Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

5 mins Prep Time

1 hours 0 mins Cook Time

Written By

Nadia Boachie

There are several ways to improve upon your classic grilled cheese sandwich and one of my favourite ways to elevate this simple dish is with the addition of caramelized onions. Caramelized onions are incredibly flavourful and require almost an hour of that low and slow cooking to reach a deep golden, sweet and jammy stage of caramelization.

Since grilled cheese is an incredibly simple dish, it all comes down to the quality of ingredients. Use delicious bread and good-quality cheese. I opted for some homemade sourdough and my favourite cheddar. We used a low and slow method for caramelizing the onions and I return to this method when grilling my constructed sandwich. Grilling the sandwich on medium heat, then turning your element lower, allows the cheese to melt fully and allows for slower toasting of your bread, so it doesn't burn before it's ready. Next time you are making a grilled cheese sandwich, use this recipe to guide or even inspire a simple yet extremely delicious addition to this classic bread and cheese combo.

Ingredients

Caramelized Onions

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 large onions, thinly sliced
Salt, to taste

Grilled Cheese

5 tablespoons butter, softened, divided
4 slices sourdough bread
4 pieces of good-quality cheddar, sliced

Directions

Caramelized Onions

4 Steps

Step 1

In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add oil. Add onions and cook, stirring often, until starting to soften.
Step 2

Reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring often, until deep golden and a jam like consistency, 45 to 50 minutes.
Step 3

When onions are nice and caramelized season with salt to taste.
Step 4

You can use immediately or reserve until you are ready to make your grilled cheese.

Grilled Cheese

6 Steps

Step 1

Spread 1 tablespoon of butter on one side of each slice of bread.
Step 2

Add your buttered bread to a skillet, butter side down and top each slice with cheddar cheese. I like to use the best quality cheddar I can find for grilled cheese recipes.
Step 3

Add about 1/4-1/2 cup of caramelized onions on top of cheese.
Step 4

Keep heat on low to medium so the bread can slowly get nice and golden while the cheese starts to melt. After about 2 minutes, flip one piece of bread on top of the other and continue to cook until cheese is melty. You may have to flip a few times but do this carefully.
Step 5

Repeat for the second sandwich, wiping skillet clean if necessary to remove melted cheese and caramelized onions that may have fallen off before adding second slice.
Step 6

If you are having trouble melting the cheese, turn heat very, very low and cover your skillet with a lid and let the steam melt the cheese. Remove the lid and fry until crispy and take your grilled cheese out.