Spice Up Your Grilled Cheese For National Grilled Cheese Day!

National Grilled Cheese DayGrilled cheese sandwich is a classic, loved my most…I mean what’s not to love, right?!

Warm and toasty, ooey-gooey cheesy goodness—YUM! I’m making myself hungry over here! Like most classics, a grilled cheese sandwich hits the spot as is, but sometimes it is just a little more fun to spice it up. Grilled cheese is a very versatile canvas when it comes to the art of food experimentation. I love to try foods, and I will say I have done so with grilled cheese a lot! I have a few suggestions that I add to my grilled cheese on occasion that really kick it up a notch.  And what better day to indulge in deliciousness than April 12th, National Grilled Cheese Day? As a self-proclaimed grilled cheese expert (for over 30 years), who is raising the next generation of grilled cheese experts, here are some of our family’s favorite renditions of this beloved sandwich!

Gourmet

  • Havarti Cheese
  • Garden Fresh Tomatoes
  • Garlic Salt

Honestly, I must give credit for this one to my oldest daughter.  One of our favorite snacks in the summer is garden fresh tomatoes with a sprinkle of garlic salt on them.  Instead of on the side, she wanted them in her grilled cheese one day. We were making grilled cheese with Havarti (as it was the only cheese we had in the fridge at the time) and this quickly became a favorite grilled cheese sandwich in our house!

Buffalo Chicken

  • American cheese
  • Rotisserie Chicken (Shredded)
  • Buffalo Sauce
  • Diced Red Onion
  • Diced Celery
  • Ranch

I usually have a rotisserie chicken on hand.  I love to use shredded chicken and mix it with diced celery, red onion, and mix in buffalo sauce to taste. This mixture quite honestly is good on anything from crackers, tortillas, you name it! But added to a grilled cheese is incredibly delicious! To top it off, add a drizzle, or better yet, a dipping cup of ranch!  

BBQ Pork

  • American Cheese
  • Pulled Pork
  • BBQ Sauce
  • Coleslaw

This is a combo of two of my favorite sandwiches…ever! You guessed it, grilled cheese and BBQ pulled pork!  There is something about a grilled cheese sandwich heaping with BBQ pulled pork and a plop of coleslaw that I cannot, will not, say NO to!
(Disclaimer: This one can get messy! You may need to eat it with a fork!)

Pizza

  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Pepperoni (And/Or Other Favorite Pizza Toppings)
  • Pizza Sauce

This is my husband and son’s all-time favorite grilled cheese sandwich! I grill my bread as usual and add shredded mozzarella on both slices of bread to melt. Then I top with pepperoni (you could add/substitute any of your favorite pizza toppings).  When this sandwich is ready to serve, we dip it in pizza sauce!

So, this year on National Grilled Cheese Day, will you be eating the classic version?  Or spicing it up?

Jessica
Jessica lives in rural Bennington and is blessed to be ‘wifey’ to her husband and ‘momma’ to her 4 great kiddos! After working nearly a decade as a nurse she has moved into her current role as a SAHM and is rocking it like a boss! Her daily grind includes, but is not limited to playing chauffer, housekeeper, chef and personal assistant. Between chicken chores, school board meetings, and keeping a plethora of kids activities strait, Jessica always maintains that she is never too busy to stop and play freeze dance with the kids. When she is able to escape from toddler diapers and preteen drama, she enjoys baking, crafting and locking herself in the bathroom for a moment of silence. Her daily mantra, “the days are long but the years are short” is key in maintaining her sanity and helping her keep calm amidst the chaos!