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It’s not about what is between the slices, but also what is on the outside of the bread! And the pan you use! This is the best way to make a grilled cheese.

Stacked grilled cheese sandwich on a cutting board, with melted havarti cheese, tomato, turkey and pesto.

There is a time and a place for a white bread and American cheese slice grilled cheese. It’s nostalgic, and always hits with a bowl of tomato soup. But, there are also times that you must elevate the grilled cheese and this is how. This variation of grilled cheese actually gets us away from the standard yellow cheddars, and I’m going straight to Havarti for it’s superior creamy and melty properties. 

One thing I love with grilled cheese is also a good cheese pull. If you want to ensure that it gets a good stringy pull in there, add in some mozzarella. And yes, even some Cheddars. 

I’m using the rest of the goods from the garden to create a next level grilled cheese. 

Harvarti Pesto Grilled Cheese Recipe Ingredients

  • Sourdough Sliced Bread
  • Mayo
  • Butter
  • Garlic, minced
  • Parmesan, grated
  • Salt
  • Ground Pepper
  • Italian Herbs
  • Havarti
  • Pesto
  • Sliced Tomato
  • Smoked Turkey
Stacked grilled cheese sandwich on a cutting board, with melted havarti cheese, tomato, turkey and pesto. from overhead on cutting board and surrounded with tomatoes

What’s the best cheese for grilled cheese?

It really depends on what you want to get out of your grilled cheese. If you’re making an elevated grilled cheese, you’re probably not going to use the classic American slices for the inside of your sandwich. It has it’s place, but that isn’t here. Pay attention to the properties of each cheese and how it melts. Some melt easily, while some are better as “flavor enhancers” and using two or three cheeses is a great option!

Melty Cheese – Havarti, Cheddars, Brie, Gouda, Monterey Jack

Stringy Cheese – Mozzarella, Colby, American Cheese, Gouda Cheese, Fontina Cheese

Intense Cheese – Aged Cheddar, Blue Cheese, Feta, Pepper Jack, Goat Cheese, Gruyere, and so many more

What are your favorite cheeses for grilled cheese? 

How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich (My Best Tips!)

Grill it low and slow

To achieve the perfect golden brown exterior on your sandwich, you are going to have to do it low and slow. Preheat your pan over medium low heat, and no higher. This time take a few extra minutes, but reduces hot spots in the pan for a more uniform cook and a good grilled cheese. 

If you are still seeing your sandwich getting too brown on the ouside and not melting on the inside, you can slip it out of the pan and onto a baking sheet, and pop it into the oven for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt fully. 

Allow it to rest a couple of minutes, and allow the cheese to set before slicing and serving. 

Stacked grilled cheese sandwich on a cutting board, with melted havarti cheese, tomato, turkey and pesto. Being held up by a finger to ensure cheese doesn't slide off.

What pan is best for making grilled cheese?  

A cast iron pan. Much like making your grilled cheese, you need to heat up your pan for a long time to ensure that it doesn’t have any hot spots. You can use a cast iron skillet, or a non stick skillet if you prefer. 

Mix and Match Your Cheese

In this sandwich I used Harvarti and Parmesan. I always like finding one cheese that is super creamy and melty, and one that packs a punch of flavor. 

It’s What’s On The Outside, too.

I know, we are all so worried about what is on the inside of our grilled cheese, we sometimes forget what is on the outside! Yes, that matters too. And here is where I love to make an impact. 

For this recipe I used a melted butter, loaded with parmesan, minced fresh garlic, Italian herbs and a touch of pepper and kosher salt. This creates not just the golden brown color, but an extra cheesy crunch to the outside and lots of flavor. 

Some people like to use mayonnaise on the outside of their sandwiches because it has a higher smoke point than butter. This is a great choice. But I like cooking mine lower and slow which allows me to stick to butter on the outside, and still ensures the cheese melts on the inside. 

Slather the out sides of each slice of bread, and place that butter side down in the pan. When in the pan, you can pre-slather the bread with the compound cheese butter before flipping. 

Close up photo of stacked grilled cheese sandwich on a cutting board, with melted havarti cheese, tomato, turkey and pesto.

Recipe Variations

Your mixins for a grilled cheese are just as important as the cheese itself! Here are a few other ideas for what to put into your next great grilled cheese sandwich. 

  • Peppers, jalapenos, roasted poblano, roasted red pepper, etc
  • Fruit – apples, persimmon, pear, 
  • Veggies – caramelized onions, spinach, tomato
  • Meats – Prosciutto, bacon, smoked turkey, ham, crispy pancetta
  • Lubcricators – Mayo, Pesto, Mustard, Fig jam, chutney, BBQ sauce

Whatever you choose, the secret for the best grilled cheese sandwich is to layer! 

More Favorite Ways To Elevate Your Sandwiches

Roasted Tomato Cucumber Sandwich

How to Make Balsamic Glaze

Pesto Chicken Skillet

Pizza Grilled Cheese

Sirloin Steak Sandwich

Stacked grilled cheese sandwich on a cutting board, with melted havarti cheese, tomato, turkey and pesto with tomatoes and fresh basil surrounding it.

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How to Make a Next Level Grilled Cheese

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  • Author: Megan Keno
  • Prep Time: 15 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 Minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 2 Sandwiches 1x
  • Category: Sandwich
  • Method: Cast Iron
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

It’s not about what is between the slices, but also what is on the outside of the bread! And the pan you use! This is the best way to make a grilled cheese.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Sandwich

  • 4 slices Sourdough Bread
  • Mayonnaise
  • Pesto
  • Sliced Tomato
  • Havarti Cheese
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Italian Herbs
  • Flaky Sea Salt

Compound Butter

  • 1/4 cup Butter, melted
  • 2 Cloves Garlic, finely minced or grated
  • 1–2 Tbsp Grated Parmesan
  • 1/4 tsp Italian Seasoning – or KAB Pizza Seasoning
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

This sandwich is a bit of a “make it with your heart” thing, so no precise measurements for the filling are included.

Compound Butter

  1. In a small microwave safe dish, melt the butter. Add in minced garlic, grated parmesan, Italian Seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and set aside.

Pesto Havarti Grilled Cheese

  1. Heat your cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. While it preheats, prepare sandwich, layering the bread with mayonnaise, then pesto. Top with sliced Havarti, smoked turkey, sliced tomato, sprinkle of Italian seasoning, flaky sea salt, then another layer of havarti. Top with other slice of bread.
  2. Brush one side of the sandwich with the garlic parmesan compound butter.
  3. Lay the sandwich buttered side down into the cast iron pan and allow it to grill until deep golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. If it is browning too quickly, reduce the heat.
  4. Brush the top of the sandwich (not coated with butter), with more compound butter. Gently flip the sandwich and grill on the other side.
  5. To assist with melting the cheese, you can cover the skillet with a lid until the cheese is completely melted.
  6. Remove from the heat and allow it to rest for 2 minutes before slicing.
  7. Slice and serve.

Equipment