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    Home » Recipes » Mains

    Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese with Heirloom Tomato

    Published: Aug 10, 2020 / Modified: Aug 15, 2023 by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN / This post may contain affiliate links / 2 Comments

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    images of garlic bread grilled cheese separated by a green text box
    images of garlic bread grilled cheese separated by an orange text box
    garlic bread grilled cheese sliced in half on a white serving plate
    image of garlic bread grilled cheese with an orange text box on top

    Want to spice up your grilled cheese?! Give this Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese with Heirloom Tomato recipe a try! Fresh tomatoes are covered in melted havarti and cheddar cheeses, then nestled between crispy pieces of garlic bread for the ultimate sandwich.

    two halves of garlic bread grilled cheese on top of each other in a hand

    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my affiliate disclosure.

    If there was ever a time for grilled cheese sandwiches on the reg, it’s the year 2020. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been craving comfort food big time over the past few months.

    I have especially enjoyed revisiting some old reliables, including pasta, ravioli, and other dishes that remind me of my childhood. Back when things were a little easier, ya know?

    One of my favorite meals growing up was a classic grilled cheese! And now that I’m rediscovering all of the best comfort foods of yore, I figured I should make a fancy pants adult grilled cheese for all of you.

    Of course, I included a veggie in there, by way of fresh heirloom tomatoes that many of you are probably seeing at the farmers market or harvesting from your backyard at the moment. I also upgraded the bread! Before throwing it on the griddle, I spread some homemade garlic butter on it.

    Wait a second, whaaa?! Yep, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. This is a garlic bread grilled cheese, my friends! Talk about the ultimate comfort food for when the outside world is just too heavy and the last thing you want to do is make a complicated meal. I hope you enjoy this sandwich as much as I do!

    cheese slices, bread, garlic cloves, tomato, and butter spread out on a counter

    How to Make Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese

    Sure, the recipe name may sound fancy, but the process is incredibly easy. First, get the best bread you can find, like a loaf from your neighborhood bakery if you can swing it. Cut two thick slices. Next, use a fork to mash some minced garlic into room temp butter. Spread this delectable mixture on one side of each piece of bread. You can also use my Roasted Garlic Butter as the spread!

    Heat up a skillet or griddle. Place one of the bread slices butter side down on the skillet. Add a piece of cheddar, a juicy tomato slice (or two), then a piece of havarti, and put the last bread slice butter side up on top. Cover the sandwich, and cook for a few minutes on each side until the cheese is melted. ENJOY!

    an open-faced grilled cheese in a black skillet on a counter
    grilled cheese sandwich cooking in a black skillet on top of a counter

    Expert Tips

    • My favorite type of bread for garlic bread grilled cheese is sourdough. I am a millennial after all.
    • Wondering what is a good cheese for a grilled cheese sandwich? I like using sharp cheddar cheese, but recently I had a grilled cheese with havarti and now I’m hooked. In this recipe, I use both. Muenster is another good option.
    • For perfectly melted cheese and even cooking, cover the skillet while the sandwich is cooking. You can also just cover the sandwich directly if you are making it on a flat griddle instead.
    • The garlic butter can be made up to several days in advance. Just keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to make your sandwich, and make some extra butter if you think you’ll make a few garlic grilled cheese sandwiches throughout the week. (You will.)
    • If you take my suggestion to get some loaves of bread from your local bakery, I also recommend investing in a good bread knife. I almost sliced my hand open too many times before I got one. Game changer!
    garlic bread grilled cheese sliced in half on a white serving plate

    Craving some more easy main dishes while you’re here? Check out the Spinach Basil Pesto Quesadillas, Ancho Chile Black Bean Sweet Potato Tacos, and One Pot Veggie Mac and Cheese.

    I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.

    📖 Recipe

    two halves of garlic bread grilled cheese on top of each other in a hand

    Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese with Heirloom Tomato

    The ultimate comfort food sandwich, made with crunchy bread cooked in garlic butter, cheddar and havarti cheese, and fresh tomato.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
    Total Time: 15 minutes mins
    Servings: 2
    Calories: 789kcal
    Author: Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

    Ingredients 

    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter - softened
    • 3 cloves garlic - minced
    • Salt - to taste
    • 4 slices sourdough bread - or other bread of choice
    • 2 slices sharp cheddar cheese - more to taste
    • 2 slices havarti cheese - more to taste
    • 4 slices fresh heirloom tomato - more to taste
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    Instructions

    • Heat a skillet or griddle over medium high heat. Use a fork to mash together the garlic and butter in a small bowl. Add salt to taste. Spread some butter on one side of each slice of bread.
    • Place one slice of bread, butter side down, in the skillet. Add a slice of cheddar cheese on top, followed by two tomato slices and a slice of havarti cheese. Top the sandwich with another slice of bread, butter side up. Cover the skillet, lower the heat to medium, and cook for a few minutes (3-5) on each side until the cheese is melted.
    • Remove the sandwich from the skillet and repeat step 2 with the rest of the ingredients. Keep the sandwiches warm on a plate covered with foil or a skillet lid if needed. Cut the sandwiches in half before eating, and enjoy.

    Notes

    • You can make the garlic butter up to a few days in advance. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to make the sandwiches.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 789kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 1046mg | Potassium: 228mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1212IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 443mg | Iron: 5mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @its_a_vegworld_afterall and follow me today!

    Have a good week! – Lizzie

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    1. Karen Miraglia

      August 17, 2020 at 8:17 am

      5 stars
      I love grilled cheese! I’m looking forward to making this.

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        August 18, 2020 at 4:13 pm

        Yay! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

        Reply

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    Welcome! I'm Lizzie, a Registered Dietitian and cookbook author who loves vegetables. And I'm here to help you love them too! My easy, veggie-forward recipes will help you get comfortable in the kitchen and celebrate the seasons.

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