There are some childhood meals that never die no matter how much older we get, from grilled cheese sandwiches to chicken tenders.
But there are certainly ways to spice up and elevate those foods, especially with unique additions to the classic grilled cheese sandwich.
Redditor AnotherFrankHere asked:
"What item do you add to a grilled cheese that makes it awesome?"
Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
"Butter the bread and sprinkle with garlic powder, then grill your cheese."
- JimianShimian
"How have I never thought of a garlic bread grilled cheese sandwich before? It was right there in front of me… the whole time!"
- crank1000
Cheese on Cheese
"Crispy parmesan on the outside."
- crepuscularness
"Most hard cheeses would be great. Parmesan, pecorino, grana padano. And something that melts well inside like mozzarella or camembert. A drizzle of good quality olive oil and some herb will elevate it to a godly status."
- RealEstateDuck
Everything But the Bagel
"Everything But the Bagel seasoning. My girlfriend is obsessed with my grilled cheeses because of it."
"Edit: I told her I made this comment and she said, 'Now that you’ve brought it up, can I have one today?' I’ve made her two already today and am sure there will be another one tonight."
- dead_neptune
A Fried Egg
"A fried egg in the middle is so d**n good."
- dropkickmolotov
"I thought I was the only one, but this is so simple but adds so much."
- the_456
The Power of Mustard
"A little mustard."
- wack86
"I used to work in a restaurant that sold Gruyère melts. Gruyère cheese, Colman’s mustard, basil, and tomato slices (just a few). It is soooo good that we’ve been making them for the 27 years since I left that place!"
- Almane2020202
"I can't believe this isn't the first (or perhaps the second because bacon exists). A little bit of mustard is the best addition to either a Grilled Cheese or Mac n' Cheese sauce."
- Philamilapeed
Great Cheese Pairings
"Real thin sliced ham, or maybe some grilled onions."
- mDubbw
Worcestershire Sauce
"Worcestershire Sauce."
- downvote_quota
"It was the best of shires, it was the Worcestershires."
- Fyrrys
"What's this here sauce."
- C4Dave
Oregano Grilled Cheese
"Oregano. And roasted and diced New Mexico green chili when I can get it."
- psgrue
"I was scrolling and figured no one else knew about the oregano grilled cheese."
- StateChemist
Pesto and Tomatoes
"Pesto and tomatoes."
- Street-Candle-4677
"This. Mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and green pesto is the best thing ever."
- MyPianoMusic
Green Apples
"Thin sliced apples."
- Objective_Stick8335
"Green apples with gouda and turkey are so good."
- whywedontreport
Kimchi
"Kimchi!"
- GFW101
"I was looking for this comment! Kimchi grilled cheeses are the best thing on the planet."
- Mag1c_Sh0p
Berries with Cheese
"Fig, or any sweet and sour berry works, like raspberry, blueberry, blackberry."
"Brie is a great cheese to pair with jam."
"I'm also partial to an Emmental, Double Gloucester, and Wensleydale."
"Cranberry jam goes great with Wensleydale, especially around winter when it's easy to get Wensleydale with whole cranberries in it. Nice contrast of textures in the toasty."
- Oni_Zokuchou
Jammed Anything
"Please try bacon jam or onion jam! I used to add a homemade caramelized onion and beetroot jam, before I developed allergies to multiple foods, including wheat, dairy, and onions. So good!"
- BellaLeigh43
With Mayo
"Mayo on the outside will give you that perfect golden-brown crispy bread."
- CU_09
"This. This is the way. Elevates a grilled cheese like there is no tomorrow. The actual secret ingredient that’s bomb."
"Edit: I put mayo inside. Butter on the outside. That’s how my grandma used to make them when I was young and it’s how I learned. Still the best-grilled cheeses to this day."
- GinnyViVi
"People downvoting this are probably thinking, 'I don't like mayo,' and can't wrap their head around the fact that the mayo as they know is doesn't survive the process."
"It's oil and egg-white. The oil ends up serving the same function as butter for spreading the heat so the bread doesn't get scorched and the egg whites get cooked into the bread."
"So if you read 'Mayonnaise' above and imagined a sandwich that tastes like Mayonnaise, you've made an error."
- ChairBoy
Tips That Make a Big Difference
"Use garlic butter on the bread, with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese."
"Apply a light smear of pesto to the inside of the sandwich."
"Make a soup that complements the cheese."
"Use a different type of bread (roasted garlic, Jalapeno Cheddar, etc.)."
- Enstivita
While a simple grilled cheese with just cheese, bread, and butter can be totally heartwarming, there are still ways to elevate the sandwich to something totally gourmet and life-changing.