Caramelized Onions Are The Perfect Way To Elevate Your Grilled Cheese Sandwiches!
One of my favorite things to make in the summer time is grilled cheese sandwiches. No oven required, filing, and there are so many ways to switch it up! I especially love it when I have fresh tomatoes from the garden. Nothing hits the spot like a fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella grilled cheese sandwich!
Although, there is another variety of grilled cheese sandwich that’s absolutely delicious. Ham, provolone, and caramelized onions, dipped in maple syrup. It sounds like a weird combo, but TRUST ME. So, so tasty! Next time I definitely need to add more caramelized onions though!
Honestly, I don’t think there is much that can be ruined by caramelized onions. They just elevate anything they’re served with. They taste AMAZING, they look sophisticated, and they can take a simple meal into something much more gourmet or “grown-up”.
Some other grilled cheese variations that I think would be spectacular with caramelized onions:
- BBQ Sauce, monterey jack and cheddar, and grilled chicken or shredded pork
- Pesto sauce, mozzarella and parmesan (with some roasted red peppers!)
- Gouda and bacon (or really anything with bacon ;) )
- Grilled chicken, peppers, mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar
- Grilled chicken, peppers, fiesta blend cheese, a sprinkle of cumin and chili powder and a dollop of sour cream
And again, the addition of caramelized onions would elevate everything single one of these!
I love that there are no rules with grilled cheese. While we might think of regular slices of bread, try for something different with ciabatta, homemade sourdough or even everything bagels! The limit to the cheese you can use is just your imagination and taste buds. Don’t just stick with regular cheddar- branch out and try something new! Gouda, munster, brie, gruyere- or a combination of your favorites!
I’ve included a few more grilled cheese recipes that include caramelized onions in case you just can’t get past the ham and maple syrup ;). These all look delicious, and the addition of caramelized onions just makes it look so elegant and gourmet! Enjoy your sophisticated grilled cheese!
Honey Roasted Pear, Goat Cheese and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese
This grown up grilled cheese is stuffed with honey roasted pears, caramelized onions, creamy goat cheese and sharp cheddar. Author: Meghan McMorrow ? Fox and Briar Recipe Type: American Total Time: 1 hour
Prep time:
Cook time:
Yield: ["4","4 Servings"]
Serving size: 4
Calories per serving: 583
Ingredients:
Cook time:
Yield: ["4","4 Servings"]
Serving size: 4
Calories per serving: 583
1 sweet onion thinly sliced
2 pears thinly sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil divided
1 teaspoon honey
kosher salt
pepper
4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
4 ounces chevre soft goat cheese
8 slices Pugliese or other good quality bread
2 tablespoons softened butter
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400°F degrees.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 1-2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, toss to coat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring often, until brown and caramelized, about 45 minutes.
While onions are cooking, place pear slices in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. brush with a little olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with honey. Bake until tender, 20-25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through.
To assemble sandwiches, spread softened butter on one side of a slice of bread, and be sure to cover all the way to the edges. Place butter side down. Top with shredded cheese, then onions, then layer with pear slices. On a second piece of bread, spread butter on one side and chevre on the other side. Place chevre side on top of the pears, butter side up.
Heat a skillet over medium low heat. When hot, place sandwich in pan and cook until cheese starts to melt and outside of bread is golden. Flip and repeat.
Notes:
The exact amounts of cheese, onions, and pears that you put on each slice of bread is up to you, and also will depend on the size of your bread. I ended up using about 1/3 cup shredded cheese, slightly less than an ounce of chevre, three slices of pears and about a tablespoon (maybe slightly more) of caramelized onions per sandwich.
Source: foxandbriar.com
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 1-2 teaspoons olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and pepper, toss to coat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring often, until brown and caramelized, about 45 minutes.
While onions are cooking, place pear slices in a single layer on a lined baking sheet. brush with a little olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with honey. Bake until tender, 20-25 minutes, rotating pan halfway through.
To assemble sandwiches, spread softened butter on one side of a slice of bread, and be sure to cover all the way to the edges. Place butter side down. Top with shredded cheese, then onions, then layer with pear slices. On a second piece of bread, spread butter on one side and chevre on the other side. Place chevre side on top of the pears, butter side up.
Heat a skillet over medium low heat. When hot, place sandwich in pan and cook until cheese starts to melt and outside of bread is golden. Flip and repeat.
Notes:
The exact amounts of cheese, onions, and pears that you put on each slice of bread is up to you, and also will depend on the size of your bread. I ended up using about 1/3 cup shredded cheese, slightly less than an ounce of chevre, three slices of pears and about a tablespoon (maybe slightly more) of caramelized onions per sandwich.
Source: foxandbriar.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Caramelized Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese
A gooey grilled cheese sandwich made with caramelized onions, green apple and horseradish. Author: Louisa Clements Recipe Type: lunch Total Time: 45 minutes 45 minutes
Prep time:
Cook time:
Yield: ["2"]
Serving size: 2
Calories per serving: 524
Ingredients:
Cook time:
Yield: ["2"]
Serving size: 2
Calories per serving: 524
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 yellow onions, thinly sliced (?” slices)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup light red wine
4 1/2 ” thick slices of egg bread
2 tablespoons softened butter, divided
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish, divided
140 /6 ounces 140 g/6 grated or thinly sliced Heidi cheese, divided
2 rounded tbs of caramelized onions, divided
1/2 Granny smith apple, thinly sliced, divided
Directions:
For caramelized onions:
Heat oil and butter over medium heat in a large pan. Add onions and salt, cook, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes or until onions are a deep brown. Add red wine, in splashes (about 3 additions), to onions. Stirring and allowing all liquid to absorb before adding more. Remove from heat and set aside.
To assemble one sandwich:
Heat a grill pan or regular pan over medium heat. Butter both pieces and sides of bread. Spread one slice with horseradish. Top a quarter of the cheese, top with one rounded tbsp of caramelized onions. Add half the apple slices, top with more cheese and slice of bread.
Cook on stovetop for about 5 minutes, turning the heat down to avoid burning. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side another 3-5 minutes.
Repeat with remaining ingredients for second sandwich.
Source: slivinglou.com
Heat oil and butter over medium heat in a large pan. Add onions and salt, cook, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes or until onions are a deep brown. Add red wine, in splashes (about 3 additions), to onions. Stirring and allowing all liquid to absorb before adding more. Remove from heat and set aside.
To assemble one sandwich:
Heat a grill pan or regular pan over medium heat. Butter both pieces and sides of bread. Spread one slice with horseradish. Top a quarter of the cheese, top with one rounded tbsp of caramelized onions. Add half the apple slices, top with more cheese and slice of bread.
Cook on stovetop for about 5 minutes, turning the heat down to avoid burning. Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side another 3-5 minutes.
Repeat with remaining ingredients for second sandwich.
Source: slivinglou.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Author: Carolina Gelen
Ingredients:2 medium onions, sliced
1 tablespoon butter
kosher salt
2 slices bread of choice
extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup (approximately) grated cheese, gruyère or comté are preferable, but you can mix a melting cheese such as mozzarella or gouda, with parmesan, or aged sharp cheddar for rich flavor
Directions:
Add a couple glugs of olive oil to a sautéing pan over medium heat
Toss in the onions. Stir occasionally for 1 hour, until the onions go from pale and light, to soft, brown, and fragrant. Add a splash of water every now and then, to deglaze the pan. Season with salt and set aside.
Add a tablespoon of butter and a glug of oil to a pan over medium heat. Fry the bread slices for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until golden brown. Flip the slices, add the cheese on one side, the caramelized onions on the other side
Sandwich the two slices together. Grill on each side, for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until golden brown and crusty on the outside
Carefully add a tiny splash of water to the pan, cover with a lid and steam the sandwich for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Slice and serve right away.
Source: scarolinagelen.com
Toss in the onions. Stir occasionally for 1 hour, until the onions go from pale and light, to soft, brown, and fragrant. Add a splash of water every now and then, to deglaze the pan. Season with salt and set aside.
Add a tablespoon of butter and a glug of oil to a pan over medium heat. Fry the bread slices for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until golden brown. Flip the slices, add the cheese on one side, the caramelized onions on the other side
Sandwich the two slices together. Grill on each side, for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until golden brown and crusty on the outside
Carefully add a tiny splash of water to the pan, cover with a lid and steam the sandwich for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Slice and serve right away.
Source: scarolinagelen.com
Recipe formatted with the Cook'n Recipe Software from DVO Enterprises.
Enjoy this with your next summertime shindig!
Camille Hoffmann
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
Email the author! camille@dvo.com
Sources:
- https://www.foxandbriar.com/honey-roasted-pear-chevre-and-caramelized-onion-grilled-cheese/
- https://carolinagelen.com/french-onion-grilled-cheese-sandwich/
- https://www.livinglou.com/caramelized-onion-apple-grilled-cheese/
