Everything Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese
Everything Spice and Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese - it's crunchy and salty on the outside and ooey gooey on the inside. The everything spice is filled with pungent flavors of maldon salt and garlic, and it's a perfect combination with the cheese and bread.
This recipe is adapted from Half Baked Harvest. I had never heard of everything spice before, but now I see it everywhere. It's a salty and garlicky spice blend that often is used as a topping on bagels. However, it's super delicious on all kinds of bread (mm well maybe not a cinnamon roll, but you know).
Another spice that is delicious with the same things as everything spice, is za'atar. A very easy Middle Eastern spice blend that I made this crusty grilled feta cheese sandwich with.
Norwegian vs. American grilled cheese situation
Grilled cheeses aren't all that popular in Norway, and they are usually made with ham too. I now appreciate the simplicity of just a grilled cheese - it is supposed to be simple. Comforting food; while the weather is raging outside, enjoy a cup of coffee, Irish Coffee or maybe an Orange Hot Chocolate, and this delicious everything spice and parmesan crusted grilled cheese.
And one thing I learned from Pinterest - Americans use grilled cheeses as a side dish to soup. I mean, how genius is that! In Norway, plain bread with butter is sufficient, but now I am always craving grilled cheese to soup. Up the comfort game!
Honestly, I am not a cheese person. I like cheese, but I don't love cheese like some does (uhem Rachael Ray yes?). The more cheese does not make things better, but a little goes a long way. This grilled cheese has the right amount and balances the bread just right, in my opinion. Of course, add more if you want more, but this is my preference. I think it's the parmesan everything spice crust that is the star of this show.
However, I added a little more cheese to these grilled cheese sandwiches for photographic purposes, so if you want that you add about an extra slice of cheddar cheese grated on top.
Everything Spice and Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese
Mix all the everything spice ingredients together and store in an airtight container
. Get white or sour dough bread (I usually like whole wheat, but I find that it doesn't work on grilled cheeses), and cut into half inch slices.
Spread butter on the outsides, sprinkle with everything spice and top with a little parmesan cheese
. Press the spice and parmesan lightly onto the bread so it sticks. In the inside, just add as much cheese (Jarlsberg
or cheddar) as you want, or ½-3/4 cup divided on two toasts like me.
Squish the two slices together and place in a medium heated non-stick pan (not necessary with butter or oil).
Medium heat will allow the slices to become crispy on the outside, but not hard, and the cheese will melt. It does take a little while, but it's so worth it. I often like to add a lid to keep, so that the cheese melts quicker without burning the crust.
Once the bread is as crispy as you want, you might want to press it down a little with a spatula, to incorporate the cheese a little into the bread. Or you can use a toast maker, the choice is completely yours.
Grilled cheeses are all about simplicity, remember.
Serve with roasted tomato soup (recipe will be up this week!), pumpkin sage brown butter soup or simply on their own.
Enjoy!
More toasts and easy comfort food:
- Apple Honey Brie Toast
- Balsamic Blackberry Basil Grilled Cheese
- Serrano Ham and Mozzarella Pita Pizza
- Roasted Tomato Soup
- Pumpkin Sage Brown Butter Soup
- Chinese Sesame Fried Rice
I'd love some feedback! Either in the comment section below, or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. And don't forget to Pin it for later!
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This recipe was originally published April 10th 2018, but updated in July 2019 for better photos and content.
PrintRecipe
Everything Spice and Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Everything Spice and Parmesan Crusted Grilled Cheese - it's crunchy and salty on the outside and ooey gooey on the inside. Perfect comfort food!
Ingredients
Grilled Cheese
- 4 slices white or sourdough bread, ½ inch thick
- ½ cup Jarlsberg or cheddar cheese, grated. 40g
- 2 tbsp butter, for spreading
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tbsp Everything Spice, see below
Everything Spice
- 3 tbsp poppy seeds
- 3 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp dried onion
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp Maldon salt, or any flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Make everything spice: Mix all the everything spice ingredients together, and store in an airtight container. Makes about ½ cup.
- Prepare parmesan crust: Get white or sour dough bread, and cut into half inch slices. Spread butter on the outsides, sprinkle with ½ tablespoon everything spice on each outside, and sprinkle with a little parmesan cheese. Press the spice and parmesan lightly onto the bread so it sticks.
- Fill with cheese: In the inside, just add as much cheese as you want, or ½ cup divided on two like me. Squish the two slices together and place in a medium heated non-stick pan (not necessary with butter or oil).
- Grill the grilled cheese: Medium heat will allow the slices to become crispy on the outside, but not hard, and the cheese will melt. If you add a lid to your skillet, the cheese will melt faster, and the chance of burning your crust will therefore decrease. Once the bread is as crispy as you want, you might want to press it down a little with a spatula, to incorporate the cheese a little into the bread. You may also use a toast maker.
Notes
Adapted from: Half Baked Harvest
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Inactive Time: 0 hours
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 grilled cheese
- Calories: 284
- Sugar: 0.8
- Sodium: 326
- Fat: 23.1
- Saturated Fat: 11.4
- Carbohydrates: 11.3
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 9.2
- Cholesterol: 51
I love that everything spice. I grew up working at a Jewish deli with real deal bagels and have been in love ever since! Your cheese combination looks perfect!
Yes, it definitely adds another dimension to it! A Jewish deli sounds really interesting, there must be so much delicious food there. Thank you, Ali!
I absolutely love this! My kids want grilled cheese for lunch often on the weekends and I end up making it for the whole family so I am not cooking 2 different meals, but this is such a wonderful way to "spice" things up for my husband and I while still keeping the kid version basic. Thanks so much for this great recipe idea!
I am so glad, Carrie! It's always good to find recipes that are easily adjusted for different palettes around the dinner table. Enjoy!
I've never heard of everything spice either but it sounds great. I can see this being an absolutely fantastic grilled cheese sandwich.
So I'm not alone! It was fantastic, highly recommend.
Oh wow, going to have to add this to my list when I'm allowed cheat days!
I'm always impressed with people that actually have cheat days! Every day is a cheat day with me (at various levels of course)! I hope you'll like this one. 🙂
This looks amazing, I love anything with cheese in it. It's been a while since I had grilled cheese.
Thank you, then I think now is the time.
O M YUM! I love grilled cheese and am always looking for new ways to spice it up a bit! This looks and sounds absolutely phenomenal!
Thank you so much, Chelsea!
This recipe looks amazing and sounds delicious! I love all of the photos. They look stunning. I can't wait to try this recipe and I love the spin of using the everything spice on grilled cheese.
Thank you so much, Kelly. I hope you like it as much as I do!
What a beautiful recipe! It looks astounding. I am a huge fan of grilled cheese. Having cheese on the outside is something I never thought of, but let me tell you, I AM SO EXCITED FOR IT!
It's like the grilled cheese sandwich grew up. 🙂
Beth Ann, thank you so much for your kind words! And now that you mentioned it - it IS a grown up grilled cheese sandwich! But it's still super easy to make and gives that comforting feeling.
Sounds awesome! Should have titled this "Grilled Cheese...For Adults!"
Although, that cinnamon roll idea sounds more like a "challenge" than a "dare"
You are so right, mr. Geeky Daddy! It is an adult's version of a grilled cheese, and I'm loving it. Send me a shoutout on @thegingerwithspice's Instagram if you ever do that cinnamon roll idea, I'd love to see it!
I love everything spice, but never thought of adding it to a grilled cheese, what a great idea! Can't wait to try this!
An absolute must! Thank you!
I never in my wildest dreams thought to add parmesan cheese to grilled cheese and it's a brilliant idea. I do agree that more cheese doesn't make a grilled cheese sandwich better, but you can never go wrong with parmesan! Great recipe!
That little parmesan on the outside really makes a huge difference!
This looks so so good. Cheesy, creamy and comforting.
Thank you, Sophie.
My mouth is watering this looking amazing. I love making grilled cheese it is easy but delicious.
Thank you so much! It is easy, but delicious indeed.
Omg drool!!
Kasey Ma
http://www.TheStyleWright.com
Email: [email protected]
Thanks for sharing such a detailed recipe. And thanks for additing the nutrition level. I am surely going to try the recipe.
Thank you so much, Nilakshi.
This sounds amazing! I bet it would be great using Trader Joe's Everything Bagel seasoning, too. What a great idea!
Yes, that would also work great!
Even though I don't eat dairy, this sandwich looks SO tasty! I love the idea of adding in the everything spice - I swear that seasoning makes everything taste amazing!
-Madi xo | http://www.everydaywithmadirae.com
Everything spice is so good on all kinds of bread!
This looks so good!!! I love grilled cheese
Me too, thanks!