Grown Up Grilled Cheese is an indulgent new take on an old classic made just for grown ups!
What is better on a snowy, cold day than a grilled cheese sandwich? We all grew up on the traditional sandwich…you know, the one with the processed American cheese between 2 slices of white bread, grilled and served with that famous tomato soup from a can. And yes, I still like it occasionally.
As a grown up, I wanted a little more decadence in my sandwich so this is a new take on an old classic. The two main components of any grilled cheese are the bread and cheese of course. Today there are so many wonderful varieties of breads and cheeses available to us. It’s the extra items that really elevate this sandwich. Meats, produce, jams, tapenades and eggs are just some of the items I like to use. This version of my grown up grilled cheese is a combination of sweet and savory with a little kick. My adult kids even love this version! Try my Twist on Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup with a flavor profile of Caesar dressing!
The Method of Grown Up Grilled Cheese
ingredients:
- Sourdough bread
- Brie cheese
- Vidalia onion
- extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
- hot pepper peach fruit spread
- butter
- mayonnaise
basic instructions:
Heat pan over medium low heat. Assemble the sandwich this way: place cheese on one slice of bread followed by the caramelized onions. Spread the jam on the other slice and put the two together. Slather mayo on the outside of the bread. Add butter to the skillet and let it melt. Cook low and slow until bread is golden. Flip the sandwich over then place a lid on the skillet.
Placing a lid on the skillet is my secret to a really gooey center. It ensures the heat gets right into the cheese without making the bread soggy.
Cook’s Notes:
tips for success:
Choose a good hearty bread. Sourdough is my favorite for this as it holds up well to the “meat” of the sandwich.
The butter and mayo combination not only gives great flavor but creates a more unified golden browning.
recipe variations:
Change up the cheese! These are other great melty cheeses that would work well:
- Havarti has a buttery mild sweet flavor
- Fontina is mellow and similar to Havarti
- Swiss is nutty and soft
- Cheddar comes in mild, sharp or extra sharp
- Provolone very creamy and easy to melt
- Muenster is savory and tangy
- Monterey Jack is a mild creamy white cheese and mixed with cheddar is perfect blend
- Gruyere is nutty and salty
- Goat Cheese and Blue Cheese are great alternatives (use sparingly as they are strong in flavor)
Add these fun mix-ins :
- Bacon of course!
- Thin ham, prosciutto, turkey
- Tomatoes, avocado, arugula or kale, zucchini, roasted red peppers, mushrooms
- Olive tapenades, sun dried tomatoes
- Jams like Hot Pepper Peach, Blackberry
- Scramble an egg for a breakfast grilled cheese
The Essentials:
If you make this Grown Up Grilled Cheese and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars!
Grown Up Grilled Cheese
This grown up grilled cheese has the perfect blend of sweet, savory with a kick of heat!
- 6 slices sourdough bread
- 7 ounce package of Brie cheese (rind removed and sliced into 1/4 inch slices)
- 2 Vidalia onions (sliced thin)
- extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
- Hot pepper peach fruit spread
- butter
- mayonnaise
- Heat a cast iron pan to medium low and add olive oil, about 2 tablespoons. Season onions with salt and pepper and cook until caramelized about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, place 1 slice of bread down on three plates. Divide the cheese evenly between them. Place another slice of bread above it and spread the jam on that slice.
- When the onions are golden, top the cheese with them. Place your top slice of bread over the onions jam side down.
- Spread a layer of mayonnaise on the outside top of bread.
- If you have a large grill pan, spread a tablespoon of butter in 3 spaces for each sandwich. If you are using a skillet, place 1 tablespoon in the skillet. Gently place your sandwich mayo side down onto the pan. While it is toasting, spread some mayo on the second side.
- Flip your sandwich when the bottom is brown and toasty. Once the second side browns. cover sandwich(es) with a lid. Sandwich is done when you see the cheese start to ooze out.
Cooking times will vary depending on whether you are cooking each sandwich individually or can cook multiple on a large grill pan.
Looks so good! I love mayo on the outside of the bread too, makes it just perfect.
Hi April! Thank you so much!
Yum, Ill be trying this recipe this week!
Yay! Let me know how you like it! and share a rating if you do!
I’ve recently fallen in love with Brie cheese, so I will def be trying to make a grilled cheese with it! Never thought about it before! Yum!
You will definitely love this if you love Brie! Let me know how you like it when you make it and be sure to give me a rating!
I have to try mayo instead of butter on my next grilled cheese. Genius idea, and it would for sure spread so much easier too.