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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.
When I was younger we did cheese and pickle with tortillas instead of bread. Hadn’t had for years till I was pregnant with my son, and then it was one of my weekly/daily cravings.
I am sitting at work, drooling over this.
I have never eaten a grilled cheese sandwich without pickles, and always dip it in tomato soup. I thought it was normal! Our cafeteria at school ALWAYS served pickles with grilled cheese when I was a kid 🙂
We grew up on hamburger dills in our grilled cheese!
We used to serve grilled cheese with pickles at my mom’s cafe…on fresh bread. One man, who was vegetarian, ordered it every time, with a bowl of broccoli and cheese soup! It was like a little bite of heaven…mmm
When I make grilled cheese sandwiches, I MUST have a side dish of hamburger dills!!! I can’t even imagine a grilled cheese without the pickles. Yum, Yum!
I just made this on my little george foreman grill. worked great.
Any suggestions on a particular brand of panini maker that’s small and does the job? We live in an apartment and don’t have much counter space for the nicer, large ones.
How does your mind keep going with new stuff? Well at least your son came up with this one.
I am going to try this right now with some fridge pickles I made; I cannot wait!
:: shannon :: i use dill when i make mine.
Do you use dill or sweet pickles? I cant wait to try this on my grandson:)
holy moly! i thot my daughter was the only kid around who loves pickles!! just made this concoction for her recently – except she doesnt even need it grilled. just a slice of cheese (not necessarily cheddar – usually monterey jack by request), and pickles between two slices of plain old whole wheat bread!
interesting what kids come up with when their imaginations aren’t restricted!
These pickle and cheese masterpieces taste good with a little ham, or bacon inside as well. 🙂 I too have been eating pickles and grilled cheeese sandwiches together since childhood and love the combo. You other ladies that enjoy this from the north at all?
oh yeah!!!! I used to always add relish to grilled cheese- I am sure pickles toasted inside would be yummy 🙂
Mmmm, i’ve been eating grilled cheese and pickle sandwiches for years. Something about the combination of creamy cheese and the crunch of the pickle make it perfect!!