We’re taking classic grilled cheese and combining it with the garlicky goodness of garlic bread to make one melty, golden brown garlic bread grilled cheese! If you can never choose between these two, this recipe is for you!
Ready in just 15 minutes with just a few simple ingredients, this grilled cheese makes a quick and incredibly delicious meal, perfect for lunch.
I love garlic bread AND grilled cheese, so I knew combining both would be a great idea. There’s nothing more nostalgic than a classic grilled cheese and a bowl of creamy Tomato Basil Bisque, but leveling up with a garlic bread grilled cheese makes it even better!
I’ll show you how to get a perfect golden brown crust every time, and of course, the ultimate gooey, cheesy center for the best cheese pull ever!
I use three kinds of melty cheese – Gruyere, Colby Jack, and Cheddar – sandwiched between soft, buttery, and garlicky sourdough bread with a beautiful golden brown crust.
With minimal prep, this garlic bread grilled cheese comes together in just 15 minutes, and it’s perfect for a quick lunch. It’s also great for dinner! Serve it with my Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup or Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup for a comforting meal.
Looking for more quick lunch ideas? Try our favorite Chicken Caesar Wraps, Avocado Tuna Salad, and Egg Salad with Spinach.
Why I love making Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese:
- Garlic bread AND grilled cheese all in one? Yes please!
- Quick and easy, for the days when I need simple comfort food.
- Customizable. Use any kind of sandwich bread or mix your favorite cheeses.
- Melty center with perfect golden brown crust. There’s nothing better than crispy yet soft garlic bread with gooey cheese in the middle!
Jump to:
How to Get The Perfect Cheese Pull
The best part about a grilled cheese is getting that perfect cheesy, melty cheese pull. That’s how you know it’s REALLY GOOD. Here are my best tips!
- Cook over medium-low heat: This will prevent the bread crust from burning before the cheese is fully melted in the center. That’s how you get a golden brown crust.
- Grate your cheese! Freshly shredded cheese is key. Pre-shredded cheese comes with added starch (aka anti-caking agents) that make it hard to melt.
- You can also use cheese slices, they usually don’t come with as much starch, which makes them better for melting.
- Pick the right cheese: Cheese that melt well are cheddar, Gruyere, Colby Jack, Cheddar, or American.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a few simple ingredients to make this garlic bread grilled cheese recipe. Here are a few quick notes.
- Sourdough bread: I use the sourdough with a softer crust (not the hard crust type). You can also use regular white bread, whole wheat bread, or even brioche.
- FRESHLY shredded cheese: I use a blend of Gruyere for a robust flavor, Colby Jack for a milder flavor, and smoked cheddar cheese to give it a smoky taste. Alternatively, you can use pre-sliced cheese. Do not use pre-packaged shredded cheese because they contain anti-caking agents that make it hard to melt.
- Unsalted butter: Bring it to room temperature until softened so it mixes and spreads easily.
- Mayonnaise: Helps to make the compound butter even creamier and tastier. If you don’t like mayo, replace it with more butter.
- Minced garlic: Very finely minced. I’d highly recommend using fresh garlic for best flavor.
- Fresh Italian parsley: Fresh herbs make garlic bread extra good! Substitute with dried Italian seasoning, use about ⅓ of the amount of fresh.
- Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredient quantities are listed in the recipe card down below.
Step-by-Step Tutorial
This garlic bread grilled cheese takes just under 20 minutes from start to finish. Let me show you how I make them!
Step 1 | Great cheese and prep butter
Grate your cheese using a box grater or food processor with slicing blades. You can do this a few days in advance and keep refrigerated.
In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, mayo, freshly minced garlic, and chopped parsley. Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 2 | Assemble
Spread the prepared garlic butter on 1 side of each slice of bread. Top with the shredded cheese, and add the second piece of bread on top, buttered side up.
Step 3 | Cook grilled cheese
Heat a nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. This is the perfect temperature to fully melt the cheese without burning the bread. It may take a few extra minutes, but it’s so worth it!
Cook the garlic bread grilled cheese for about 5 minutes per side until the cheese is melted. You may need to flip it a few times to ensure even heat distribution. It helps to press it down gently as it cooks.
Slice and serve. And don’t forget to do that cheese pull!
Tips for Success
- Use medium-low heat to fully melt the cheese without burning the bread. This will get you the best cheese pull with a perfect golden brown crust, crunchy yet soft crust.
- Use a non-stick skillet or a griddle.
- Use freshly grated cheese from a block. Pre-shredded packaged cheese comes coated in anti-clumping agents, which make it harder for the cheese to melt.
- Pre-sliced packaged cheese also work well, but freshly grated is best. If using slices, pick ones that tend to melt better, such as American or Colby Jack.
- Mix-and-match. I use a blend of Gruyere (for flavor) and Colby Jack and smoked cheddar. Other great choices are Swiss cheese, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Gouda, or Muenster.
Prep Ahead Tips
Since any grilled cheese sandwich is always best when eaten immediately, I’d say the two things you could do to get ahead is to 1) grate the cheese and 2) prepare the garlic butter.
For the garlic butter: Mix it together in a small bowl or container, cover and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. Bring it to room temperature before you use it, so it’s soft enough to spread.
For the cheese: Grate up to 1 week in advance. I use a box grater, but a food processor will make it faster.
Pairing and Serving Ideas
This garlic bread grilled cheese bread can be enjoyed on its own, but it’s always better with a cup of soup or a salad. A classic pairing for grilled cheese is tomato soup, so definitely give my tomato soup a try!
Favorite soup pairings:
- Roasted Cauliflower Soup
- Lentil Kale Soup
- Cream of Asparagus Soup
- Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup
- Summer Minestrone Soup
Favorite salad pairings:
Recipe FAQs
Yes. While freshly grated cheese works best for melting, sliced cheese works pretty well too. Sliced Colby Jack and American cheese both melt very well.
Use medium low heat. This is the perfect temperature to fully melt the cheese without burning the outside. Flip a few times for even heat distribution, and also gently press them down.
Yes! Cook in the air fryer in a single layer at 375 degrees F for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and melted.
Add a slice of turkey, crisp bacon, ham, or caramelized onions for something a little extra! You can also use roasted garlic cloves instead of minced garlic. Other great add-ins are sliced apples or pears.
I’d love to hear from you! If you loved my recipe, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and a comment down below. Sign up for my newsletter and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest
Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- Non-stick skillet
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread - I use sourdough with soft crust
- 4 tablespoon softened unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 3 cloves garlic, very finely minced
- 1 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley
- Salt and pepper - to taste
- 1 cup freshly shredded cheese - Gruyere, Colby Jack, and smoked Cheddar
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the softened butter, mayonnaise, garlic, and parsley until evenly combined. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread the garlic butter mixture on the bread on one side only. Top with shredded cheese and cover with the second slice, buttered side up.
- Heat a nonstick skillet over medium low heat. This is the key! Medium-low heat allows the cheese to fully melt in the center before the crust turns too browned.
- Once the skillet is warm, cook on both sides, about 5 minutes per side, until golden brown and the cheese is melted. You may need to flip them over a few times to ensure the cheese is fully melted in the center. As you flip, gently press them down.
- Slice and serve. Enjoy while still warm and melty!
Notes
- Freshly grate the cheese for best results! It will melt a lot better.
- You can also use pre-packaged cheese slices. Pick ones that melt well, such as American or Colby Jack cheese.
- Cook over medium low heat, otherwise the exterior will burn before the cheese has a chance to fully melt.
- Flip a few times for even heat distribution, and press down the grilled cheese slightly as it cooks.
- Use a non-stick skillet or griddle to prevent sticking.
- Cheese: Swiss, Monterey Jack, Havarti, Gouda, or Muenster.
- Bread choice: Sandwich bread, sliced brioche, sourdough.
- Add-ins: roasted garlic cloves (instead of minced garlic), deli meat, caramelized onions, sliced apples.
Leave a Reply