The One Ingredient That Instantly Upgrades Any Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled cheese, toastie, panini, pressed sandwiches—there are lots of versions of ooey gooey cheesy sandwiches. It’s hard to make an argument against any sort of cheese-stuffed sandwich, but I firmly believe that for it to be a grilled cheese, it can only have one additional add-in. I’m hardly a recipe purist, but any more than that, and you’re in panini territory. 

Grilled cheese is about simplicity. It should taste primarily of cheese and toasty bread. Anything you’re adding to the sandwich should compliment those primary flavors, not overpower them. For me, the perfect way to let the cheese shine is to add thinly sliced apples. 

The sweet-tart apples are the perfect complement to the flavorful cheese. I especially love how the fresh flavors cut through all the rich cheese, butter, and salt. The balance of flavors and textures makes it even more irresistible—you don’t get overwhelmed with richness before you finish the sandwich. 

What Type of Apples Should I Add to My Grilled Cheese?

Just like there aren’t any hard and fast rules about what type of cheese you can use for grilled cheese (other than the fact that it should melt well), the type of apple you reach for isn’t hugely impactful.

Just make sure you use what you like. I reach for sharp cheddar and Honeycrisp apples. Fans of melted cheddar on apple pie know how great this combination is. 

How To Add Apples to a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grate or thinly slice your cheese of choice. I like sharp cheddar. Then, thinly slice the “cheeks” off of an apple and then into 1/4-inch slices. 

Spread a slice of bread with room-temperature butter. Add it butter-side down to a cold pan. Add a layer of cheese to the slice of bread. Shingle over a layer of sliced apples. Add another layer of cheese over the apples. Spread another slice of bread with room-temperature butter. Place on top of the cheese, butter-side up. 

Turn the stove on to medium or medium-low heat. Cook the sandwich until the cheese has started to melt and the bread is golden brown. 

Flip the sandwich and repeat. Continue cooking until the cheese is fully melted through and the bread is golden brown on both sides. Flip as necessary and adjust the temperature to ensure the bread doesn’t burn before the cheese melts. Enjoy!