red peppers and spinach, the possibilities are literally endless. Watch as our online culinary school chef cooks up a variety of different grown-up grilled cheeses in this video tutorial.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Got bread? Check. Got turkey? Check. Got cranberry sauce? Check. Got any sort of cheese? Then you can whip up one of our favorite sandwiches: the Thanksgiving leftovers  grilled cheese. This sandwich gives a whole new meaning to the word leftovers. We’ve even had fun throwing in some sauteed stuffing, mashed potatoes or yams. The best part of this sandwich is you can get as crazy as you want. We opted for provolone but swiss, brie, munster, white cheddar or any other creamy mellow cheese will work.

Ingredients
2 oz sliced turkey
2 tbsp cranberry sauce
2 slices provolone cheese
2 slices of bread
2 oz butter

Mexican

Chorizo, tomato, chihuahua cheese, queso fresco and avocado lend their flavors to this jam-packed grilled cheese. The smokiness of the chorizo mixed with the sweetness of the tomato and the creaminess of the cheese and avocado make this version a constant go-to. Serve with your favorite Mexican soup for a knockout cold weather meal.

Ingredients
2 tbsp cooked chorizo
2 oz chihuahua cheese
2 tomato slices
¼ avocado, sliced
2 slices of bread
2 oz butter

Prosciutto, Pear and Brie

A slightly fancier version of the classic croque monsieur, this grilled cheese is one of our gourmet favorites. Slightly crispy Italian ham, creamy brie and sauteed pears make for an incredible smoky, salty and sweet flavor combination.  Drizzle with a bit of balsamic reduction to give it even more flavor (and an oh so pretty look!).

Ingredients
½ sliced pear (seared in hot skillet)
2 slices of prosciutto ham
4 slices of brie cheese
2 slices sourdough bread
1 oz balsamic glace
2 oz butter

This blueberry and goat cheese grilled cheese can be for breakfast or dessert.Blueberry and Goat Cheese

Just two ingredients make this grilled cheese and incredible dessert go to. Goat cheese and sliced fresh blueberries meld together for a decadent dessert-like sandwich. When it comes to the goat cheese, we recommend letting it warm to room temperature so it spreads easier.  A balsamic reduction drizzle is just the thing this grilled cheese needs before serving.

Ingredients
2 tbsp soft goat cheese
½ cup fresh blueberries
Balsamic reduction
2 slices Italian bread
2 oz butter

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom

When it comes to caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms, you can’t go wrong. Throw in some Swiss cheese, and you have a simple grilled cheese sandwich that literally has flavor coming out the sides. Make a big batch of onions and mushrooms so you can enjoy repeats all week long. As most chefs will teach you, sometimes the best dish is created from the simplest ingredients. We like to think they’re talking of this grilled cheese when they say that.

Caramelized Onion and Mushrooms
¼ cup caramelized onions
¼ cup cooked mushrooms
2 slices Swiss cheese
2 slices sourdough bread
2 oz butter

The Kitchen Sink

We’ve all done it. We’ve stood in front of the refrigerator forever trying to figure out something to make from a bunch of random ingredients. Enter the kitchen sink grilled cheese-because it uses everything except the kitchen sink. Leftover chicken, pork, beef, deli turkey, ham, roast beef-whatever you have, this sandwich can take it. Add in some of your favorite go to veggies: onion, tomato, arugula, peppers as well as some cheese and you really can’t go wrong. Like, it’s impossible.

The Kitchen Sink
2 tbsp roasted red peppers
1/4 cup arugula
1/8 cup red onion, slightly cooked

Preparation For All Grilled Cheese
1. Heat up a griddle or nonstick pan, butter one side of the bread.
2. Place bread with buttered side down on your griddle or pan; add cheese and rest of your ingredients. You may want to warm up the ingredients before adding them to your sandwich.
3. Toast your sandwich to a golden brown. If you have a broiler, place the grilled cheese open faced in a metal tray, to warm the center and to completely melt the cheese.
4. Cut and serve while hot.

No matter the flavor of your grilled cheese, they all go well with a big bowl of tomato bisque soup.

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