Avocado Grilled Cheese
Take your grilled cheese up a notch with this avocado grilled cheese! Made with toasted sourdough, Colby jack cheese, and creamy avocado, this simple sandwich is perfect for a satisfying lunch!
It’s hard to beat a classic grilled cheese, but over the years I’ve had fun trying different versions of this staple sandwich. There are so many great combinations, from feta grilled cheese to this toasted caprese sandwich! This avocado grilled cheese is simple, but it’s a surprisingly tasty combination. If you like easy recipes like this one, try my air fryer grilled cheese too! I can’t get enough of perfectly crispy toasted cheese sandwiches over here.
The Best Cheese for a Grilled Cheese
It’s important to use a cheese that can melt easily when making a grilled cheese. For this recipe, I used Colby-Jack cheese, which is perfectly gooey and just a little bit sharp. I also like using Monterey Jack, provolone, or mozzarella cheese. You can use a blend for even more flavor. For firmer cheeses, such as cheddar or gouda, I recommend buying a block of cheese and shredding it just before making your grilled cheese. Pre-shredded cheese typically contains anti-caking agents, which can make it harder to get a melty, gooey texture. You also may want to use a combination of hard cheese and softer cheese to ensure you get a perfectly gooey sandwich.
The Best Bread for Grilled Cheese
You can use any bread you like, but I prefer sandwich bread or sourdough bread that is around 1/2 inch thick. You don’t want it to be too thick or thin, so 1/2-inch is just right. This will allow you to get a crispy exterior, but the bread will still have a nice chewiness to it. If you like sourdough bread, check out Wildgrain!
Variations & Substitutions
Feel free to get creative with additional toppings! Try adding some finely chopped sundried tomatoes or diced red onions. This would also be delicious with chopped roasted red peppers, fresh tomatoes, or chopped spinach. While I like sourdough bread, you can use white bread, whole wheat bread, or crusty bread from a local bakery. (Plus, crusty bread works great for avocado toast if you have leftovers!)
How to Get Perfectly Ripe Avocados
- Try to pick out avocados before they’re close to being ripe. If they’re already ripe in the store, they could easily be bruised. Gently squeeze the avocado without applying too much pressure. A ripe avocado will give slightly when you press it, but it shouldn’t be mushy.
- Avoid buying avocados with large brown spots or bruises, as these may indicate that the fruit is overripe or damaged. The stem should be firm and not easily removed. If it comes off easily, the avocado may be overripe.
- To ripen them faster, I keep them in a bowl with bananas! The ethylene gas released from the bananas will help soften the avocados quickly. Once the avocados are soft, I put them in the fridge to keep them at their peak for as long as possible.