Whether you’re looking to bring more crunch, creaminess, tartness, or spice to your grilled cheese, there are plenty of options to choose from. Just as there is different cheese and bread to try out, you can never run out of additions to upgrade your toasted sandwich. In this article, we’ve gathered five of the best toppings for gourmet grilled cheese.
Pesto
Pesto is usually made with basil and some parmesan, and pecorino cheese. The presence of more parmesan, pecorino, and other Italian cheese, like mozzarella, makes pesto a perfect pairing inside your grilled cheese. How do you incorporate it?
Adding pesto to your grilled cheese won’t completely alter your regular recipe– it’s just a topping. Simply spread it on the bread. Spreading some pesto will bring your grilled cheese a fun freshness and brightness that doesn’t come with the classic option.
Pepperoni
From pizzas to sandwiches, you’ll find the combination of pepperoni and cheese in several delicious dishes. Bringing that amazing combination to your next grilled cheese is a savory choice. It elevates the basic sandwich to an Italian-American fancy restaurant delicacy.
Since pepperoni and cheese is a classic combination, it is best paired with Italian cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan, so avoid cheddar. Pair your pepperoni grilled cheese with some tasty tomato soup for dipping to bring out the classic flavors of pepperoni pizza.
Bacon
There are a million reasons why bacon is always a crowd-pleaser; it’s salty, crunchy, and delicious. It’s no surprise that the well-loved meat is the perfect companion to another tasty American staple. Bacon and grilled cheese are the ultimate duo.
Crispy, salty pork is especially delicious with classic grilled cheese ingredients like white bread, cheddar, or American cheese. If you’re aiming for the most traditional version possible, we recommend using Kraft Singles- the taste will blow your mind.
Garlic bread
The type of bread you use can make a big difference in the flavor profile of your grilled cheese. In addition to trying different types of bread, a grilled cheese sandwich is also a great place to add flavorful herbs and spices to your bread.
Garlic bread will take your grilled cheese to the next level as its buttery, garlicky flavor brings out the warm, melty goodness of the cheese inside. Combining sharp cheddar and creamy mozzarella cheeses is the perfect pairing to complement your tasty garlic bread slices.
Apples
The biggest reason apples make a great addition to your grilled cheese sandwich is their texture. The crisp crunch of an apple slice balances the soft gooey texture of melted cheese. Apples always stand out in grilled cheese.
Because of the moisture content that apples provide, you will also want to make sure you use hearty slices of bread that can absorb moisture, like thick-cut, hearty sourdough bread, for this grilled cheese sandwich. This avoids an unpleasant mess.
