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Whether you’re a pickle lover, or just someone who wants to jazz up your grilled cheese game, this Pickle Grilled Cheese recipe is going to become your new favorite!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Fun Twist on Grilled Cheese: I’m all about giving classic grilled cheese a twist—whether it’s an avocado grilled cheese or a cauliflower crusted grilled cheese. This pickle grilled cheese takes it up a notch with tangy pickles and melted cheese, creating a deliciously flavor combination you might not think to try!
- Quick and Easy: This sandwich is made with just a few ingredients you likely have on hand. Plus, it’s quick to make and can be a super affordable meal option.
- Kid-Friendly: My son actually came up with this idea, so you know it’s 100% kid-approved! There’s something about the creamy cheese with the crunch of the pickle that kids love.
- Customizable: One of the best parts is you get to mix and match your favorite type of cheese and pickles (make homemade pickles if you want!) to create your perfect variations of a pickle grilled cheese sandwich.
The Ingredients
- Bread: Choose your favorite sandwich bread. Sourdough bread or rye can add extra flavor and texture, but any bread will do.
- Butter: Soften the butter for easy spreading!
- Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is my go-to for its rich flavor, but feel free to mix in other cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey jack or gruyere for added gooeyness. Really any kind of cheese that’s melty will work.
- Pickles: Dill pickles work best in my opinion, but bread and butter pickles can add a sweeter twist. I thinly slice whole dill pickles, but you can use dill pickle chips if you want!
How to Make a Pickle Grilled Cheese
Step 1: Lightly spread butter on one side of each piece of bread.
Step 2: Place a slice of cheese on one slice of bread and cover with a layer of sliced pickles. Place another slice of cheese on top of the pickles and cover with a slice of bread, butter-side up.
Step 3: Heat sauté pan over medium heat (or preheat your panini maker). Cook the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted, about 3 minutes on each side.
Step 4: Once cooked, cut the sandwich on a diagonal to make triangles and serve hot.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t Rush: Cook your sandwich over medium heat to ensure the cheese melts fully without burning the bread.
- Choose the Right Cheese: A good melting cheese is key. Sharp cheddar is classic, but adding a slice of American cheese can give you that extra melt factor.
- Experiment with Pickles: If you’re feeling adventurous, try different types of pickles like spicy, garlic, or even pickled jalapeños if you have older kids that like a little kick!
- Pat Pickles Dry: Use a paper towel to pat the pickle slices dry to prevent a soggy sandwich.
Recipes to Serve with a Pickle Grilled Cheese
A Pickle Grilled Cheese sandwich is delicious on its own, but if you want to make it a meal, here are some perfect pairings:
- Tomato Soup: The ultimate grilled cheese companion, Roasted Tomato Soup, pairs well with this pickle version too!
- Side Salad: A fresh, crisp salad with this Everyday Lemon Vinaigrette balances out the richness of the sandwich perfectly.
- French Fries: Fries are a classic side for a grilled cheese. Try air fryer french fries, oven baked fries or even sweet potato fries!
More Melty Sandwich Ideas
If you take a classic grilled cheese and add a few slices of dill pickles you up the ante on a sandwich already bordering on perfection! This Pickle Grilled Cheese has become a new lunchtime favorite in our house, and I think it will yours too. Love this recipe? Leave a comment or rating below!
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Pickle Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- saute pan or cast iron skillet (you could also you a panini press)
Ingredients
- 4 slices sandwich bread of choice (i.e whole wheat, sourdough, rye or white bread)
- 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese (or melting cheese of choice)
- 2 dill pickles, thinly sliced lengthwise (or dill pickle chips)
Instructions
- Lightly spread butter on one side of each piece of bread.
- Place a slice of cheese on one slice of bread and cover with a layer of sliced pickles.
- Place another slice of cheese on top of the pickles and cover with a slice of bread, butter-side up.
- Heat sauté pan over medium heat (or preheat your panini maker). Cook the sandwich until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is fully melted, about 3 minutes on each side.
- Once cooked, cut the sandwich on a diagonal to make triangles and serve hot.
Notes
- Don’t Rush: Cook your sandwich over medium heat to ensure the cheese melts fully without burning the bread.
- Choose the Right Cheese: A good melting cheese is key. Sharp cheddar is classic, but adding a slice of American cheese can give you that extra melt factor.
- Experiment with Pickles: If you’re feeling adventurous, try different types of pickles like spicy, garlic, or even pickled jalapeños if you have older kids that like a little kick!
- Pat Pickles Dry: Use a paper towel to pat the pickle slices dry to prevent a soggy sandwich.
Sonic puts pickles on their grilled Cheese
I really appreciate this recipe and for one think the pickles make an awesome and unique twist. I wonder if you have ever trying using another type of cheese, like brie? Classic cheddar cheese grilled cheese are amazing, but I find brie to be a fun change of pace.
Also special is peanut butter, dill pickle, and grilled cheese.
I introduced this dish to the food service staff of Tulane University in 1958. We used readily available stuff, Kraft cheese, dill pickle chips (for hamburgers)., butter for frying. Now, I use “sandwich stuffers” or “pickle planks”, precut, on Potato Bread, and EV Olive Oil instead of butter.. Cooked on one of the newer “green-pans”, it’s quick, easy, and cheap. To gild the lily, make one more layer, with fried uncured bacon strips.
Hey, Hey, USA, where the so-called “junk food” is world class! Wonderful stuff, and right up there with the Reuben! FWIW: These make piquant “funeral sandwiches” too…. Heavenly sandwiches served with Deviled Eggs.
I have packed this in lunch many times! Make the sandwich and allow it to cool before packing it in lunch so it doesn’t get soggy! I always pack an ice pack with lunch to make sure everything stays at a safe temperature by lunch time! Lunch is not reheated, so it is served at room temp!
Is this the kind of thing you would pack in a lunch? And if so, how? With a cold pack? At room temp? Thanks!
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Ive been eating grilled cheese with pickles for years! My mother would make them when I was younger. Delicious!
I’ve got a salt tooth too. Caramel is only really alanppieg to me with a good kick of sea salt over the top. And I think these would be just the thing to perk up some scallops on a sweet corn puree. Nb, have just found your blog and have spent the best part of an hour swooning. Thank you for the escapism!
I remember when a college friend of mine suggested this. I thought he was crazy, but then…WOW.
Wow – brings back memories and an intense urge to eat a sandwich I haven’t had since I was a kid. A little different – but my Mom used to make an opened faced toasted cheese with muenster cheese, mustard, and four dill pickle chips.
So, so good.
I’ve been eating these sandwiched for nearly 6 decades – sometimes I add tomato.
My Daughter loves pickles and I cannot wait to try this for her. As another suggestion this Kentucky girl grew up putting slices of ripe tomato on my grilled cheese, it makes a great summer twist on this classic sandwich too!!!
I am already craving certain foods in early pregnancy and have a feeling that grilled cheese and pickles is going to be on the list! In fact, I think I already know what I’m making for lunch tomorrow 🙂 And the bonus is that I’m sure my 2 year old will love it as well! Thank you!!