The One Ingredient That Instantly Upgrades My Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

It’s hard to make an argument against any sort of cheese-stuffed sandwich, but I firmly believe that for it to be a grilled cheese, it can only have one additional add-in. I’m hardly a recipe purist, but any more than that, and you’re in panini territory. It should taste primarily of cheese and toasty bread.

Anything you’re adding to the sandwich should complement those primary flavors, not overpower them. For me, the perfect way to let the cheese shine is to add thinly sliced apples. The sweet-tart apples are the perfect complement to the flavorful cheese.

I especially love how the fresh flavors cut through all the rich cheese, butter, and salt. The balance of flavors and textures makes it even more irresistible—you don’t get overwhelmed with richness before you finish the sandwich. What Type of Apples Should I Add to My Grilled Cheese?

Just like there aren’t any hard and fast requirements about what type of cheese you can use for grilled cheese (other than the fact that it should melt well), the type of apple you reach for isn’t hugely impactful. I reach for sharp cheddar and Honeycrisp apples. Fans of melted cheddar on apple pie know how great this combination is.

How To Add Apples to a Grilled Cheese Sandwich Grate or thinly slice your cheese of choice. Then, thinly slice the “cheeks” off an apple, then cut into 1/4-inch slices.

Spread a slice of bread with room-temperature butter. Spread another slice of bread with room-temperature butter. Turn the stove on to medium or medium-low heat.

Cook the sandwich until the cheese has began to melt and the bread is golden brown. Continue cookery until the cheese is fully melted through and the bread is golden brown on both sides.

Flip as necessary and adjust the temperature to ensure the bread doesn’t burn before the cheese melts.