Growing up, grilled cheese meant Wonder bread and American cheese- and it was good! Still is, but now there are so many options that it’s hard to chose. Even the trusted softened butter is called into question with many singing the praises of mayonnaise instead. Here are three grilled cheese options that will put a smile on your face whether you have 10 minutes to prepare a meal, or a little longer…

Fig and Bacon Grilled Cheese

I found myself making this sandwich one morning when I couldn’t sleep. I saw it on one of the cooking channels and luckily I had all the ingredients to make it. I was fearful that the smell of bacon cooking would wake my whole family. It didn’t, but maybe I gave them delicious dreams. I think this would be delicious with prosciutto, if you didn’t want to fry bacon.

Fig and Bacon Grilled Cheese

Serves 2

PREP 2 minutes

COOK 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

4 pieces bacon, cooked

4 pieces sourdough or potato bread

1 tablespoon (heaped) fig jam, divided

2 1/2 ounces Goat Cheese, divided

1 teaspoon butter, at room temperature

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a skillet on a medium heat. While it’s heating up prepare your sandwich. Butter on side of each of the four pieces of bread.

2. Place two slices of buttered bread in the skillet and top each with the fig jam, then dot with goat cheese and place two pieces of bacon on each. Top with remaining buttered bread, with butter facing out. Cook the sandwich for 4-6 minutes until golden brown, then flip.

3. Continue to cook the second side for another 2 minutes or until the bread is golden brown. Remove from skillet and allow the grilled cheese to cool 2 minutes before cutting in half, or the filling will spill out.

Spanakopita Grilled Cheese

This has all the buttery, cheesy goodness of traditional Spanakopita, without having to deal with phyllo. It’s a bit more of a project, but worth the effort!

Spanakopita Grilled Cheese

Recipe from Food52

Serves 2

PREP 15 minutes

COOK 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon softened butter

4 slices good-quality bread (I used a Sicilian loaf studded with sesame seeds)

1 clove garlic, sliced thin

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 shallot, sliced thinly

one 10-ounce bag baby spinach, or 2 big handfuls

pinch salt and freshly cracked pepper

1 teaspoon chopped dill

2 ounces feta, crumbled

4 thin slices provolone cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Either plug in your panini press or heat a skillet over medium heat. Divide butter evenly between the four slices of bread, spread thinly on one side of each slice.  Set aside.

2. In a medium skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat, add the garlic and shallot, and cook 4 minutes, or until the garlic is golden-brown. Add spinach and salt and pepper, and cook for few minutes, until the spinach is wilted and most of the moisture is cooked out. Add dill and feta, turn off heat, and mix.

3. Assemble the sandwiches by placing two slices of bread butter side-down on your press or pan, add one slice of provolone to each, then divide the spinach mixture in half and place half on each slice. Top with the remaining 2 slices of cheese and slices of bread, butter side-up.

4. If using a panini press, put the lid down and cook for about 5 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. If using a pan, flip after about 5 minutes, then cook on the other side for 3 minutes. Eat with tomato soup, if you so please.

Classic Grilled Cheese

I was won over by using mayo on my grilled cheese. It browns the bread so perfectly, without any of the taste of mayo. Since I was missing the butteriness, I added that to the pan too. Why not?! I think American cheese is the best option for this classic grilled cheese, due to how it melts, but cheddar would be another option.

Classic Grilled Cheese

Serves 2

PREP 2 minutes

COOK 8 minutes

INGREDIENTS

4 slices ½”-thick bread- whatever you like, even white bread

4 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoon unsalted butter

8 thinly sliced American cheese slices

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place four slices of bread on a cutting board. Spread mayonnaise evenly over each of the slices, on one side.

2. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once the butter has melted add two of the slices of bread, mayo side down.

3. Add the American cheese evenly over the two slices of bread, then top with the two remaining slices of bread, mayo side up.

4. Cook for about 4 minutes, moving the bread around the skillet, until the bread is golden brown. Flip.

5. Cook for another few minutes until that side is golden. Remove to cutting board and let it sit for a minute. Cut in half and enjoy while hot.