Tasty Easy Recipes

12 Gooey Grilled Cheese and Melts You Need Right Now

12 Gooey Grilled Cheese and Melts You Need Right Now

Nothing beats a golden, buttery grilled cheese with cheese stretching off every bite. From the timeless classic to wild loaded melts, these 12 gooey sandwiches are easy enough for lunch and crave-worthy enough for dinner.

1. Classic Grilled Cheese

Classic Grilled Cheese

Buttery toasted bread and molten cheddar, the comfort-food legend.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices sourdough or white bread
  • 4 slices sharp cheddar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  1. Spread butter on one side of each bread slice and dust with garlic powder.
  2. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Layer cheddar and mozzarella on the bread and top with the remaining slices, buttered-side up.
  4. Cook 3 to 4 minutes per side until deep golden and melted.
  5. Rest for 1 minute, then slice and serve.

2. Tomato Basil Grilled Cheese

Tomato Basil Grilled Cheese

Juicy tomato and fresh basil layered over melty mozzarella, like a hot caprese.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 slices fresh mozzarella
  • 1 large tomato, sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
  2. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Layer mozzarella, tomato slices, and basil on the bread; season with salt and pepper.
  4. Top with the remaining bread, buttered-side up.
  5. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and the cheese melts.
  6. Drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving.

3. Bacon Avocado Grilled Cheese

Bacon Avocado Grilled Cheese

Crispy bacon and creamy avocado with pepper jack in a crunchy shell.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices thick-cut bread
  • 4 slices pepper jack cheese
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked crisp
  • 1 ripe avocado, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
  2. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Layer pepper jack, bacon, avocado, and tomato on the bread.
  4. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up, and grill 3 to 4 minutes per side.
  5. Press gently so the avocado warms through.
  6. Slice and serve immediately.

4. Pizza Grilled Cheese

Pizza Grilled Cheese

All the pizza flavors, pepperoni and marinara, tucked into a cheesy grilled sandwich.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices Italian bread
  • 4 slices mozzarella
  • 12 slices pepperoni
  • 1/4 cup marinara sauce
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan

Instructions

  1. Butter one side of each bread slice and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
  2. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Spread marinara on the unbuttered sides.
  4. Layer mozzarella, pepperoni, and parmesan on the bread.
  5. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up.
  6. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side until crisp and melted; serve with extra marinara.

5. Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese

Spicy buffalo chicken and cool ranch drizzle in a crunchy, cheesy sandwich.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
  • 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
  • 4 slices cheddar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
  • 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Instructions

  1. Toss the shredded chicken with the buffalo sauce.
  2. Butter one side of each bread slice.
  3. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  4. Layer cheddar, buffalo chicken, and blue cheese on the bread.
  5. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up, and grill 3 to 4 minutes per side.
  6. Drizzle with ranch and serve.

6. Ham & Swiss Melt

Ham & Swiss Melt

Smoky ham, nutty swiss, and honey mustard toasted until perfectly melty.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices rye or sourdough bread
  • 4 slices swiss cheese
  • 8 slices deli ham
  • 2 tablespoons honey mustard
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup shredded gruyere

Instructions

  1. Spread honey mustard on the unbuttered sides of 2 bread slices.
  2. Butter the outer sides of all bread slices.
  3. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  4. Layer swiss, ham, and gruyere on the bread.
  5. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up.
  6. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and the cheese oozes.

7. Classic Tuna Melt

Classic Tuna Melt

Creamy tuna salad with cheddar melted over an open-faced toasted slice.

Ingredients

  • 2 cans tuna, drained
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons diced celery
  • 1 tablespoon diced red onion
  • 4 slices bread, toasted
  • 4 slices cheddar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Mix the tuna, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, Dijon, salt, and pepper.
  2. Arrange the toasted bread on a baking sheet.
  3. Pile the tuna mixture on each slice.
  4. Top with cheddar slices.
  5. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese bubbles and browns.
  6. Serve hot.

8. Philly Cheesesteak Melt

Philly Cheesesteak Melt

Seared steak, onions, and peppers under a blanket of melted provolone.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb shaved ribeye or sirloin
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper, sliced
  • 4 slices bread or 2 hoagie rolls
  • 4 slices provolone
  • 2 tablespoons butter, divided
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté the onion and pepper in 1 tablespoon butter until soft, about 6 minutes.
  2. Add the shaved steak, season, and cook 3 minutes until browned.
  3. Butter one side of each bread slice.
  4. Pile the steak mixture on 2 slices and top with provolone.
  5. Close with remaining bread, buttered-side out.
  6. Grill in the skillet 3 minutes per side until golden and melted.

9. Pesto Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

Pesto Mozzarella Grilled Cheese

Basil pesto and stretchy mozzarella with sun-dried tomatoes in crisp bread.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices ciabatta or sourdough
  • 4 slices fresh mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto
  • 1/4 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup shredded parmesan

Instructions

  1. Spread pesto on the unbuttered sides of 2 bread slices.
  2. Butter the outer sides of all bread slices.
  3. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  4. Layer mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and parmesan on the bread.
  5. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up.
  6. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side until crisp and the cheese stretches.

10. Apple Brie Grilled Cheese

Apple Brie Grilled Cheese

Sweet apple, creamy brie, and a hint of honey on buttery grilled bread.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices brioche or sourdough
  • 8 oz brie, sliced
  • 1 apple, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
  2. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  3. Layer brie, apple slices, walnuts, and a dusting of cinnamon.
  4. Drizzle with honey and top with remaining bread, buttered-side up.
  5. Grill 3 minutes per side until golden and the brie softens.
  6. Slice and serve warm.

11. Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese

Cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, and jalapeños, everything you love in a popper.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 4 slices cheddar
  • 2 jalapeños, seeded and diced
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Mix the cream cheese, jalapeños, and bacon in a bowl.
  2. Butter one side of each bread slice and sprinkle with garlic powder.
  3. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a skillet over medium heat.
  4. Spread the jalapeño mixture on the bread and layer with cheddar.
  5. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up.
  6. Grill 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and bubbly.

12. French Onion Grilled Cheese

French Onion Grilled Cheese

Sweet caramelized onions and gruyere, all the French onion soup flavor in a sandwich.

Ingredients

  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 4 slices gruyere
  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons butter, plus 3 tablespoons softened
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon beef broth
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and cook the onions with salt for 15 minutes until caramelized.
  2. Stir in the thyme and beef broth; cook 2 more minutes.
  3. Butter one side of each bread slice.
  4. Place 2 slices buttered-side down in a clean skillet over medium heat.
  5. Layer gruyere and a generous pile of onions on the bread.
  6. Top with remaining bread, buttered-side up, and grill 3 to 4 minutes per side.