Grilled Cheese with Cream Cheese

This grilled cheese with cream cheese takes the cheese-pull factor and ramps it up. Instead of layering sliced cheeses between bread like you would in standard grilled cheese recipes, this version combines shredded cheddar, mozzarella, cream cheese and mayonnaise into a decadent spread that melts like a dream between buttered, toasted bread.

Recipe creator Kathy Norris from Streator, Illinois, suggests serving these rich, savory sandwiches for lunch with sliced apples as a fresh and sweet contrast. I’d be tempted to simmer a pot of tomato soup—a classic soup and sandwich pairing that satisfies every time—or to sneak into the kitchen after dinner to make one as a midnight snack.

Ingredients for Grilled Cheese with Cream Cheese

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese is good for more than topping bagels and making cream cheese frosting. It adds a milky, tangy flavor to this cheese spread, and it melts wonderfully.
• Mayonnaise: Mayo binds the three cheeses together and gives them a spreadable consistency. Any of our best mayonnaise picks would be great in this sandwich.
• Mozzarella: Mozzarella is one of the best melting cheeses, and can create an amazing stretchy cheese pull when hot. While there’s a time and a place for fresh mozzarella, it has too much moisture for this recipe.
• Cheddar: You can choose between mild or sharp cheddar, depending on what you like. Extra-sharp won’t melt quite as smoothly because it’s drier and firmer due to the longer aging time. If you don’t grate it yourself, these are the best shredded cheddar cheese options.
• Garlic powder: The savory, pungent flavor of garlic brings more depth of flavor to this grilled cheese without adding the extra moisture of fresh garlic.
• Seasoned salt: This blend of salt, sugar and spices can vary between brands in terms of the specific ingredients. We use a small amount to add savory flavor to the cheese mixture.
• Italian bread: Italian bread is sturdy enough to hold the filling and soft enough to bite. We recommend 1/2-inch-thick slices, so it’s best to buy (or bake) a whole loaf and slice it yourself.
• Butter: We often suggest making your grilled cheese with mayo on the outside of the bread. But in this recipe, there is already mayo inside the sandwich, so we used butter for an equally crunchy but slightly different taste.

Directions

Step 1: Blend the mayo and cheeses

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and mayonnaise until they’re smooth. Stir in the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, garlic powder and seasoned salt.

Step 2: Assemble the sandwiches

Spread five slices of bread with the cheese mixture, about 1/3 cup on each. Top them with the remaining bread.

Step 3: Butter and toast the sandwiches

Butter the outsides of each sandwich. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the sandwiches for four to five minutes on each side, or until the bread is lightly browned and the cheese is melted.

Grilled Cheese with Cream Cheese Variations

• Make it a loaded sandwich: For a bit more heft that doesn’t detract from its cheese-first identity, add a few slices of deli turkey or crispy bacon. A layer of bourbon bacon jam is another sweet-and-salty option that would turn this everyday sandwich into something special.
• Switch up the bread: We love the fluffy texture of Italian bread, but you could also use sliced homemade sourdough or sliced brioche.
• Use flavored cream cheese: An easy way to change up the flavor of the recipe is to replace the plain cream cheese with a flavored variety, like garlic and herb, chive, or vegetable cream cheese.
• Spice it up: Add a kick of heat to the sandwich by using habanero or chipotle cheddar, or adding a spoonful of chili crisp to the cheese mixture.
• Give it pimento cheese vibes: Add a dash of Worcestershire and some drained chopped pimentos for a warm, toasty twist on easy pimento cheese spread.

How to Store Grilled Cheese with Cream Cheese

Grilled cheese tastes best when it’s hot and crisp right out of the skillet, but you can store leftover sandwiches in the refrigerator for three to four days, tightly wrapped or sealed in an airtight food storage container. Reheat them in a skillet over medium-low heat until the bread crisps and the cheese is melty again.

Can I freeze grilled cheese with cream cheese?

These grilled cheese with cream cheese sandwiches don’t freeze well because the cheese mixture is prone to separating and becoming grainy once thawed. The good news is that they’re super easy to make fresh when the mood strikes. If you want a make-ahead shortcut, mix the filling and refrigerate it for up to four days, so it’s ready to assemble anytime.

Grilled Cheese with Cream Cheese Tips

What is the secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich?

The secret to a good grilled cheese is using enough cheese to prevent the sandwich from tasting dry (no problem with that here!), and toasting it over moderate heat so the filling is perfectly melted by the time the bread is golden and crisp. When cooking sandwiches in batches, let the skillet cool slightly off the heat between rounds so each grilled cheese is picture-perfect. If you have a few extra minutes, toast the insides of the bread before assembling the sandwiches, as in this kimchi grilled cheese recipe. This way, all four surfaces of your bread get browned.

Is it better to make grilled cheese with butter or oil?

You can make a crunchy, golden grilled cheese with oil, but we prefer butter for the nutty taste it imparts as the milk solids toast in the skillet. If using oil, lightly brush it over the bread instead of heating it in the skillet, so the bread toasts evenly and doesn’t feel greasy.

What is the best way to soften cream cheese?

The best way to soften cream cheese is to let it sit at room temperature until it’s easy to spread. It’s our preferred method for all our best cream cheese recipes. Soften only the amount of cream cheese you need, and refrigerate the rest. If I’m in a hurry, I’ll mix the cold cream cheese in a bowl with a stiff spatula and spread it out, because a thin layer will soften faster than a thick block.

Watch How to Make Grilled Cheese with Cream Cheese

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