If you've never tried grilled cheese using cream cheese, you haven't lived yet. This cream cheese grilled cheese recipe is made with roasted red peppers and freshly chopped basil. It is the perfect vegetarian appetizer to serve at brunch!
If you're asking yourself, "Can you put cream cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich?", my answer for you is HECK YES!
I am surprised it isn't sold in restaurants to be honest. It makes for the creamiest grilled cheese sandwiches EVER. Combined with the sweet roasted peppers and fresh basil, your guests will LOVE this for lunch or even as an appetizer!
Ingredients
The ingredients for this grilled cheese are pretty straight forward. I added cheddar jack cheese to this recipe because I feel like, what's a grilled cheese without some chedda? Am I right?
If you only want to use cream cheese, that will work too. The basil and roasted peppers add some much needed freshness to a very dense and creamy sandwich.
What Makes This Recipe "Top Notch"
The best grilled cheeses are made with super melty, GOOEY cheese am I right?
Adding cream cheese creates a super creamy interior that is second to none.
The sweetness from the roasted peppers and fresh bite from the basil are what make this sandwich AH-mazing and super fancy.
My FAVORITE part of this grilled cheese is the fact that, you don't necessarily need to reheat it to have a cheesy, creamy interior. The interior will stay creamy allowing you to make these in advance for any party!
Cream Cheese Tips For Assembling
The trickiest part about making a grilled cheese sandwich with cream cheese is spreading the cheese.
Since the bread we use to make grilled cheese is soft, you need to make sure your cream cheese is also softer so you don't tear the bread. To do this, pop your block of cream cheese in the microwave for 10-20 seconds until it softens up. This makes spreading the cream cheese super easy!
Before softening, a good tip is to divide the cream cheese up into 1 oz. sections. This way, your cream cheese will be evenly distributed onto each sandwich.
Grilled Cheese Tips
When making the ultimate grilled cheese, there are some things that are non-negotiable.
- Use enough butter. The butter does 3 things. Adds flavor, browns the bread and makes your bread super crispy.
- Make sure your cheese is spread all the way to the edge. You want every bite, even the crust bites, to be super cheesy.
- Start your heat on medium to low. This will give your bread time to warm through and more importantly, allow the cheese to fully melt inside. If you toss your grilled cheese on a super hot skillet, the bread will burn before the cheese melts. Not really what we are going for.
- Allow your grilled cheese to rest on a wire rack. This will keep the bottom from getting soggy or soft.
- Wait a few minutes before cutting your grilled cheese so the cheese doesn't ooze out everywhere.
Choosing Your Bread
So naturally, we all want to reach for our Wonder bread right? You know...that thinly sliced white bread that has been our go-to PB & J bread for years. BUT, that does not make the best grilled cheese sandwiches. If we want more of a gourmet style grilled cheese, we need to up the ante on the bread.
Look for a sturdier sandwich bread. One that will hold up to this decadently delicious sandwich. Ideally, I go for the freshly baked loaves that the bakery pre-slices.
Here are some good bread options:
- French bread
- Sour Dough
- Italian bread
- Challah bread
- Brioche bread
Variations
You can tweak this recipe any way you wish. If you don't want to use Monterey jack cheese, you don't have to use it.
- Use other cheeses- Cheddar cheese, mozzarella, gruyere, Colby and fontina are all great melting cheeses.
- Add other herbs like thyme or parsley.
- Swap out the roasted red peppers for roasted tomatoes, sun dried or fresh. (If using fresh tomatoes, make sure you don't use the juices as it will make your sandwich watery.
- Spread mayonnaise instead or in addition to the butter.
- Add freshly chopped chives, scallions or caramelized onions.
- Add bacon!!!
Serving This As An Appetizer
To serve this as a party appetizer, you will want to cut them into triangles or strips. If your cutting them into triangles, simply cut an 'X' into the sandwich when it is slightly cooled. Then you will have 4 mini grilled cheese sandwiches.
You can also serve them into strips by cutting the sandwich into thirds or quarters instead of halves. This way, the portions are smaller and they are great for grabbing with your fingers! Make sure to check out these other finger food ideas you'll love!
FAQ's
Other than cream cheese, you the best grilled cheese cheeses are the ones that melt well. The most popular are: cheddar, American, gruyere, gouda, colby, havarti, swiss, fontina, and Monterey Jack.
If this recipe is not interesting enough for you, don't stop here! Try adding fresh herbs like basil, thyme or parsley. Other ingredients could be slices of avocado or proscuitto.
Both are amazing! If you've never tried mayo, it is amazing. I am and will always be team butter though since I think it offers the most flavor.
Yes! I love the flavor combination of these two cheeses but it will still be delicious with JUST cream cheese
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Other Cheesy Appetizers You'll Love!
BAKED Grilled Cheese Sticks Appetizer (w/ Tomato Soup Shooter)
Hot Crab & Artichoke Dip with Cream Cheese
Disco Fries (Gravy Mozzarella Cheese Fries)
Pimento Cheese Stuffed Celery Sticks
Easy Cold Spinach Dip With Cream Cheese (in bread bowl)
CREAMY Grilled Cheese Sandwich With Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 8 slices of bread
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 8 oz cheddar jack or cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
- ½ cup roasted red peppers, chopped
- ¼ cup freshly chopped basil
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 8 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Open your cream cheese and place it on a microwave safe dish. Pop it in the microwave to soften for 10-20 seconds.
- Shred or grate your cheddar cheese and set aside.
- Set out your basil, chopped peppers, garlic powder, onion powder, cream cheese and bread so you can quickly assemble your sandwiches.
- Spread 1 ounce of cream cheese onto each slice of bread.
- Add about 2 tbsp of the red peppers, 1 tbsp of basil and 2 ounces of cheddar cheese to one side of each sandwich. (4 total slices)
- Sprinkle the garlic and onion powder onto the sandwiches. Use as much or as little as you like.
- Close your sandwiches. You should have 4.
- Melt your butter in the microwave and brush 1 tbsp onto each side of each sandwich.
- Preheat a skillet or saucepan and add your sandwiches over medium heat. (Don't have your heat too high.) Flip after a few minutes. You are looking for the cheese to be fully melted and the bread to be golden brown. Once your cheese is melted, you can turn the heat up to brown the exterior.
- Allow grilled cheese to cool on a wire rack to keep them crispy. Wait a few minutes before cutting. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Other cheese options- Mozzarella, gruyere, gouda, Colby and fontina are all great melting cheeses.
- Add or use other herbs like thyme or parsley.
- Swap out the roasted red peppers for roasted tomatoes, sun dried or fresh. (If using fresh tomatoes, make sure you don't use the seeds as it will make your sandwich watery.)
- Spread mayonnaise instead or in addition to the butter.
- Add freshly chopped chives, scallions or caramelized onions.
- Add bacon!!!
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