Description
This Cheesy Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese is the ultimate comfort food mashup, taking the best parts of savory garlic bread and combining them with the gooey, melty perfection of a classic grilled cheese sandwich. Packed with a blend of three cheeses Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Gruyère it delivers an incredible cheese pull with every bite. With a crispy, buttery, garlic-infused crust and a rich, molten center, this sandwich takes lunch to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Ingredients
The Garlic Butter
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed or minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (or fresh parsley)
The Sandwich
- 4 thick slices of bread (Sourdough, Country White, or French loaf)
- 3 cups grated cheese blend: Cheddar (for sharpness), Mozzarella (for stretch), Gruyère (for nutty flavor and melt)
Instructions
Make Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, crushed garlic, and dried oregano. Stir well and set aside.
Prep Cheese
Grate the Cheddar, Mozzarella, and Gruyère blocks and mix them together in a bowl. Tip: Avoid pre-shredded cheese; grating it yourself ensures the smoothest melt.
Assemble
Pile the mixed cheese generously onto two slices of bread (approx. 1.5 cups per sandwich). Top with the remaining bread slices.
Butter & Cook
Brush the top slice of each sandwich liberally with the garlic butter. Pan Fry: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place the sandwiches butter-side down in the pan.
The “Lid Trick”
Cover the pan with a lid (or foil tent). Cook: Cook for 3–4 minutes. The lid traps heat, melting the massive amount of cheese before the bread burns.
Flip & Finish
Brush the top side (now facing up) with the remaining garlic butter. Flip: Gently flip the sandwiches. Cook for another 3–4 minutes (uncovered is fine now) until golden brown and crispy.
Serve
Remove from pan and let rest for 1 minute to let the cheese set slightly. Slice and serve immediately.
Notes
Heat Management: Don’t crank the heat too high. Fresh garlic burns easily and turns bitter. Medium heat allows the bread to toast slowly while the heat penetrates to the center of the cheese.
The Cheese Blend: If you can’t find Gruyère, Fontina or Provolone are excellent substitutes that still offer great meltability.
Garlic Powder Sub: If you prefer a smoother butter spread without bits of garlic, you can substitute the fresh cloves with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Add-Ins: For a pizza-style twist, add pepperoni slices inside and serve with marinara. For texture, add crispy bacon.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Lunch / Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Sandwich
- Calories: 980
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1450mg
- Fat: 72g
- Saturated Fat: 42g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 190mg
Keywords: garlic bread grilled cheese, gourmet grilled cheese, three cheese sandwich, comfort food recipes, gruyere recipes, sourdough grilled cheese, vegetarian lunch ideas