If I were to pick what food has been the biggest staple in my life, it would be grilled cheese. From first learning to make it on the stove with wonder bread and Kraft singles, to eating it regularly as a way to save money when living on a budget in another country, grilled cheese has been a constant presence in my life.
While grilled cheese may have a reputation for its location on the kid’s menu at restaurants, grilled cheese isn’t just for kids.
In fact, adding one of these gourmet grilled cheeses to the menu will be a conversation piece of any dinner party. From dessert grilled cheese to fruit grilled cheese, here are my easy recipes for grilled cheeses to make your heart swoon! Each of these recipes takes minutes to make. Put the items listed below on a bread of your choice, butter it, throw it in a skillet, and you have a perfect grilled cheese in 5 minutes.
Also, special shout out to my partner who was willing to try four different types of grilled cheese in one week!
Add A Little Spice To Your Life
If you want to have a delicious grilled cheese with a kick, add a whole jalapeno (just be sure to de-seed it first). This grilled cheese takes my love of charcuterie and places it into the body of a grilled cheese. Perfection!
Ingredients:
· Salami
· Jalapeno (sliced and de-seeded)
· Swiss Cheese
· Blackberry Jam
· Bread (I used wheat bread)
A Classic Combination
While apple pie and cheddar cheese has long been a staple of Midwestern dessert, you can make a grilled cheese in the same combination! Using a sharp cheddar really brings out the sweet flavor of the apple, but feel free to experiment with other types of cheeses. I am also a big fan of swiss cheese or a whiskey cheddar cheese.
Ingredients:
· Sliced Apple
· Cheddar Cheese
· Bread
Just Peachy
Fresh peach makes everything better (I for one love a peach flatbread!). So join in the fun of this fruit grilled cheese by bring together some classic farm to table flavors. If you have a farmer’s market near you, be sure to visit in order to get the freshest versions of all of these ingredients. They are worth it.
Ingredients:
· Fresh Peach (sliced to fit on the bread)
· White Cheddar Cheese
· Blackberry Jam
· Honey
· Bread
Who Says You Can’t Have Grilled Cheese for Dessert?
Want to really raise the bar with your adult grilled cheeses? Opt for a dessert grilled cheese! Every time I mention how much I love making these people start salivating. While I have made this grilled cheese with dark chocolate as opposed to Nutella, I highly recommend using Nutella as the hazelnut brings out the natural flavor of the brie.
Ingredients:
· Nutella
· Banana (sliced)
· Raspberries (muddles to spread on the bread)
· Brie cheese
· Honey
· Bread
These grilled cheeses will be sure to put a smile on your face (and fill up your belly!), so make sure to share them with the with the whole family. Or don’t because you deserve to treat yourself.