37 Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipes, Tomato Soup Not Required
A grilled cheese sandwich is a beautiful, simple, perfect thing. But grilled cheese recipes can go beyond the basic concept, dialing the flavors up with sharp cheddar or sourdough bread, or swapping in Havarti, Gruyère, goat cheese, or even Brie. Our favorite recipes skew breakfasty—think eggs-in-a-hole, but as a sandwich—or add ham, tomatoes, or even broccoli rabe for a hearty lunch. Add a little olive oil or butter to your griddle or cast-iron pan, pick a grilled cheese path, and head toward sandwich perfection.
Could you serve these with tomato soup? Sure. But they definitely don’t require it.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton1/37Bombay Masala Chile Cheese Toasties
Melty, cheesy, crunchy, spicy—these sandwiches, a street food favorite in India, check all the boxes. There's a tender potato filling, crisp vegetables, and oozing Monterey Jack or Emmenthal or American cheese tucked between toasty slices of white bread that are spread with an invigorating cilantro chutney. To take this lunch really over the top (and way outside of tradition), Epi contributor Tara O'Brady likes to wedge a few potato chips into the sandwich as she eats. Does this count as a grilled cheese sandwich? We say yes, and beyond.
Photo by Andrew Purcell, Food Styling by Carrie Purcell3/37Chakalaka and Cheddar Braaibroodjies (Grilled Cheese Sandwiches)
The liberal spoonful of spicy vegetable relish makes these crispy sandwiches extra special. If you don’t have a jar of chakalaka in your fridge, you can use any type of relish or chutney. These sandwiches are typically truly grilled, outdoors, but this recipe is adapted for the stovetop.
Photo by Alex Lau4/37Breakfast Grilled Cheese With Soft Scrambled Eggs
The best breakfast grilled cheese has a filling of quick scrambled eggs, cooked with two tablespoons butter and enriched with cream cheese so they stay perfectly tender. Each piece of bread gets some cheese, and you fill with the eggs before closing the sandwich. Toast over medium-low heat until it's a perfect golden brown.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Styling by Ali Nardi6/37Grilled Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella Sandwiches with Green Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho
It's hard to improve on grilled cheese with tomato soup—but that's exactly what this sandwich does. It lends layers of red heirloom tomatoes and smoked mozzarella. It transforms the soup with green heirlooms, and serves it cold. The mix of flavors, textures, and colors takes this classic to a new level.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton13/37Sheet-Pan Grilled Cheese
