Looking for the ultimate comfort food upgrade? This Easy Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a delicious, gourmet twist on a classic childhood favorite. By combining the crispy, herb-infused exterior of homemade garlic bread with a gooey, multi-cheese filling, you get a restaurant-quality garlic bread sandwich right at home
For another delicious toasted cheese sandwich, check out my Perfect Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame.
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Why You'll Love This Easy Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- The Ultimate Flavor Mashup: You get the buttery, savory crunch of garlic bread combined with the legendary melty pull of a gourmet grilled cheese.
- Hands-Off Baking: By cooking this baked grilled cheese in the oven, you don't have to hover over a stovetop skillet or worry about burning the delicate garlic.
- Easy Cleanup: Lining your baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil means zero scrubbing when you're done eating.
- Perfect for Dipping: The robust garlic and Italian seasoning profiles make this the absolute best sandwich companion for a bowl of rich tomato soup or marinara sauce.
Ingredients: Here's What You'll Need
Steps to Making Easy Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Preheat toaster oven to 425°F and line a quarter sheet pan with non-stick aluminum foil. Then, melt the butter in the microwave for 30 seconds, you may need a few more seconds for it to fully melt. Add garlic paste and Italian seasoning to the melted butter, stir everything together with a fork.
- Next, place two pieces of Italian bread on a prepared sheet pan. Then, spoon the garlic butter mixture onto the bread and spots it out into en even layer covering the entire surface.
- Next, turn one piece of the bread over and added the Mozzarella cheese slices, shredded Italian blend cheese, and shredded Parmesan cheese. Place the other piece of bread, butter side up, on top of the cheese. Bake in preheated toaster oven for 5 to 6 minutes, or until the top started to turn a golden brown. If you're using a regular conventional oven you should bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the top starts to turn a golden brown.
- Remove the grilled cheese sandwich from the oven and turned it over. Then, return the sandwich to the oven for another 5 to 6 minutes. Again, you'll want to bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the regular oven.
- Next, remove the sandwich from the oven, turned it over, and sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Return it to the oven for another minute or so, or until the cheese is melted.
- Removed the grilled cheese sandwich from the oven one last time and transfer it to a wire rack to cool slightly. Then, place it on a cutting board and cut it in half. Serve the Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Caesar Salad and Tomato Soup on the side for dipping.
From the crispy, herb-infused Italian bread to the gooey, melted three-cheese interior, this Easy Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwich elevates the humble sandwich into something truly spectacular. It delivers all the restaurant-quality flavor of a gourmet grilled cheese with none of the heavy skillet cleanup. Whether you serve it alongside a fresh salad and soup for a quick weeknight dinner or whip it up as a comforting weekend snack, it's guaranteed to satisfy your deepest cravings for savory, cheesy goodness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make this on the stovetop, but using a toaster oven or conventional oven is highly recommended. Baking makes it much easier to ensure the cheese melts thoroughly without burning the exterior garlic paste.
If you don't have garlic paste on hand, you can substitute one clove of minced fresh garlic. However, it is best to infuse the melted butter with the fresh garlic and then strain the bits out before spooning it onto the bread, as raw minced garlic has a strong tendency to burn during baking.
Thick-cut, sliced artisan Italian bread is the ideal choice because it bakes up incredibly crispy on the outside while remaining soft on the inside. However, you can use your favorite sturdy sandwich bread.
To revive leftovers, wrap them well and store them in the refrigerator for a day or two. When you're ready to eat, reheat the sandwich in your toaster oven at 400°F for 5 to 10 minutes to bring back that signature garlic bread crunch.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Watch It Closely: Keep a very close eye on your sandwich during the last few minutes of baking. Because of the butter and garlic paste, the crust can quickly transition from a perfect golden brown to overcooked.
- Spoon, Don't Brush: Always spoon the garlic butter mixture onto the bread rather than brushing it. This keeps the distribution even so the bread is coated beautifully without getting weighed down or soaked through.
- Balance Your Cheese Ratio: It can be incredibly tempting to load up the sandwich with extra cheese, but keeping to the recipe measurements ensures the filling complements the rich garlic bread exterior instead of completely overshadowing it.
Other Great Sandwich Recipes
- Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
- Mini Chili Cheese Dog Sliders
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Sliders
- Easy Mini Open-Faced Reuben Sandwiches: The Ultimate St. Patrick's Day Appetizer
- Ultimate BBQ Brisket Melt Sandwich
- Ultimate Meatball Sub Bundtwich
- Easy Smashed Chicken Caesar Tacos
- Disney-Inspired Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich
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Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 stick (4-ounces) salted butter, melted (See Tip 1)
- ½ teaspoon garlic paste (See Tip 2)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 slices Italian bread
- 3 slices of Mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (2 ounces) shredded Italian blend cheese
- ¼ cup (1 ounce), plus 1 teaspoon of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat toaster oven to 425°F and turn convection setting on. Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil.
- Add garlic paste and Italian seasoning to the melted butter. Stir to combine.
- Place two pieces of Italian bread on the prepared baking sheet, with the outside side facing up. Spoon about two tablespoons of the garlic butter mixture on each piece of bread.
- Turn one slice of bread over and top with half of the Mozzarella cheese slices, half of the shredded Italian blend cheese, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Place the other slice of bread, butter side up, on top of the slice with cheese.
- Bake in preheated 425°F oven, on the convection setting, for 5 to 6 minutes, or until a pale golden brown. Remove from oven and turn the sandwich over. Return to the oven for another 5 to 6 minutes. Remove from the oven, turn over again, and sprinkle on about a teaspoon of grated Parmesan cheese. Return to oven for 1 to 2 minutes. (See Tip 3)
- Remove from oven. Allow to cool slightly before serving, it's best served warm.
- Repeat with the other two pieces of bread and the remaining ingredients.
- Yield: 2 Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese sandwiches
Tips/Notes
- May substitute unsalted butter for salted butter.
- May substitute 1 clove of minced fresh garlic for garlic paste.
- If using a conventional oven without convection, increase the cooking time to 8 to 10 minutes for sides one and two.
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