This Havarti Grilled cheese sandwich is a perfect option for lunch on the go or when short on time. Simple, flavorful ingredients and delicious apples in season make this sandwich a showstopper.
This Havarti cheese sandwich is made in only 15 minutes.
This is a Picky-eater-approved grilled cheese recipe!
Perfect packable food for school lunches or road trips.
Great comfort food recipe on a chilly day. Serve this gourmet grilled cheese sandwich with a bowl of stew or soup.
What You’ll Need
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients you will need for this recipe with step-by-step photos and tips below. If you are looking for a simple recipe card, scroll down to the bottom of this page.
Ingredient Notes
Cheese. To save time, buy pre-sliced Havarti cheese. You can also substitute Havarti cheese if you are not able to find it.
Bread. Sourdough bread or multi-grain would be the best options.
Mustard. I like to use Dijon mustard, or if you really want to spice it up, you can use Horseradish mustard.
Mayo. I am using it only on one side.
Apple. Honeycrisp or Fuji apples.
Baby Spinach. You’ll need several leaves only.
Softened unsalted butter. Butter the sides before grilling.
Optional ingredients. If you want to elevate it with additional ingredients, feel free to add tomato, bacon, or prosciutto.
Why Use Havarti Cheese For Grilled Cheese?
Havarti cheese is excellent for making grilled cheese sandwiches. Its creamy and buttery texture melts beautifully, resulting in a luscious and gooey filling for your sandwich.
How to Make Havarti Grilled Cheese
Step 1. Gather the ingredients. Slice apple and cheese—spread mustard on one side of each slice of bread. Top with spinach, and add apples and cheese. Cover with the top slice of bread.
Step 2. Butter each side of the sandwich with soft butter. Preheat the cast iron pan to medium low heat.
Step 3. Place and grill Havarti cheese sandwich a few minutes on both sides slowly till the cheese starts melting.
If you have a second cast-iron skillet or cast-iron press to add on top, this would yield the best results. Once the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted, carefully remove it to the serving plate.
Cool slightly before slicing your perfect grilled cheese!
Tips for Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich
To make the best grilled cheese sandwich follow these tips:
Opt for bread with a sturdy structure, such as sourdough, ciabatta, or French bread. These types of bread hold up well to grilling and provide a nice crunch.
Use a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet.
Use softened butter and butter the bread, not the pan. Spread butter on the outer sides of the bread slices. This creates a crispy and golden crust on the sandwich.
Always use low-medium heat to grill the sandwich. This allows the sandwich to cook slowly, ensuring the cheese melts without burning the bread.
Place a heavy panini press on top of the sandwich for best results. You can also use a heavy cast-iron skillet on top.
Use cheese that melts well, like cheddar, Swiss, and Gruyère. You can experiment with different cheese combinations for a more diverse flavor.
Use thin slices of cheese, this will help it melt evenly and ensures a gooey, cheesy interior.
Use a serrated knife to slice the sandwich in half without breaking it apart.
Let it rest for a minute before cutting. This allows the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to handle and preventing it from oozing out excessively.
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
You can substitute ingredients for a grilled cheese sandwich to suit your preferences or dietary needs. Here are a few ideas:
Bread: You can try using different types of bread such as whole grain bread, rye, ciabatta, white bread. You can also experiment with gluten-free bread if you have dietary restrictions.
Cheese: Feel free to substitute Havarti cheese with another good melting cheese such as cheddar, Swiss cheese, pepper jack cheese or American cheese.
Spreads: Instead of butter, you can use alternative spreads like mayonnaise, olive oil, or even garlic confit spread.
Greens. Instead of spinach, feel free to use peppery arugula or fresh basil leaves.
Apple. Instead of using an apple, try making this grilled sandwich with pear or fig jam.
Additional Fillings: Get creative with additional fillings to enhance the flavor of your grilled cheese sandwich. You can add sliced tomatoes, avocado, caramelized onions, roasted red peppers, pesto, bacon, ham, spinach, mushrooms, or any other ingredient that pairs well with cheese.
What to serve with grilled cheese sandwich
Here are some popular options to consider when serving grilled cheese sandwiches:
Soup – Consider pairing your grilled cheese sandwich with warm and comforting soup, such as tomato soup, broccoli cheddar, swiss chard soup, butternut squash, and creamy mushroom.
Salad – A refreshing side salad can provide a nice contrast to the richness of a grilled cheese sandwich. Opt for a kale crunch salad with fresh vegetables, or try a Caesar salad.
Pickles– Pickles, whether dill, bread-and-butter, or spicy, offer a tangy and crunchy element that complements the creamy and savory flavors of a grilled cheese sandwich. They add a delightful zing to each bite.
Fries – For a satisfying and indulgent meal, pair your grilled cheese sandwich with a side of crispy chips or sweet potato fries. The combination of the sandwich’s gooey cheese and the crunch of the chips or fries is sure to please.
Fruit – If you’re looking for a lighter option, serve your grilled cheese sandwich with fresh fruit. Slices of apple or pear, grapes, or a side of mixed berries can add a refreshing touch and balance out the meal.
Coleslaw – Creamy coleslaw can provide a creamy and tangy counterpart to the grilled cheese sandwich. It adds a delightful texture and a hint of freshness to the overall meal.
How To Store Leftover Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Storing leftover grilled cheese sandwiches properly will help maintain their texture and prevent them from becoming soggy.
Let the sandwich cool: Allow the grilled cheese sandwich to cool at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. This step prevents excess condensation during storage.
Wrap individually: Wrap each grilled cheese sandwich individually in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Wrapping them individually helps preserve their shape and prevents the flavors from blending with other foods.
Place in an airtight container: Transfer the wrapped grilled cheese sandwiches into an airtight container or a sealable freezer bag.
Related Questions
Best Bread For Grilled Cheese?
The choice depends on personal preference and the desired texture and flavor. However, here are a few popular bread options that work well for grilled cheese: sourdough, french bread or baguette, brioche, multigrain or whole wheat, and rye bread would work best to make grilled cheese.
What Does Havarti Cheese Taste Like?
Havarti cheese taste is mild and buttery with a hint of tanginess. It combines sweet and sour notes. It has a slightly springy texture and, in general, is considered mild-flavored cheese.
Is havarti good for grilled cheese?
Yes, Havarti cheese is an excellent choice for a grilled cheese sandwich. Havarti cheese is known for its smooth, creamy texture and mild, buttery flavor. When melted, it becomes delightfully gooey and creates a luscious, melty filling for a grilled cheese sandwich.
This Havarti Grilled cheese sandwich is a perfect option for lunch on the go or when short on time. Using simple flavorful ingredients and delicious apples in season makes this sandwich truly a showstopper.
Gather the ingredients. Slice apple and cheese—spread mustard on one side of bread and mayo on another slice. Top slice of the bread with two pieces of cheese, spinach, add apple slices and cheese. Cover with the second slice of bread.
Butter each side of the sandwich. Preheat a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or griddle on medium-low heat.
Place sandwich on the preheated skillet and grill sandwich on both sides slow till cheese starts melting. The process should take about 3 minutes per side. Flip over using a large spatula. Use a knife to cut in half and serve.
Notes
Use a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet and softened butter for the bread.Butter the sides and always use low-medium heat to grill the sandwich.For best results, placed a heavy press on top of the sandwich. I used a second cast-iron skillet.Use a serrated knife to slice the sandwich in half.Variations. To change up the flavor of this sandwich, try this recipe with different apples and cheeses varieties, use arugula instead of spinach, jam instead of mustard, add some protein ham or bacon.
Natalia is a recipe developer, food photographer, and home cook. She started Flavorful Home to document her recipes and share home cooking tips. She loves creating flavorful and nutritious meals while keeping the cooking process simple and joyful!
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Hi there, I’m Natalia. I’m so glad you stopped by! Here you’ll find the most useful cooking tips and answers to food questions. I focus on creating simple recipes and making sure they are extra flavorful and worthy of your time! Browse our step-by-step recipes and explore new flavors!
