Give me a grilled cheese, but make it gourmet and make it simple? No problem, this recipe has you covered. Only 4 ingredients and 20 minutes to make and this “gourmet” grilled cheese sandwich can be yours!

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What’s more comforting than a warm and gooey grilled cheese sandwich on a cold winter’s afternoon? Not much, am I right? In this recipe, we take a simple childhood classic recipe and amplify it with gourmet ingredients. I say gourmet because we’re not using wonderbread and Kraft singles here, the ingredients are elevated but still affordable!

Grilled cheese is a classic comfort food item. Two slices of crispy bread and a couple of slices of melted cheese, what could be better? I’ll tell you what… this easy gourmet version.  

For this recipe we’re using a combination of roasted/sauteed veggies and a creamy cheese to pack a flavorful punch that will have your tastebuds doing a happy dance!

What’s the Best Bread for Grilled Cheese? We’re going gourmet here, so a classic loaf of white bread isn’t going to cut it for this recipe, and truthfully I don’t find them to get the most satisfying crunch. An artisan loaf of bread from your local bakery or the fresh bread section of the grocery store is the best option. I’m a diehard Trader Joe’s shopper, which as you might know - doesn’t have a fresh baked goods section, they do however carry artisan loaves of bread which will work perfectly for this recipe. This recipe calls for pumpernickel bread specifically, but a sourdough is another great option for grilled cheese. 

What’s the Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese? For this to be a gourmet grilled cheese, we are going rogue and opting for a sliced goat cheese. The goal is to have a super flavorful and unique cheese different from the classic cheddar you would usually use. The best cheeses you could buy are ones with a good melting quality aka creamy cheeses that will give you that ooey gooey satisfaction. Other cheeses that are great for grilled cheese sandwiches are white american cheese, monterey jack, gouda, or havarti cheese.

Let’s get down to cheesenus. 

Ingredients in this Easy Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Tuscan Pane Pumpernickel Bread: We want a good quality artisan bread for this recipe. I love pumpernickel and feel like it’s not often used in grilled cheese, but it certainly should be! 

Goat Cheese: If you can find sliced dutch goat’s milk cheese, grab it! I know Trader Joe’s sells it and so does WholeFoods. Regular spreadable goat cheese will also work just fine.

Roasted Red Peppers: The kind you can get from the jar. These will add a ton of flavor to the grilled cheese. Buy them pre-sliced to save time.

Shallot: We’re going to saute a small shallot. I find that the aromas and caramelized flavors of this vegetable add a ton of yummy flavors to this sandwich.

Kitchen Tools Needed for this Recipe

• Large skillet and spatula
• Cutting board and knife

What To Pair With Grilled Cheese 

Grilled cheese always goes well with a warm soup, stew, or chili. Try pairing it with this Healthy Pumpkin Turkey Chili.

How to Make this Easy Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Step One: In a large skillet, heat ½ tablespoon of olive oil over medium–high heat. Thinly slice shallots and add to the heated skillet. Cook for 3-5 minutes until fragrant and slightly browned. Remove shallots from the pan.

Step Two: Now we need to assemble the sandwiches so we can grill them in the skillet. Starting with one slice of bread, layer one goat cheese slice, ¼ cup of the roasted red peppers, and half of the sauteed shallots. On the other slice of bread, add the other slice of goat cheese. Put the two slices together, with their middles touching. Repeat for the second sandwich.

Step Three: Butter the tops of each sandwich. Turn the skillet down to medium heat and place the sandwiches on the skillet, butter side down. 

Step Four: Cook on one side for 5 minutes until the bread has gotten nice and crispy. Butter the top half of the sandwich and flip. Cook for another 5 minutes this time with the lid on so the cheese melts evenly. 

Step Five: Slice in half, serve immediately, and enjoy!