Think of all those times a grilled cheese sandwich has worked its magic on your spirit. It’s the sandwich that lifts you up when you’re feeling a little sorry for yourself, or serves as the reward when you’re feeling mighty pleased with yourself. Does snacking get any better? Possibly, yes. By upgrading to an avocado on grilled cheese sandwich, you get a cheesy, creamy filling that even manages to look healthy.
This version takes inspiration from a classic Italian pizza by combining five subtly different cheeses when a grilled cheese sandwich would normally settle for one. You won’t really be picking each one out after everything has melted together, but you’d know if one was missing. The crunchy cheese-and-mayo coating is another master stroke, starting each bite with a lovely salty kick.
Ingredients for Avocado Grilled Cheese
- Butter: Use salted or unsalted butter, divided for easy spreading to give the bread a crispy texture. Also, make sure the butter is softened before you start.
- Sourdough bread: You want quite a robust bread to hold all that filling, so sourdough is perfect.
- Hard cheeses: There are so many great cheeses for melting, but we’re using shredded white cheddar for sharpness, Monterey Jack for its mild, buttery flavor, and Gruyere for its nutty, grassy flavor.
- Mayonnaise: This coats the outside of the bread to form a crust without burning and lends a subtle tangy flavor.
- Shredded cheeses: Finely shredded Manchego or Parmesan cheese will caramelize on the outside to give an intense, nutty flavor.
- Seasoning: Keep it simple with the onion powder, or customize with chili flakes for heat or chipotle flakes for smokiness.
- Soft cheese: Sliced Brie, with the rind removed, melts readily to ooze its salty delights throughout the sandwich’s center.
- Avocado: Peel and slice a medium ripe avocado. It should be vibrant green and still quite firm.
Directions
Step 1: Toast the bread
Spread 3 tablespoons of the butter on one side of the bread slices, then toast them butter side down in a large skillet or on an electric griddle over medium-low heat for two to three minutes, until golden brown.
Step 2: Make the filling
In a small bowl, combine the shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gruyere cheeses.
Step 3: Make the outside spread
In another bowl, mix the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, the mayonnaise, Manchego or Parmesan cheese, and onion powder, along with any optional seasonings.
Step 4: Assemble the sandwiches
Top the toasted sides of four bread slices with sliced Brie, then add the avocado slices. Sprinkle the three-cheese mixture evenly over the avocado, then close the sandwich with the remaining bread slices, toasted side facing inward.
Step 5: Add the spread
Spread the butter, mayonnaise and cheese mix on the softer outsides of each sandwich.
Step 6: Grill the sandwiches
Grill the sandwiches in the skillet until the cheese inside has melted and the outside is golden brown and crusty, five to six minutes on each side. Serve immediately.
Editor’s Tip: Don’t lay your grilled sandwich directly on a plate or you’ll get a soggy bottom. Place a sheet of kitchen towel beneath the sandwich.
Avocado Grilled Cheese Variations
- Build it in the skillet: Toasting the bread on both sides gives you a superior crunch, but you can also assemble the filling directly onto a slice in the skillet as it grills. Butter the slice first, let it brown, then add the filing, close the sandwich, and flip regularly to stop the sandwich from burning.
- Top it with a poached egg: If five cheeses and a slathering of buttery mayo isn’t decadent enough, crown the sandwich with a poached egg and let its runny yolk ooze over the still sizzling bread.
- Use garlic butter: Upgrade your butter with minced garlic, lemon zest and shredded parsley for a garlic lemon butter that really cuts through the strong cheese flavors.
How to Store Avocado Grilled Cheese
This avocado on grilled cheese sandwich isn’t one you’d want to store overnight, but if you’re packing it for lunch, make sure you allow it to cool fully first to retain crispiness. You shouldn’t leave it at room temperature for longer than two hours, and the cheese will obviously harden.
How long does avocado grilled cheese last?
There’s no denying that an avocado grilled cheese sandwich is at its finest straight from the skillet. The main concern if you’re storing it is the avocado, which will turn brown and sour after more than two days in the fridge. Wrap it or store it in an airtight container, and if it still looks appetizing on day three, reheat it in the skillet to melt the cheese, and you’re back in business.
Avocado Grilled Cheese Tips
Can I make grilled cheese with avocado any quicker?
Swap the shredded cheese mix for cheese slices, such as cheddar, Gouda, Swiss or pepper jack, to save a step. You can also stick with a simple butter spread on the outside, but watch it doesn’t burn. That’s why mayonnaise, with its higher smoke point, is a better alternative.
Can I make this in a sandwich toaster?
If you want to assemble your avocado grilled cheese sandwich and toast everything without tending it, you can do so in a sandwich maker or panini press. This will pinch the edges together, so you should watch out for the lava-like cheese filling spurting from within.
How could I spice up an avocado grilled cheese sandwich?
Halfway through your second avocado on grilled cheese sandwich, the heavy filling can lose its appeal and start to taste bland. To keep the sandwich alive with every bite, try adding bold, zesty flavors to the filling. Experiment with burger relish, sliced pickled red onions, sriracha, Buffalo sauce or—and this may be hard to imagine—a fruit jam such as raspberry or blueberry. It will be a revelation.
