Looking for an EPIC smoked grilled cheese sandwich recipe? You’re in the right place! With the bread perfectly crispy from the butter and gooey, oozy, cheesy center, this grilled cheese sandwich will have you drooling. But that best part? It delicious hint of smokiness that everyone loves. Cheesy, smoky, savory, and crispy, it’s just perfect.
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Easy Smoked Grilled Cheese
The crunchy, golden-buttery edges of thick white sourdough slices, sandwiched around melty cheese with a kiss of smoky flavor, are sure to make you fall in love with this recipe! Making this grilled cheese on the smoker is just about as easy as it is to make one on the stovetop!
What You’ll Need to Cook
- Fresh bread
- Dried mozzarella
- Smoked gouda
- Unsalted butter
- Black pepper
- Cast iron pan
How to Make a Smoked Grilled Cheese
Step 1: Pre-heating the Grill
Preheat the grill to 450°F, placing the cast iron pan directly on the grill grates and allowing it to heat for 5-10 mins.
Step 2: Assembling the Grilled Cheese
Spread one side of each slice of bread with about 1/2 a tablespoon of butter.
Grate the cheese onto one slice of bread, with the buttered side facing out. Mix it with 1/4 tsp of black pepper and any spices if desired. Cover with the other slice of bread, butter side out.
Step 3: Cooking the Grilled Cheese
Place half a tablespoon of butter in the hot cast iron pan, laying the grilled cheese in the pan and letting it sizzle. Cook for about 8-10 min per side, checking every 3 mins to ensure a golden crust is forming.
Step 4: Serving Your Smoked Grilled Cheese
Once the bread is at your desired golden-brown state, slice the smoked grilled cheese in half and serve right away! Pair your grilled cheese with potato wedges, tomato soup, or fruit jam to upscale this recipe!
How Long Do You Need to Smoke the Grilled Cheese?
Let the sandwich cook, for about 8-10 min per side. However, be sure to check every 3 minutes to ensure you have a nice, golden crust building up. Make sure to turn it halfway until the cheese melts and the bread turns golden brown.
What Bread to Use?
Although sprouted, multi-grain wheat bread is the talk of the town nowadays, this recipe calls for something more ‘traditional’.
Sourdough, Texas toast, or even good ole’ white sandwich bread will do the trick here.
Although sourdough bread is highly preferred due to the divine flavor it brings to this smoky recipe, any good quality, soft sandwich bread will be ideal.
What Kind of Cheese Is Best?
You could get really wild with this, but these two factors in your cheese are an absolute must:
1. Melty
2. Smokey
A melty cheese such as mozzarella, Gouda, or fontina will provide you with the texture you’re after.
Similarly, you’ll want to choose at least one smoky cheese as it’s almost impossible to get a good smokey flavor with your smoker alone.
Smoked gouda, smoked scarmoza, or smoked provolone are really good options for this one. You can also add a third cheese for some added sharpness. Although this isn’t necessary, adding a slightly stronger cheese will give the recipe a stronger cheesy flavor. Parmiggiano Reggiano, Camembert, or even blue cheese can work for this one.
Best Wood Chips for Smoking
I think that apple or cherry wood works best with this grilled cheese recipe. However, if you prefer a stronger smoke flavor, go for mesquite or oak.
Smoked Grilled Cheese Ideas & Add-Ons
Don’t feel like you have to stick to two cheeses. The world is your oyster!
A few add-ons that can take this sandwich up a notch are:
– mix in some caramelized onions
– add in maple bacon
– add in smoked or honey-glazed ham
– mix in a few pickles and small diced white onions
– mix in chopped, garlic spinach
Tips For The Best Smoked Grilled Cheese
Adhering to the following tips will ensure that you achieve the perfect smoked grilled cheese:
1. Make sure to use a low-medium cast iron pan temperature to get the perfect crust.
2. Go big or go home with the butter. Butter will make the grilled cheese easier to toast and taste really good.
3. Don’t skip out on a handful of wood chips for an added smoky flavor.
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What to Serve With Your Grilled Cheese
Looking for More Sandwich Recipes?
There is nothing like a good sandwich, here are some of my favorties
- Pork Belly Burnt Ends Sandwich
- Smoked Egg Salad Sandwich
- Grilled and Smoked Cheese
- Sandwich With Leftover Pulled Pork
- Smashed Meatball Sub
- Smoked Homemade Meatball Sub
Smoked Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- 1 cast iron pan
- 1 Pellet smoker
Ingredients
- 2 slices of fresh sourdough bread
- 86 g of mozzarella dried
- 86 g of smoked gouda
- 4 tbsp softened unsalted butter
Instructions
Step 1: Pre-heating the Grill
- Preheat the grill to 450°F, placing the cast iron pan directly on the grill grates and allowing it to heat for 5-10 mins.
Step 2: Assembling the Grilled Cheese
- Spread one side of each slice of bread with about 1/2 a tablespoon of butter.
- Grate the cheese onto one slice of bread, with the buttered side facing out. Mix it with 1/4 tsp of black pepper and any spices if desired. Cover with the other slice of bread, butter side out.
Step 3: Cooking the Grilled Cheese
- Place half a tablespoon of butter in the hot cast iron pan, laying the grilled cheese in the pan and letting it sizzle.
- Cook for about 8-10 min per side, checking every 3 mins to ensure a golden crust is forming.
Step 4: Serving Your Smoked Grilled Cheese
- Once the bread is at your desired golden-brown state, slice the smoked grilled cheese in half and serve right away!
- Pair your grilled cheese with potato wedges, tomato soup, or fruit jam to upscale this recipe!
Smoke On!
Charlie
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
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