Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/1/22
Tested by
Tara Omidvar
Tara Omidvar
Tested by Tara Omidvar
Tara is a professional food photographer and recipe tester and developer. She received her bachelor's degree in photography at the Azad University of Art and Architecture and her Diploma of Culinary Management from George Brown College in Toronto. She runs her own food blog Made of Sugar and Saffron, where she shares her love of sweets and foods from around the world.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Garlic bread grilled cheese and marinara sauce

The Spruce / Diana Rattray
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 60 mins
Total: 75 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
603 Calories
44g Fat
34g Carbs
19g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 603
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 44g 56%
Saturated Fat 25g 127%
Cholesterol 117mg 39%
Sodium 758mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 3mg 17%
Calcium 508mg 39%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 153mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Grilled cheese sandwiches have long been a favorite American comfort food. This garlic bread version takes the ordinary grilled cheese sandwich to the next level. All you need is a few extra ingredients for the garlic butter spread to make these gourmet sandwiches.

This recipe makes four sandwiches, and it is easily scaled down for one or two sandwiches. Or scale it up for a large family. Serve garlic bread grilled cheese sandwiches with a marinara sauce or pizza sauce for dipping, or serve them with tomato soup or a salad for a fabulous lunch or dinner.

Use a large skillet, preferably nonstick, or a panini press or griddle to make the sandwiches.

"This recipe is a great combination of my two favorite dishes; grilled cheese sandwich and garlic bread. It’s a very easy recipe to follow and you can adjust it to your taste. The perfect cheesy, garlicky and buttery dish to enjoy at any time of the day that you want." —Tara Omidvar

Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese/tester image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Garlic Spread:

  • 8 tablespoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter, softened

  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed and minced

  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

For the Sandwiches:

  • 8 slices bread

  • 8 ounces sliced or grated cheddar, mozzarella, or American cheese

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Soup, for serving, optional

  • Salad, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for garlic bread grilled cheese sandwiches
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  2. Combine the softened butter with the garlic and parsley. Spread 2 tablespoons of the garlic butter evenly on both sides of 2 slices of bread.

    Garlic and butter spread on sliced bread
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  3. Place a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Place a buttered slice of bread in the pan and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until nicely browned. Flip to brown the other side. Repeat with another slice of bread.

    Garlic bread toasted.
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  4. Reduce the heat to low. Arrange 1/4 of the cheese on 1 slice of bread. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

    Grilled cheese with mozzarella cheese
    The Spruce / Diana Rattray

  5. Place the second slice of bread on top of the cheese layer. Cook the sandwich, flipping once, until the cheese melts, 4 to 6 minutes. Gently press the sandwich with a spatula as it cooks. Repeat with the remaining bread, garlic butter, and cheese.

    Cooking a grilled cheese sandwich
     The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Tips

  • To serve the sandwiches all at once, place the first batches on a rack and place them in a warm 175 F to 200 F oven.

Recipe Variations

  • Caprese Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: Assemble the sandwiches with mozzarella cheese and add layers of thinly sliced tomatoes and basil leaves.
  • BLT Grilled Cheese: Toast the garlic bread as instructed and use American or cheddar cheese. For each sandwich, assemble on the toasted bread as follows: 2 slices of cheese or shredded cheese, a few lettuce leaves, 2 slices of tomato, and 2 strips of crisp-fried and well-drained bacon. Top with another slice of toasted garlic bread and cook over low heat until the cheese is melted.
  • Pizza Grilled Cheese: Toast the garlic bread and top a slice with mozzarella cheese. Drizzle a few tablespoons of pizza sauce over the cheese layer and top with slices of pepperoni. Top with another slice of toasted bread and cook over low heat until the cheese is melted.

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