Ultimate Grilled Cheese Bread and Cheese Pairings

Make the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich by pairing the right bread with the right cheese.

As a kid, a grilled cheese with white bread and American cheese is where it was at. Am I right? Now you’re more sophisticated, but you still want a grilled cheese.

No problem. There are hundreds of variations to try. Here are some creative cheese and bread pairings to eat up. Soooo good.

Grilled Cheese Tips

First, here are some general grilled cheese tips. Hearty breads work best because they hold up  better (think French or sourdough). And grate your cheese if you can. It melts more evenly. Try grilling a mixture of two cheeses for an interesting flavor. Just make sure you use small amounts of each. Too much cheese (yes, there’s such a thing) might not melt completely before the bread burns.

Now that we cleared that up. Let’s make some grilled cheese.

Grilled Cheese Bread and Cheese Pairings

Brie and Country Bread– I like Brie on just about everything. So heck yes, I’ll try a brie grilled cheese. The creamy texture of the brie goes nicely with crusty breads.

Mozzarella and Ciabatta– Go Italian. Use a good-quality mozzarella and fresh ciabatta. Basic? Yes. But it’s soooo good.

Provolone, Parmesan and Ciabatta– Provolone and Parmesan are a great combination. Provolone’s creaminess is perfect with the fruitiness of Parmesan.

Cheddar and Sourdough– We’re taking the meat out of the patty melt. You might even throw in a slice of apple for a bit of sweetness.

Pepperjack and Sourdough– Want some zest in your sandwich? Try pepperjack cheese.

Swiss, Cheddar and Sourdough– This is a perfect trio. The sourness of the Swiss evens out of the saltiness of the Cheddar. Yum.

Blue Cheese and Brioche– If you really love blue cheese. This sandwich is for you.

Swiss and Pumpernickle– Inspired by a Reuben, these two are just plain great together.

Monterey Jack, Blue Cheese and Sourdough– The mildness of the monterey jack cuts the bite of blue cheese.

Cream Cheese, Cheddar and Focaccia– Can you say rich? Cream cheese adds depth while Cheddar adds tang.

Gouda and Honey Wheat Bread– I love a smoky Gouda. And pairing it with a wheat bread makes it kind of healthy, right?

Edam and Rye– The nutty flavor of Edam stands up to the richness of the rye.

Fontina and Buttermilk Bread– This is basic, but one of my favorites. Fontina is mild, as is a homemade buttermilk bread.

This post originally appeared in May 2016 and was revised and republished in February 2021.