Did you know that there are ways you can elevate your ordinary grilled cheese platter to the next level? Well, that’s where the spices for grilled cheese enter the frame, which is our aim for the day!
People around the world have found many ways to boost the taste of their grilled cheese. When talking in terms of flavor enhancement, the best spices that can be used in this dish include:
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Black Pepper
- Red Chili Flakes
- Jalapenos
In addition, herbs like parsley, oregano, rosemary, and sage are also occasionally used in this delicious bread.
You know that anything that you like could go inside of your sandwich. But, grilled cheese- that’s really something else. So, we hope to cover up some sophisticated facts about this incredible dish and make sure you read it till the end!
Best Spices For Grilled Cheese
As a matter of fact, we don’t usually use very sharply or intensely flavored or warming spices with this dish. Whatever we use should go with the main ingredients we use, such as butter, cheese, and bread.
Since the dish isn’t about spices, the intention is to upgrade the taste but not overpower it with any flavoring. Thus, here’s the list of the best spices for grilled cheese.
01 – Garlic
This is indeed a versatile, ubiquitous spice that can be incorporated in many forms with this dish. You can use it by mixing fresh minced garlic cloves, garlic powder, or garlic salt with butter that is used to apply inside and outside the bread slices.
But, if you use garlic salt, you have to be careful since the other ingredients you use in the dish also contain salt. However, the pungent, flavorful, and aromatic garlic is, in fact, a perfect addition to combine with the cream bases and cheeses.
02 – Onion Powder
Distinctively flavored onion powder is ideal for including with grilled cheese just the way you do with garlic powder. You can simply mix this spice with butter. Onion powder complements the overall taste of this dish by mingling in well with cheeses and any other ingredient used.
03 – Black Pepper
If you need a real kick to your dish, a dash of freshly ground black pepper would be your best pepper! This spice has the ability to add a peppery, earthy tone to your grilled bread without overpowering the all-around taste. You can also use black pepper powder instead of fresh ground.
04 – Red Chili Flakes
When red chili flakes are used gently, it would be one of the best flavor tweaks that you’ll ever get. This spice is hot, fiery, and contains a depth of flavor that could also give a pleasant color. Try to sprinkle some crushed red chili flakes in the butter mix, apply it inside, and then top with cheese before grilling.
05 – Jalapenos
Nothing can actually beat the punch that jalapenos give your grilled cheese platter! They have a rich heat that is not so scorching.
Unripened jalapenos have more fruity and grassy undertones than ripened ones. If you are a lover of this pepper, try to chop it and mix it with butter that you usually apply on the undersides of the bread slices.
Or else, you can also thinly slice the peppers and place them on top of the cheese. Roasted jalapenos are also used in many recipes, and they can provide a unique earthy and smoky spiciness.
What Are The Other Ingredients For Making Grilled Cheese?
When it comes down to the other ingredients for making grilled cheese, we should insist that the options are endless! But there are some staples that you should be using apart from those options. They are:
- Bread (white bread is prevalent in many recipes, but other types like sour bread, whole wheat bread, rye bread are also used)
- Butter
- Cheese
In addition to these standards, we see many would use mayonnaise and margarine instead of butter for an extra crisp grilled cheese. While classic mayonnaise is used primarily, flavored mayonnaise can also be a flavorful addition.
However, there are many other ingredients that can be used to spice up your grilled cheese, and our next section is all about that.
Illuminating Fact – People in the USA celebrate The National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day each year on the 12th of April!
How Do You Spice Up Your Grilled Cheese?
As we mentioned on top, the ways of spicing up your grilled cheese can be limitless. And it also depends a lot upon your own level of creativity. Although the ordinary way of preparing this dish is by assembling bread, butter and cheese, you can obviously upgrade your recipe by using spices, herbs and other ingredients.
On that note, we would be pleased to enlighten you with some ingredients that you can use to spice up your dish. Pick your favorites from the table below and try to incorporate them with yours next time!
| Spices and Herbs | Other Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Garlic Black pepper Onion powder Red chili flakes Jalapenos Oregano Rosemary Thyme Sage Marjoram | Dijon mustard Yellow mustard Sauces (ketchup, hot sauce, sweet and chili sauce, sriracha) Cooked/ roasted/ grilled/ fried chicken Bacon (including bacon jam) Tomatoes (including tomato jam) Caramelized onions Greens (broccoli, spinach) Pickles Roasted bell peppers |
What’s The Best Cheese For Grilled Cheese?
The best thing about grilled cheese is that literally, any type of cheese would really work well with it. But, we know that you need to master grilled cheese and give the best for your family. So, what would be the best cheese to use with this dish?
In fact, happily, you have choices when coming to this too. You get going with just one type of cheese or several types mixed together. Like “one type” would sound a little boring and “many types” would sound exciting, we bet you that the taste would also be equally incredible when cheeses are mixed.
So, here’s a list of cheese that goes well with grilled cheese. You can just use one of them or try a mix of two, three, or more cheeses!
| Sharp cheddar Mild cheddar Monterey jack American Cheese Gouda Havarti Cheese Mozzarella Raclette Swiss Cheese | Parmesan Gruyere Brie Blue cheese Taleggio Gorgonzola Provolone Mascarpone Cheese Cream Cheese |
Here Are Some Super Tasty Cheese Mixes That You Can Try
Instead of using just one single type of cheese, try to pick one of these cheese blends and use one of them when you make grilled cheese next time (thank us later!).
- Sharp cheddar, gruyere, gouda, parmesan
- Medium cheddar, gouda, Havarti
- Cream cheese, Monterey Jack, smoked gouda
- Parmesan, mozzarella, gruyere, medium cheddar
No matter how old, rich or famous you get. You’re never too good for grilled cheese or a juice box
Anonymous
Ending The Epic Grilled Cheese Adventure…
This WAS quite an adventure- isn’t that so? We genuinely hope that you got answers to many questions regarding this dish you have longed for so long!
Garlic, onion powder, black pepper, red chili flakes, and jalapenos are spices for grilled cheese that undoubtedly make the taste of this dish to a whole new degree.
The other options to spice up your grilled cheese are simply endless, and let us also know what you will be using with yours!
