Strawberry Grilled Cheese – A Perfect Blend of Sweet and Savory Flavors

Golden and crispy outside with gooey, melted cheese and sweet strawberry preserves inside, this Strawberry Grilled Cheese sandwich recipe tastes like a fresh cheese danish. 

Grilled cheese, the iconic American sandwich, is a favorite of most kids growing up. It never stops being comfort food, even to adults.

Crisp and buttery outside and gooey with melted cheese inside, it’s the perfect sandwich, even in its most basic form.

I grew up on American cheese-grilled cheese sandwiches. They were usually paired with tomato soup, which was of course the perfect accompaniment for dipping purposes.

As my sister and I would greedily scarf down our sandwiches and soup, my mom would enjoy grilled cheese of a different kind. It was a much more grown-up version, usually with a sweet flair.

To my sister and I, American cheese was the only cheese that was acceptable in such a sandwich. Mom thought differently, using other kinds of cheese, and not stopping there with her deviant ways.

More often than not, she made a sweet version of grilled cheese, spread with jam and sometimes sprinkled with a light dusting of powdered sugar. My sis and I disliked any such concoctions that were so unlike the grilled cheese that we were used to.

Nowadays I enjoy mixing it up, giving grilled cheese a bit of a grown-up makeover or unexpected twist. Sometimes I make a much healthier version of my favorite calzone, adding veggies like spinach, onion, and garlic. Other times I keep it slightly sweet and very simple using classic flavor combos like cranberries, nuts, and cheese.

Strawberry Grilled Cheese Recipe

With this Strawberry Grilled Cheese, I took a cue from my mom and went with her favorite: strawberry jam and cheese, with a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

This sandwich tastes like a cheese danish; a fresh, piping hot, lovely cheese danish.

Strawberry Grilled Cheese Ingredients

• Honey
• Good-quality balsamic vinegar
• Fresh strawberries
• Your favorite bread
• Butter
• White American cheese
• Strawberry preserves
• Powdered sugar

How to Make Strawberry Grilled Cheese

I like to whip up a quick strawberry balsamic relish to serve with this grilled cheese! To do so, just combine diced fresh strawberries with honey and good-quality balsamic vinegar. Let it sit while you make the sandwiches.

To Make Four Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwiches:

1. Butter one side of each of four slices of bread.
2. Place two slices of bread (butter-side-down) on a cutting board.
3. Spread strawberry preserves on top of each, and then place the cheese on top of the strawberry preserves.
4. Place one slice of bread (butter-side-up) on top of each.
5. Put the sandwiches on a griddle or in a nonstick skillet over low to medium-low heat.
6. Cook until the sandwiches are golden on both sides.

Serve the Strawberry Grilled Cheese warm, dusted with powdered sugar if desired. Spoon the strawberry balsamic relish on top and enjoy!

Equipment for This Recipe

• Griddle or nonstick skillet

Variations on This Recipe

• Instead of white American cheese, you can use Brie, Camembert, Monterey Jack, or goat cheese.
• Swap out the strawberry preserves for any flavor preserves you like.

Tips for Making Strawberry Grilled Cheese

• If you don’t have a nonstick skillet or griddle, a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet also works well for grilled cheese.
• Cook these sandwiches over low to medium-low heat so that the cheese melts as the outside browns.

Strawberry Grilled Cheese FAQs

How Many Slices of Cheese Are in a Grilled Cheese?

Depending on how big and how thick the cheese slices are, there are usually one or two slices of cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich.

There are 1 1/2 slices of cheese in these Strawberry Grilled Cheese sandwiches.

Is Butter or Mayo Better for Grilled Cheese?

Both butter or mayo will work for making grilled cheese. You simply spread a little bit of butter or mayo on the outside of the bread, and the butter or mayo will help the sandwich turn golden brown, help prevent it from sticking to the pan, and also add flavor.

The biggest difference I’ve noticed (other than flavor) between using mayo or using butter to make grilled cheese is that mayo results in a slightly crispier exterior.

For this Strawberry Grilled Cheese I recommend using butter instead of mayo because the flavor of butter pairs better with the other flavors in the sandwich.

Do I Have to Spray the Pan for Grilled Cheese?

If you spread butter or mayo on the outside of the bread, you don’t need to spray the pan with cooking spray before cooking grilled cheese.

More Strawberry Recipes to Try

• Strawberry Overnight Oats
• Low Carb Strawberry Mousse Tartlets
• Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
• Strawberry Chia Seed Iced Green Tea
• Low Carb Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on April 4, 2013. I updated it with more information on May 19, 2021.