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Elevate your grilled cheese game with rich, smoky gouda!

There's grilled cheese… and then there's an ultra-melty, smoky gouda grilled cheese! Learn how to nail that golden, crispy crust and keep it that way whether you’re eating it now or packing it for later.

stack of four gouda grilled cheese sandwich halves

Smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese

Ever had one of those chaotic weeks where a grocery run just wasn't happening? Same! But a block of gouda in the fridge and some sourdough was enough to turn desperation into inspiration with this crave-worthy smoked Gouda Grilled Cheese!

Gooey, crispy…what’s not to love? Enjoy the epic flavor as-is, or add some leftovers or extras, like I do with my bacon grilled cheese or mushroom grilled cheese, to make it even more filling so my teens aren't raiding the kitchen 24/7!

What You Need

Making this gouda grilled cheese takes just three ingredients! This sandwich includes:

Smoked Gouda Cheese: creamy, melty, and smoky. Regular gouda works too.
Bread: any hearty bread, like sourdough or rustic to give you that perfect crispy, golden crust. Plus, it holds up great, so you won't have to worry about soggy bread if you're packing this for an office or school lunch!
Butter: to get that crispy exterior!

Add-Ons for a Gouda Grilled Cheese

I like to add caramelized onions, crispy bacon or thin apple slices to take this grilled cheese up a notch. Or to give it a kick, try adding a little hot honey or a smear of Dijon mustard. There are SO many yummy ways to customize this sandwich!

How to Make a Gouda Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Making the perfect grilled cheese is all about technique. Here's how to get a golden, crispy, exterior and that creamy, gooey center:

Butter the bread
Start by spreading a layer of softened butter on the outside of both slices. This is going to give us that perfectly golden, crispy crunch!
Assemble the sandwich
Then you’re going to layer the gouda between the bread pieces, buttered sides facing out.
Grill it.
Heat a pan over medium-low heat and cook it slowly until the bread is golden and the cheese is nice and melty, then flip it and grill the other side for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Rest before slicing
Let it sit for a minute before cutting it so the cheese doesn't ooze everywhere (unless that's what you're going for!)

Perfect Crispy Bread

I’ve burnt my fair share of bread perfecting this so you don’t have to! The secret to that perfect crunch is patience. Resist the urge to crank up the heat. Leave it on medium-low or medium until it’s perfectly golden brown, then flip and repeat. You can also experiment with mayo instead of butter for extra crunch.

How to Pack a Gouda Grilled Cheese for Lunch

The best way to pack grilled sandwiches so they stay crispy is to let them cool first-trapped steam will turn bread soggy. And since kids aren't exactly gentle with their school bags, use a sturdy lunch container to prevent the sandwich from getting squished. Finally, add an ice pack to the lunch bag to keep any healthy sides fresh!

Gouda Grilled Cheese

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 5

Total Time: 5

Elevate your grilled cheese game with rich, smoky gouda!

5 from 4 votes

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Ingredients

2 slices sourdough bread
2 slices smoked gouda cheese
butter, for grilling

Instructions

Assemble sandwich

Spread a thin, even layer of softened butter on the outside of both slices. Then layer the gouda between the bread pieces, buttered sides facing out.

Grill it

Heat a skillet over medium-low to medium heat. Grill the sandwich slowly until the bread is golden brown, flip and continue grilling until the cheese is melty. Remove from heat and enjoy.

Packing it for lunch

If you are packing this sandwich for later, let it cool before slicing it in half and packing it in a hard lunch container. Pack any sides like fruit or veggies in separate compartments. Use an ice pack if needed.