15 Genius Grilled Cheese Recipes That Outdo the Classic

Cheese, bread, and butter—this combination of ingredients makes for an endless classic, but they’re also endlessly variable. These top-rated grilled cheese recipes take a simple sandwich to even greater heights. From pickles and onions to an “inside-out” take on the traditional version, there’s something for everyone to try. Take a look and get ready for a meltdown.

Save to MyRecipes

Love these recipes? Tap ‘Save’ to add them to MyRecipes—your new, free recipe box for Allrecipes!

Pickle Grilled Cheese

Peyton Beckwith

Filled with havarti and chopped dill pickles, then pan-toasted to golden perfection, this pickle grilled cheese pairs best with dill pickle kettle chips for the maximum pickle experience!

Lazy Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese

firemon

“We LOVED this! I used some cooked breaded chicken tenders that I already had in the freezer. Great flavor and great idea~YUM! Thanks for sharing. :)” —Christina

Inside-Out Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Chef John

How do you make a grilled cheese sandwich? Well, if you’re Chef John, you put the cheese on the outside, too! Cheese on the inside + cheese on the outside = extra-cheesy goodness!

Grilled Goat Cheese and Mango Chutney Sandwich

Tangy goat cheese meets spicy-sweet mango chutney. “This was wonderful! I’ve never had mango chutney before and I loved it in this sandwich,” says reviewer Christina. “The combo of the melted goat cheese and the chutney were perfect together along w/ the buttery, toasty bread…a definite keeper for when I have these ingredients on hand~YUM!”

Air Fryer Prosciutto and Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

In just eight minutes, the air fryer melts the mozzarella and turns the sourdough perfectly crispy on top.

Waffle Sandwich with Cheese, Spinach and Spicy Mustard

It’s made in a waffle iron and features spicy mustard and spinach.

Grilled Brie and Pear Sandwich

You can enhance the sweetness of this sandwich by drizzling honey on top or, as home cook Arsenio Delgado Sr. suggests, by spreading fig preserves or lingonberry between the the bread and brie.

Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese

Garlic is *the* ingredient you need to turn a classic grilled cheese from edible to incredible.

Madame Cristo – Grilled Ham and Cheese

This cross between a Croque Madame and a Monte Cristo ranks as one of our most-made grilled cheese sandwiches for a reason.

Best Grilled Cheese

DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

“Excellent grilled cheese! My husband thinks bacon should be a food group so just about anything with bacon in it he loves and this was no exception. This was definitely a nice twist on regular ‘ol grilled cheese and went great with a side of homemade tomato soup! Perfect for a night when you just don’t feel like doing a lot of cooking…..” —Jillian

Grilled Cheese, Pickle and Vidalia Onion Sandwich

Molly

It’s perked up with pickles and sweet onions.

Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

With this one, Colby cheese melts over ham, apple, and pecans. “I was having a bad day. A real bad day. This sandwich saved my day,” says Sarah Jo. “Very simple and very good. I don’t like miracle whip, so I used mayo. I kept everything else the same. This is a new favorite. Thank you for sharing.”