To honour National Grilled Cheese Day on April 12th, I’m sharing our favourite grilled cheese recipe with you. Marble cheese, sliced ham and tart green apple slices take grilled cheese to a whole new level.
My boys have eaten hundreds of grilled cheese over the years, but gone are the days when their ideal grilled cheese consisted of a cheese single between two pieces of white bread.
This is what weekends look like at our house; a handful of kids and a full day of hockey in the driveway. They play for hours, stopping only for an occasional breather and our weekly grilled cheese lunch on the porch.
Grilled Cheese. Where would we be without it?
It’s the comfort food of childhood, the perfect weekend lunch, the quick Tuesday dinner squeezed in between homework and hockey practice.
Our favourite grilled cheese is a winning combination of ham, marble cheese, and slivers of tart green apple, layered between two slices of hearty whole grain bread.
It’s a breeze to make, it’s nutritious, and it takes the grilled cheese you’ve always known and loved to a whole new level.
Ingredients:
- whole grain bread
- butter
- marble cheese
- sliced ham
- sliced green apple (watch for the nifty apple trick in a sec.)
- optional: mayo, honey-mustard, dijon etc.
To Make your grilled cheese:
- Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat while you’re prepping your sandwich.
- Spread a generous layer of butter on each slice of bread, and turn the bread over.
- If you’re adding mayo or mustard, give the unbuttered side of the bread a swipe now.
- Next, place a slab of marble cheese on each slice of bread. For a super-cheesy sandwich, go ahead and double up your cheese.
- Layer several slices of ham over the cheese.
- To finish, top the ham with overlapping apple slices.
Now, back to the nifty apple trick I mentioned:
Do your kids know there’s a star hiding inside every apple? There is! You just have to cut your apple a certain way to see it.
Call the kids over, and try it now. Cut your apple in half, crosswise (not top-to-bottom), and ask one of your kids pull the two halves apart.
How cool is that?
To grill your sandwich:
- Transfer your sandwich to the hot pan and turn the heat down to medium. Grill for 3-4 minutes until the cheese begins to melt and the bread develops a crisp, golden-brown crust.
- Now, flip it over and grill for 2-3 minutes more.
- When this side is good and brown, remove your sandwich from the heat.
Mmmmm-mmm!
Grilled cheese perfection.
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
Kerrie
We love making special grilled cheese at our house – our favourite addition = jam! Reminds me of Monte Cristo sandwiches I used to get at the Eaton Centre as a kid!
happyhooligans
Oh wow! I’ll have to try that, Kerri!
Wendy
THis looks fantastically delicious!!! Can’t wait to try it. Thanks Dempsters and Happy Hooligans!
happyhooligans
You’re welcome, Wendy! Good luck!
Christine
I have never had a grilled cheese with green apple before! I am for sure going to give it a try!!
Amanda
I have a favorite grilled cheese! I use italian salad dressing instead of butter on the bread, and I use Mozzarella and roasted red peppers, yum!
happyhooligans
Oh yum! That sounds amazing, Amanda!
Kelli Botarie
I used to love it when my mom made grilled cheese sandwiches paired with tomato soup. Mmmm – nothing better
happyhooligans
That’s my favourite combo too, Kelli!
Alison G
I’m a traditionalist when it comes to grilled cheese. Just bread and cheese for my favourite recipe 🙂
Stephanie
I remember when I was a kid, I would come home for lunch and my mom would have a grilled cheese sandwich ready for me on the table! One of my favourite memories!
Florence
I love a grilled cheese with old cheddar and black forest ham. You sandwich looks delicious. I will try the apple next time.
Andrea
My favourite grilled cheese sandwich would have to be my mom’s. She adds ham and it’s soooo good!
Jenn
I am a big fan of a simple grilled cheese but I have to say my favourite is a bacon and jalapeno popper grilled cheese!
happyhooligans
Mmmmm. That sounds amazing! Bacon makes everything great!
Maria
I love making grill cheese by spreading mayo instead of butter on a bread. Always 2 slices of cheese for extra rich, stretchy delicious bread
happyhooligans
I’ve heard that’s the best way to make them, Maria! I’m going to have to give it a try!
Maggie
Yummy!
My favourite grilled cheese has sharp cheddar, with arugula, apple, some toasted pecans and a little mustard. Though– any grilled cheese made by my mum is probably the ultimate. All sandwiches taste better when your mom makes them, no matter how old you are. 🙂
happyhooligans
Oh yum! Pecans would totally take it to a new level!
Kristen
My favorite grilled cheese is havarti, ham and fig jam.
happyhooligans
You’re the second person to mention jam! I need to try it! Havarti would be wonderful!
Jenny
My favourite grilled cheese recipe is just a classic grilled cheese with gouda and cheddar!
happyhooligans
Mmmmm. I love gouda!
Shirley S
My favourite grilled cheese recipe is a bacon, tomato & triple cheese grilled cheese sandwich.
happyhooligans
That sounds so good!
BlessedTA
Grilled cheese with tomatoes
happyhooligans
Yum!
dave
I have never had a grilled cheese with green apple before
happyhooligans
You have to try it, Dave!
Jackie M
My best grill cheese memory was making my first perfect grill cheese. I made sure it was extra cheesy and a nice crisp on the outside!
maria
My fave memory is the first time i discovered grilled cheese and how easy it is to make!
happyhooligans
Aww. That’s lovely. It was one of the first things I ever learned to make when I was young.
Rajbinder Kaur
My favorite way to have grilled cheese is on sourdough bread with extra cheddar and caramelized onion! yum 🙂
happyhooligans
Oh man, that would be good!
Samantha Allardice Lehman
Grilled cheese with American cheese… I know yuck… and tomato! Ah …. yum. When I was little my Nanny – English grandmother who raised me.. did Gouda on toast… and the fancy kind with lots of whole grains. Broiled in the oven. We called it a Teddy Beat picnic.
Naomi
This looks cool. I like pepperoni grilled cheese.
Pat
After we moved from Illinois to Georgia in 2007, I thought our snow and ice days were over. Wrong!! We had an ice storm that lasted one whole week. Temperatures would hover in the low 40’s during the days, and drop below freezing every night. All the roads would refreeze every night. Fortunately, we had electricity, plenty of logs for the fire, and food for everyone. We had a whole bag of frozen bread “blobs” in the freezer, so I baked a loaf of bread each day. For each lunch, we had grilled cheese sandwiches on freshly baked bread and a big bowl of hot soup. My husband and daughters have often said that they wish we could repeat that week. I still like to make thick grilled cheese sandwiches on home baked bread. YUM!!
Jonnie
My favortie grilled cheese recipe uses extra sharp cheddar and crispy bacon.
Sab EDWRDS
i’M a swiss girl…I also don’t share…I dont even know if my family KNOWS how much I like swiss (I do all the groc shopping so I can easily hide my nasty habits, like how I never share certain cheeses with the rest of the family)
Belle Moon
I love grilled cheese.I need to make them more often. They are so simple and delicious.
ivy
My favorite grilled cheese sandwich is made with real cheddar cheese and ham! I remember making grilled cheese sandwiches with my sister growing up, we loved them.
Rhonda
We also enjoy grilled cheese with ham, except we add thinly sliced onion instead of green apple. Will have to try this new variation!
nicolthepickle
I love rye bread with cheddar and mozza, fried in a pan. That’s my favourite sandwich.
Diana Powell
I love grilled cheese and bacon with a side of tomato soup.
Frani
I am eating one of your gourmet toasted cheese sandwiches right now. It is scrumptious!!!! Thanks for the idea
happyhooligans
Yay! So glad you love it, Frani!
Travelbuds
I love a grilled cheese made with colby/monterey jack cheese, with slices of dill pickle and ham inside. So good.
Kim @ The Best Ideas for Kids
I love just making grilled cheese on the weekend with the kids. They gobble it up and it’s always a family favourite!
tracy k
my mom used to make us grilled cheese sandwiches for our picnics at the beach.
mark l
mmmm what a great recipe. cant wait to try it!
Jenn
I have never thought of putting an apple on grilled cheese but it sounds perfectly delicious. I cannot wait to try this one out. Thanks for the great idea!!
Robin
We love grilled cheese but have never tried it with green apples! It looks yummy! I will definitely try this recipe!
Judy Hunt
Grilled cheese served with tomato soup is a childhood favourite.
Amy
I remember making loaded grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches with my older brother. 🙂
Kathy S.
Can’t wait to try this!
Alana
Of all the grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve made (many with Dempsters bread), I’ve never thought to add APPLES! Genius. Also, I felt a bit teary reading about the road hockey experience. It typified my childhood even though it was my brothers who played and not me.
happyhooligans
Aww. I’m touched to think that the post brought back such good memories for you, Alana. x
Andrea
Love the great ideas for crafts on your site!
happyhooligans
Thank you, Andrea! That makes me so happy!
Erin CM
That looks delicious. Will have to try
Jenness M
I love my grilled cheese with jarlsberg and turkey bacon!
Wendy
I love a triple decker grilled cheese! I put bacon , tomato and cheddar in the first layer then ham,onion and swiss in the next! Voila ! 🙂
happyhooligans
Oh yum! I love me a triple-decker sandwich!
Kim Crichton-Struthers
My favourite grilled cheese is mozzarella and cheddar with apple.
happyhooligans
Mmmm. That would be so good and melty!
Holly
I love a good grilled cheese and I’ve never thought of adding apple to it! Genius!
happyhooligans
Try it! You’ll love it, Holly!
Fran Schwitek
I love to make grilled cheese sandwiches with cinnamon raisin bread and apple slices liberally sprinkled with cinnamon. Soooo good!
happyhooligans
Oh my gosh! That sounds delicious!
Marg
My fav Dempster’s bread is Ancient Grains. I have never thought of using it as a grilled cheese sandwich. Great idea, Jackie. I will try it with my family and my daycare kiddies!
Kesha
I loved my mama’s grilled cheese and homemade tomato soup! It was always delicious
Josiah
Thank you so much for the recipe.
Tara
My best memory is when I added bacon to the grill cheese – the kids thought it was the cats meow.. I was the best mom that camping weekend!!
Sarah
Love Dempsters! And this grilled cheese looks amazing! Thank you for the idea and chance at the giveaway!
happyhooligans
You’re welcome, Sarah!
Tina L.
I like adding tomatoes in my grilled cheese sandwich
Michelle
I love a classic grilled cheese: lots of butter on both sides of the bread, lightly grilled with 2 slices of cheddar cheese. Delicious!
Brenda Lacourciere
My favorite is swiss cheese, bacon and tomato.
Jenny Major
I used to love it when my mom made grilled cheese sandwiches as an after school snack! yum!
Nancy
Love this post, especially the photos! I love your blog so much. Thanks for the great ideas!! : )
happyhooligans
Aw, thank you, Nancy! xxx
Glogirl
My favourite grilled cheese sandwich has cheese, onions and chili beans in it. Love it!
happyhooligans
Oh wow! That’s different! I’ll bet it’s wonderful!
Keri MacInnes
I like grilled cheese with bacon bits! Everything is better with bacon!
happyhooligans
You said it, Keri!
Amy C
My favourite grilled cheese memory is coming in from tobogganing, having grilled cheese and hot chocolate very yummy.
happyhooligans
Aw, so sweet. I love how we all have different memories associated with grilled cheese sandwiches. It really is the comfort food of childhood, isn’t it?
Karla
Hmm,I love grilled cheese. I remember when my mom bought a “sandwich maker’ when we were kids,and we would make grilled cheese`s on it all the time. I still have that machine,many years later,it still works and my son loves to make grilled cheeses with it.
happyhooligans
Thanks for the reminder, Karla! We HAVE a sandwich maker! I haven’t used it in years!
Brenda Penton
I love a grilled cheese with gouda and fried onions.
happyhooligans
Ok, I’m drooling.
Josh S
I really enjoy grilled cheese and bacon sandwich
Debbie S.
My favorite grilled cheese memory was getting to eat our grilled cheese on Sunday night while watching The Wonderful world of Disney.
happyhooligans
Oh gosh! Sunday nights my brother and I were allowed to eat dinner in the family room so we could eat The Wonderful World of Disney! Thanks for that little flashback, Debbie!
Angela Jones
I would have never thought of this combination but I will definitely be trying in ASAP. I think it is something my sister and I would enjoy for sure!
Thanks!
lori
my favorite is using marble cheese, bacon, onions and tomatoe.
Elizabeth R
My favourite grilled cheese has bacon, apple slices and a healthy amount of medium cheddar.
ginette4
My favourite grill cheese recipe is using buttered calabrese bread and Monterey Jack Jalapeño cheese then grilling it in our cast iron frying pan..amazing!!
Melinda
My mom would make tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch. It tasted wonderful!
happyhooligans
Best combo ever!
joy
grilled cheese is always a go-to snack in our house – I use whatever cheese I have on hand, all of them! In the past, have added avocado, ham, pickles, mustard and hot sauce to our grilled cheese. I have yet to find the ultimate combination –
happyhooligans
Yes, pickles! I love pickles with a grilled cheese sandwich!
Juliee Fitze
My favourite grill cheese is with cheese and Spanish onion. Juliee
LILLIAN BROWN
My favourite is when my tomatoes in my garden ripen in August. I make a grilled cheese with old cheddar, my tomatoes and bacon, of course.
happyhooligans
Yum! There’s nothing better than garden-fresh tomatoes! Have you tried my homemade tomato soup, Lillian? It’s made with fresh tomatoes, and it’s out of this world! You can get the recipe here: https://happyhooligans.ca/best-homemade-tomato-soup-recipe/
Julie bolduc
I like cheese and bacon grilled cheese
BobbiJo pentney
Grilled cheese dipped in Tomato soup always warms my heart.
Andrea Amy
My favourite grilled cheese recipe is harvarti with thinly sliced tomato, bacon and more harvarti
Soozle
I LOVE grilled cheese with different types of cheese like havarti and I always add banana peppers!
Wayne Lecoy
It would be great to win a $150 Grocery Gift Card.
In response to your question of
What is your favourite grilled cheese recipe or memory?
My favourite grilled cheese memory was when my mother
used to make me Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwiches and serve them with Tomato Soup.
Thank you for having this contest.
happyhooligans
You are welcome, Wayne! Thanks so much for stopping by! Good luck in the contest!
mongupp
I used to make melted cheese sandwiches in the microwave…kind of like grilled cheese!
Jacky Y
I love my grilled cheese with bacon and mushrooms!
Michelle Policelli
My favourite grilled cheese sandwich is with ham, pickles, tomatoes and cheese!
wendy hutton
I love a grilled cheese with fresh sliced mushrooms in it, heavenly
Robyn Bellefleur
My favorite grilled cheese is made with Brie cheese and bacon.
Linda
My favourite grilled cheese memory is making one and eating it with my grandmother’s pickles.
Pam
one of my faves is the time hubby made me a grilled cheese with arugala, two kinds of cheeses and turkey. It was one of the best things he has ever made for me.
happyhooligans
Oh yum! That sounds totally gourmet!
Erica Seaman
I love a grilled cheese with leftover turkey and dressing in it….yummy.
Carole D.
I remember when I bought a sandwich maker my kids used it all the time to meke grilled cheese sandwich.
sara rai
My ultimate favourite would be grill cheese and bacon.
Amie
I always love grilled cheese and tomato soup , its been my fave for year , from when I was a kid !
Julie-Lynne McCann
remembering we would always Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup and we would always watch the Flintstones….some great childhood memories for sure!
@ForeverAngel26
michelle matta
When my friends and I started experimenting with grilled cheeses in highschool and found Havarti! The best cheese ever
Heidi P
Love grilled cheese with gouda, apple, cheddar, bacon and tomato. All the family love this grilled cheese sandwich
Marra
I remember grilled cheese with tomato soup as a kid! Such a classic!
Jolie
My favourite childhood memory is grilled cheese with bacon. My kids love it as well.
Yuen C
My favourite grilled cheese sandwich has cheese, thinly sliced mushrooms and onions!
Sarah smart
I love a sharp cheddar with honey oat bread and thinly sliced green apples – YUM
Marlene J
Grilled cheese with bacon at Eaton with my parents.
Krista M
In elementary school I always came home for lunch and the best days were in winter when I’d come in & she had made me hot grilled cheese with tomato soup to warm me up! Thanks Mom!
happyhooligans
Same here, Krista!
SUMMER PLEWES
We love grilled cheese with brie and apricot jam
Natalie
I recently made grilled cheese burgers (we barbecued hamburgers then put them in the middle of grilled cheese sandwiches). They were so good! I can’t stop thinking about them and they’re probably going to make it into the regular menu rotation 🙂
happyhooligans
Yum. I can understand why you can’t stop thinking about them!
Jason E Woods
Growing up I didn’t always know when and where my next meal might come from. Somehow a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich would make it’s way to the table. It is still my favorite sandwich.
Ruby BB
I love grilled cheese when it’s made with real cheese & butter! Throw on some bacon & it’s perfect
Linda SVAROVSKY
Love grilled cheese and tomato soup
Janice Cournoyer
I love grilled cheese sandwiches many ways. I am going to try the above recipe. they always bring back childhood memories of lunch with home made tomato soup and grilled cheese.
Julia Maycock
Love grilled cheese with tomatoes
Erinn Lishman
I love thin sliced bacon with brie and basil for my grilled cheese! Even my three daughters will eat it!
Maritess
I survived university on grilled cheese BLT version and mushroom or tomato soup.
christina rogers
I can remember being a kid and mom used to add bacon and lettuce , sliced ham and a tomato. Of course when shae looked the other way i pulled that tomato out of there lol
Lisa
My favourite grilled cheese calls for cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and Chevre goat cheese!
Lushka Smith
I remember my Mom making grilled cheese sandwiches on rainy days. So comforting.
Rhonda W G.
I have fond memories of my mom making me grilled cheese and tomato soup as a child.
Dianne G.
I have always loved Grilled Cheese. Every Halloween night my mom made her homemade tomato soup and grilled cheese. We were not allowed to dunk our sandwiches in soup but when she wasn’t looking that is exactly what I did. It was way better than dunking them in ketchup.
Debbie Flynn
The most I have experimented with grilled cheese is by using different cheeses.
Karrie
I love my grilled cheese with ham and onions
Erica
I like grilled cheese with a slice of onion and a piece of ham inside with ketchup
Rebecca Roberts
I love Brie and Pear on Sourdough! So yummy
Joni
I’ve never made a grilled cheese with anything in it except cheese. One time my niece, maybe 1 at the time, decided she wanted one. She almost ate TWO whole sandwiches and wanted more
Angela September
my son always used to declare that “MY mommy makes the best grilled cheese in the entire world” 🙂 and it would make me beam!
he still loves them today, maybe years later.
Judy Cowan
We are a keep it simple grilled cheese family, just old cheddar cheese in between the bread. And of course Tomato Soup to dip it in!
Valerie Mallette
My favourite grilled cheese recipe is a classic grilled cheese made with cheddar cheese and sliced bread. When I have time I love to pair it with tomato soup or a creamy soup like broccoli soup.