10 Ways to Take Grilled Cheese to the Extreme

I know I'm in the majority when I say that grilled cheese sandwiches are one of life's simplest and best pleasures: gooey, rich, melted cheese, sandwiched between two perfectly-buttered pieces of toast... perfection.

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While purists say that a grilled cheese sandwich is just that—cheese and bread—we all know that there's nothing wrong with a little excess... I, for one, think it's about time to celebrate our gluttony. More is more, folks!

1. Grilled PB&J with Brie Cheese Melt

Yeah, I know what you're thinking—peanut butter and cheese just sounds like a culinary nightmare. But Lisa of Healthy Nibbles and Bits just may be onto something here. Brie cheese goes extremely well with sweet fruits, and is often served with nuts... so let's all take a leap of faith and trust that this is probably freaking delicious. (It already looks amazing, anyway.)

10 Ways to Take Grilled Cheese to the Extreme — *Image by Lisa/Healthy Nibbles and Bits*

2. Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Never decide between pizza or grilled cheese sandwiches again, thanks to this amazing mashup of marinara sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni by Kirbie of Kirbie's Cravings.

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3. Bacon Mac & Cheese Melt

Something about combining two of the best foods ever—grilled cheese sammies and mac and cheese—then going even more over the top with the addition of savory, crispy bacon... it just hits me right in the feels (and the stomach). This melt (expertly crafted by Matt of Real Food by Dad) has literally melted my heart.

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4. Croque Madame Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yeah, I know... a croque madame is a dressed-up grilled cheese sandwich anyway. But I love how The Hungry Welsh Girl has simplified its components to a no-frills sammie that still captures all of the same luxurious flavor of the original recipe.

Just the thought of how amazing this melt must be—with the yolk and cheese both oozing onto the ham and bread—makes me so hungry, I can't even.

5. Bacon-Infused Bloody Mary with a Waffle Grilled Cheese Sandwich

There is so much awesome here that I'm stunned—the pairing of the tomato-based bloody mary and the cheese sandwich is genius, the use of waffles instead of bread makes this crunchy and brunch-y... okay, I give up. Julie and Debbie of Cooks with Cocktails, you ladies are winning brunch forever.

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6. Deep-Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yes.

Yes to deep frying all the things, yes to perfectly-melted cheese, and yes to this amazing recipe by Cade and Carrian of Oh Sweet Basil that combines these things into one sinfully delicious take on grilled cheese.

7. Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I feel like someone could serve this on the table and drop the mic afterward.

Christin of Spicy Southern Kitchen had leftover brisket... and apparently knew exactly what to do with it, because the rest of us are wishing we could dive into the screen and eat this grilled cheese sandwich ourselves.

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8. Kimchi Grilled Cheese Sandwich

I'm going to be real for a second here—I haven't made most of these sandwiches before, I've only drooled at them from afar. But this sandwich is on regular rotation at home, and I absolutely-freaking-love it.

The spicy, sour crunch of kimchi is a perfect foil for the richness of cheese, and the crispy cheese that Karen of Honestly Yum coats the bread with is just the icing on the cake, so to speak.

9. Funky Monkey Grilled Cheese Sandwich

It's about time for dessert... and we can't forget how amazing grilled cheese is as a dessert, of course.

This insanely good sandwich combines cream cheese, peanut butter, honey, bananas, Nutella, and marshmallows in one decadent bite that's meant to pair well with zinfandel. Jennie of One Sweet Mess is absolutely killing the grilled cheese dessert game right now.

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10. The Bianca Dessert Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This classy-sounding dessert is a combination of mascarpone cheese, dulce de leche, and raspberry jam, layered between two delicious slices of brioche and topped with powdered sugar. Hats off to Brandy of Nutmeg Nanny: I can't think of a better way to end my meal than with this luxurious sandwich.