Epic Grilled Cheese Sandwich Ideas

These gourmet grilled cheese sandwich ideas are perfect for lunch OR dinner. I mean, who could resist perfectly melted cheese, toasty bread, and epic fillings?

Today, I’m sharing all of the best grilled sandwich ideas, like taco grilled cheese, Hawaiian and even a grilled cheesesteak. Oh yeah, these sandwiches are heavenly.

How to Make Grilled Cheese

Who doesn’t love gooey, melty, cheesy goodness with toasted buttery bread? Below I share how to make the perfect grilled cheese in 4 easy steps: 

1. Generously butter both sides of your bread.
2. Assemble the sandwich, cheese, fillings, and all. 
3. In a non-stick pan or pancake griddle, grill the sandwich(es) over medium heat for 3 minutes or until the bottoms are golden brown. If using a skillet or non-stick pan, you can cook them 1 to 2 at a time. With a pancake griddle, you can fit about 4 to 6. 
4. Flip the sandwich(es) and cook for an additional minute or two until the cheese is melted and the bread is perfectly toasted. 

It’s that simple and yields such amazing results that you can eat! In this video, you’ll find how I make 5 fancy grilled cheese sandwiches using the steps above.

Related: More Epic Sandwich Fillings Here

Grilled Cheese Recipe Ideas

Now, onto the reason we are here: gourmet grilled cheese recipes you’ll want to make again and again! While some are made with leftover lunch and dinner ingredients, they taste like anything but an afterthought.

The Grilled Hawaiian is a sweet and savory combination with smoked ham, pineapple, and white Cheddar cheese. You can use fresh or canned pineapple, but make sure to layer the cheese on both sides, so the pineapple juices don’t make the bread soggy.

Made with leftover steak and a pack of frozen peppers and onions, everything gets cooked down in a skillet then sandwiched between cheese and bread. This homemade Philly grilled cheese is easy to whip up in a skillet and has become a favorite of my husband’s.

This sandwich is my personal favorite because it’s made with leftover taco meat, avocado, and sour cream taste so good between golden, crispy bread. You could say it’s the perfect use for taco night leftovers.

I had never heard of tuna melts until I met my husband; who, in his bachelor years, would make a large bowl of tuna salad for days and sometimes turn it into a delicious tuna melt. Good thing, because the melted cheese with the creamy tuna salad and buttery toasted bread is divine!

The flavor of tart green apples with savory melted cheese is something everyone should taste at least once, and why not try it in a grilled cheese. Cheeses like gouda and Swiss are perfect for this, and you can even add deli ham.

With buttery, toasted bread, sliced pepperoni, and melted cheese, this pepperoni sandwich is all the best of a grilled cheese and pepperoni pizza in one epic sandwich recipe that both kids and adults will love.

While grilled sandwiches are not what make up the majority of my family dinners, every now and then going back to simple recipes helps me pull off homemade dinners even on the busiest weeknight. Plus, they are the perfect way to use up leftover odds and ends from other dinners. 

Check out my family meal plans if you would like to see how I would implement ideas like this into a weekly menu. Every week you’ll get a new menu with a done-for-you shopping list and prep guide to help you stay one step ahead. 

Tips for the Best Grilled Cheese

Let’s talk a minute about all the tips and tricks to make the best-ever grilled cheese sandwiches: 

Use Thick Bread
While you can make grilled cheese sandwiches with any sliced bread, heartier and thick varieties such as Texas toast, sourdough, and Italian bread hold up better with more ingredients. 

Don’t Skip the Butter
Butter is what gives the butter that golden glow and crispy texture. Don’t be afraid, slather it on. Make sure it’s room temp or softened before you try to spread ice-cold butter onto soft bread. We all know how that goes. 

How to Keep it From Getting Soggy
Trapping a hot grilled cheese in a tight place produces steam and will make the bread soggy. I have a post on how to pack a grilled cheese for lunch so it stays crisp, but essentially you want to let it cool down to room temperature before placing it in a container. 

How to Perfectly Flip Grilled Cheese 
Insert a large spatula under the sandwich, then carefully place your fingertips to stabilize the sandwich and flip. This is why I recommend grilling them 1 or 2 at a time in a non-stick pan or on a large griddle. 

Keep the Heat on Medium
So these cheese melts and the bread toasts at the same time, otherwise, the bread will burn before the cheese gets to heat through. 

What Goes with Grilled Cheese

No joke, a delicious grilled cheese sandwich with a side of fresh fruit or salad is something everyone looks forward to and it takes you less than 10 minutes to assemble. 

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