4-Ingredient Gourmet Grilled Cheese

Take your grilled cheese game to the next level with our 4-Ingredient Gourmet Grilled Cheese recipe.

Stuffed with shredded Gruyère and caramelized onions, this melty, flavor-packed, one-of-a-kind grilled cheese will be your new go-to sandwich.

Serve it with one of our easiest side dishes, Garlic Green Beans, for a delicious well-rounded meal.

While I do enjoy a simple, down-the-pipe grilled cheese sandwich, I have tinkered with a good thing and made it better.

Here is what you need:

• Sourdough bread – It grills up beautifully, staying soft inside but maintaining a crispy outside at the same time.
• Gruyère Cheese – Gruyère is sweet but slightly salty, with a flavor that varies widely with age. It is often described as creamy and nutty when young, becoming more assertive, earthy, and complex as it matures (source).
• Butter – Salted or unsalted will work fine.
• Caramelized Onions – Those caramelized onions bring in an irreplaceable sweet-savory flavor that blends beautifully with the Gruyère cheese.

If you are looking for a substitute for Gruyere cheese, there are a few options that you can consider depending on the dish you are making and your personal preferences:

1. Havarti cheese – This one is easy to find at the store and makes a good substitute in this recipe.
2. Emmental cheese: This is a Swiss cheese that is similar in flavor and texture to Gruyere, but it is milder and has larger holes.
3. Comté cheese: This is a French cheese that is made from cow’s milk and has a nutty, fruity flavor similar to Gruyere. It is also a semi-hard cheese.
4. Fontina cheese: This Italian cheese has a nutty, earthy flavor and a texture that is similar to Gruyere. It melts well and is a good option for dishes like gratins, pizza, and sandwiches.
5. Cheddar cheese: This is a sharper, more tangy cheese that is not quite as nutty as Gruyere, but it is a good substitute if you are looking for a cheese that melts well and has a strong flavor.

Ultimately, the best substitute for Gruyere cheese will depend on the dish you are making and your personal preferences.

Caramelizing onions in butter is a delicious way to bring out their natural sweetness and add flavor to many dishes. Here’s how to caramelize an onion:

1. Begin by peeling the onion and slicing it thinly. You can cut it into rings or half-moons, depending on your preference.
2. Heat a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add the butter and let it melt and heat up.
3. Add the sliced onions to the pan and stir to coat them with the butter.
4. Reduce the heat to low and let the onions cook slowly, stirring occasionally. It’s important to cook them slowly to allow the natural sugars in the onion to caramelize and create a rich, sweet flavor.
5. Cook the onions for 20-30 minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown color and have a soft, tender texture.
6. Season the onions with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the onions are caramelized, you can use them as a topping or ingredient for a variety of dishes, such as sandwiches like Turkey Pesto Paninis, Smash Burgers, pizzas, soups, stews, and more.