Gooey Gourmet Grilled Cheese: 5 Recipes + 25 Inspired Ideas

I've eaten a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches in my years on Earth, and I still get childlike joy at the gooey, melty goodness when I pull apart those triangles (yes — they must be cut diagonally) to reveal the perfect golden, glistening strands of warm cheese stretching between them. I love a traditional grilled cheese — you can never go wrong with a classic that you can return to again and again.

And while it's hard to improve on perfection, I think we've done it with our creative grilled cheese sandwiches. They please my slightly more grown-up palate (still not a broccoli fan) while still giving me all the melty, gooey goodness I fell in love with as a kid. Try our yummy grilled cheese sandwich ideas. We bet you'll find a new favorite, too.

Grilled Brie & Prosciutto

With the salty prosciutto and creamy brie, this sandwich is ridiculously decadent. But we think you're worth it. 

Ingredients

• 2 slices of your favorite bread
• Several slices of brie (enough to cover the bread)
• 2 slices thinly sliced prosciutto
• 4-6 fresh basil leaves
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions

1. On one slice of bread, arrange the brie. Top with the prosciutto and basil leaves. 
2. Top with the second slice of bread.
3. Brush the outside of both slices of bread with the melted butter and put them in a cold skillet. Turn the skillet on to medium.
4. Cook until golden on both sides and melted on the inside. 

Pear, Bacon, & Brie Grilled Cheese

Okay — clearly, I love brie on my grilled cheese. It's just so... melty. This crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside sandwich is the perfect combo of salty, creamy, and sweet. 

Ingredients

• 2 slices of your favorite bread
• Several slices of brie cheese
• 3 slices of crispy, cooked bacon
• 2 pear slices
• 2 tablespoon melted butter

Directions

1. On one piece of bread, add the brie, then the bacon, then the pear.
2. Top with the second piece of bread.
3. Brush the outside of both slices of bread with the melted butter and put them in a cold skillet. Turn the skillet on to medium. Cook until golden on both sides and melted on the inside. 

Grilled Mac n' Cheese Sandwich

And now for a sandwich that needs no reason. It is its own reason. And if you do need a reason, it's a great way to use up leftover macaroni and cheese. 

Ingredients

• 2 slices of your favorite bread
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• ¼ cup macaroni and cheese, warmed up
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. On one slice of bread, sprinkle half of the cheese.
2. Top with macaroni, the remaining cheese, and the second slice of bread. 
3. Brush the outside of both slices of bread with the melted butter and put them in a cold skillet. Turn the skillet on to medium.
4. Cook until golden on both sides and melted on the inside. 

Caprese Grilled Cheese

I love the flavors of a caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil, and juicy heirloom tomatoes. This is the super gooey version of that. 

Ingredients

• 2 slices bread
• 3 tablespoons prepared pesto
• 2 thick slices fresh mozzarella cheese
• 2 large slices of heirloom tomato
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. Spread both pieces of bread with the pesto.
2. Top one slice with mozzarella and heirloom tomato. Put the other piece of bread on top.
3. Brush the outside of both slices of bread with the melted butter and put them in a cold skillet. Turn the skillet on to medium.
4. Cook until golden on both sides and melted on the inside. 

Roasted Mushroom, Onion, and Gouda Grilled Cheese

This yummy umami cheese sandwich is about as gouda as it gets. I'll see myself out. 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 ounces sliced mushrooms
• ¼ cup thinly sliced onions
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of dried thyme
• 2 slices of your favorite bread
• ¼ cup of shredded gouda cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

1. In a skillet, heat the olive oil until it shimmers. Add the mushrooms, onions, salt, and thyme. 
2. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and onions are browned and soft.
3. On one piece of bread, add the cheese. Spoon the mushroom mixture over the top.
4. Add the second slice of bread.
5. Brush the outside of both slices of bread with the melted butter and put them in a cold skillet. Turn the skillet on to medium.
6. Cook until golden on both sides and melted on the inside. 

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More Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ideas

Now that you've got your creative juices flowing, we've got a few more ideas. Try them as a jumping-off point for your own unique creations.

• Brie & apple  
• Sharp cheddar & bacon
• Blue cheese & pear
• Havarti & avocado
• Gruyère & caramelized onions
• Cream cheese, jalapeño, & red pepper jelly
• Goat cheese & spinach
• Feta & olive tapenade
• Asiago & roasted red pepper
• Swiss & ham
• Fontina & prosciutto
• Manchego & chorizo
• Camembert & fig jam
• Muenster & roast beef
• Ricotta & honey
• Pimento cheese spread & potato chips
• Buffalo chicken & blue cheese
• Boursin & crab
• Gorgonzola & pear
• Sharp cheddar & apple butter
• Smoked salmon & cream cheese with dill
• Roast beef, chimichurri, and cream cheese
• Spinach and artichoke dip and parmesan
• Sliced fig & brie
• Monterey Jack & chutney

Tips for Making Yummy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Every Time

We know you probably have it figured out, but we thought we'd toss a few tips your way just in case.

• Brush melted butter on the outside of the bread — it makes perfect, golden-brown sandwiches.
• Grated cheese works best in grilled cheese because it melts better than slices. 
• Any ingredients that aren't cheese or spreads should be very thinly sliced so they warm quickly and don't stop the cheese from melting. 
• Start the sandwich in a cold pan and allow it to heat up on medium so the cheese has time to melt as the bread toasts. 
• If you use a crumbly cheese like gorgonzola or blue cheese, add a little melty cheese to it like cream cheese or Monterey Jack so you get that yummy, gooey melted cheese. 

Grilled Cheese, Please

Here's the thing about grilled cheese. While it's perfection in its simplest form, it's also just as perfect when you mix it up and try other ingredients. Just remember to cut it into triangles. Trust me. It tastes best that way.