Indulge in the ultimate keto grilled cheese experience with three flavorful variations that will satisfy your adult palette while enjoying the comforts and nostalgia of this childhood staple!
Keep reading to discover the perfect low-carb bread and the best cheeses to use to get that melty goodness and gorgeous cheese pull.
This low carb grilled cheese recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a satisfying and indulgent meal that tastes just like ta traditional grilled cheese sandwich—without the sluggish feeling afterward!
Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, a comforting snack, or a flavorful twist on a classic favorite, these variations will surely hit the spot.
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Ingredients
Only three ingredients are needed to make a classic grilled cheese at home. With so few ingredients needed, the better quality the ingredients, the more flavor you will get.
Here’s what you’ll need to have on hand:
- Keto bread – Choose low-carb alternatives like almond flour bread, coconut flour bread, or flaxseed bread to keep your grilled cheese keto-friendly. Whether you opt to make your own bread or buy it, you’ll want two slices per sandwich.
- Block cheese – To get that gooey melty cheese, make sure to buy block cheese and shred them at home. Preshredded cheese is coated in starch that keeps the cheese from melting well. Softer cheese tends to work best—a few of my favorites are cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, swiss cheese, pepper jack cheese, and Monterey jack cheese. Want to make it fancy? You can also use goat or blue cheese crumbles.
- Butter – Salted or unsalted softened butter. You will spread this over the bread before grilling it in a pan.
- Extra fillings – add extra fillings like sliced tomatoes, fresh basil, cooked bacon, or even smashed berries for delicious variations.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
To make keto grilled cheese sandwiches, you will want to start by prepping your ingredients.
Soften your butter and slice any extra ingredients you plan on using on your sandwich.
Then, shred your cheese using a cheese grater. You will want to use about 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of cheese for each sandwich. Stick with shredded cheddar cheese or use a variety of cheese for more flavor.
Next, butter one side of each slice of bread with a generous amount of butter. Make sure to spread the butter all the way to the edges.
Then place one slice of bread for each sandwich in a warm skillet on the stove, butter side down. Add the cheese on top of the bread and any additions. Then cover it with the second slice of bread, butter side up.
Cook the sandwich over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes per side, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown.
Remove the sandwich from the pan and cut it in half. Serve hot with a side salad or a cup of soup (this chicken tortilla soup is perfect!).
Hint: Place the sandwich back together on the place and serve. Now, when you pull the sandwich apart you will get an awesome cheese pull.
Variations
There are so many delicious keto grilled cheese variations you can make. My favorites are tomato, bacon, basil grilled cheese, and blackberry blue cheese grilled cheese. Here are some yummy options to try:
- Bacon Tomato Basil Grilled Cheese – Add crispy bacon, a thick slice of tomato, and a few leaves of fresh basil for a caprese-flavored grilled cheese.
- Blackberry and Blue Cheese Grilled Cheese – Smash fresh blackberries and spread them over the bread. Use crumbled blue cheese and mozzarella in your grilled cheese.
- Bacon and Avocado Grilled Cheese – Take your keto grilled cheese to the next level by adding crispy bacon and creamy avocado slices.
- Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese – Add a handful of fresh spinach leaves and crumbled feta cheese for a delightful Mediterranean twist.
- Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato Grilled Cheese – Spread a layer of homemade or store-bought low-carb pesto on your bread and top it with a few slices of sun-dried tomatoes for a burst of Italian-inspired flavors.
- Jalapeño and Pepper Jack Grilled Cheese – For those who enjoy a spicy kick, add sliced jalapeños and pepper jack cheese to your grilled cheese for a fiery experience.
- Mushroom and Swiss Grilled Cheese – Sauté some sliced mushrooms until they’re golden and tender, then pile them onto your grilled cheese along with Swiss cheese.
See this Quick Kale Pesto Recipe on my website!
Equipment
To make these keto grilled cheese variations, you’ll need the following equipment:
- Skillet – A skillet is essential for achieving that perfect golden brown crust on your grilled cheese. I prefer to use a cast iron skillet. Plenty of butter will keep your sandwich from sticking.
- Grater or shredder – Since we’re using block cheese, you’ll need a grater or shredder to shred the cheese at home.
- Spatula – A spatula will come in handy for flipping and transferring the grilled cheese sandwiches during cooking.
- Cutting board and knife – You’ll need a cutting board and knife to slice tomatoes, basil leaves, bacon, and any other ingredients you may choose to add to your grilled cheese.
- Stove or cooktop – You’ll need a stove or cooktop to heat the skillet and cook your grilled cheese sandwiches to perfection.
- Sandwich press (Optional) – If you have a sandwich press or panini maker you can skip the skillet and stove and cook your grilled cheese in the sandwich press.
These basic kitchen tools will ensure you have everything you need to make these delicious sandwiches.
Storage
Keto grilled cheese sandwiches are best eaten fresh. However, if you need to store leftover sandwiches, follow these guidelines:
- Refrigerator – Allow the grilled cheese to cool completely before storing them. Place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
- Reheating – When ready to enjoy your leftover grilled cheese, preheat a skillet over medium heat. Place the refrigerated sandwich in the skillet and cook for a few minutes on each side until the cheese is melted and the bread is heated through. This will help restore some of the crispy texture and gooeyness.
It’s important to note that reheating the grilled cheese may result in slightly softer bread compared to its freshly made state. However, the flavors will still be delicious.
Top tip
Maintaining a balanced bread-to-cheese ratio is crucial when making keto grilled cheese. Since keto bread can be denser and less fluffy than traditional bread, using too much cheese may overpower the sandwich or make it too heavy. Aim for a moderate amount of cheese that allows the flavors of other ingredients to shine while still providing that gooey, melty texture.
FAQ
When it comes to sides for keto grilled cheese, opt for a refreshing side salad or an easy keto Cesar salad with keto salad dressing to complement the richness of the sandwich.
Another great option is pairing your grilled cheese with a bowl of low-carb tomato soup or low-carb pumpkin soup for a comforting and classic combination.
Any cheeses that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates are generally allowed on keto. You generally want to use softer cheeses that melt well when making grilled cheese.
Some popular keto-friendly cheese options for grilled cheese include:
– cheddar
– mozzarella
– brie
– goat cheese
– crumbly blue cheese
– swiss
– cream cheese
– pepper jack
– monterey jack
Block cheese that you shred at home is the best cheese for grilled cheese. This is because pre-shredded cheese is coated with starch to keep it from sticking together. Block cheese doesn’t have this starch, so it melts smoother.
Keto Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Equipment
- Skillet
- Cheese Grater
- Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 slices keto bread
- ¼ cup cheese
- 1 tbsp. butter softened
Optional Additions
- bacon
- tomatoes
- blackberries
- fresh basil
- blue cheese
Instructions
- Start by shredding your cheese using a cheese grater. You will want to use about 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of cheese for each sandwich. Use a variety of cheese for more flavor.
- Next, butter one side of each slice of bread with a generous amount of butter. Make sure to spread the butter all the way to the edges.
- Then place one slice of bread for each sandwich in a warm skillet on the stove, butter side down. Add the cheese on top of the bread and any additions. Cover with the second slice of bread, butter side up.
- Cook the sandwich over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes per side, until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown.
- Remove the sandwich from the pan and cut it in half. Serve hot with a side salad or a cup of soup.
Nutrition
Food safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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