Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese (Printable)

Golden-brown bread layered with creamy melted cheddar and deeply caramelized onions for the ultimate comfort sandwich.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 4 slices sourdough or country bread
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
03 - 4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, grated

→ Onions

04 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon sugar, optional

→ Seasonings

08 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and salt, stirring to coat evenly. Cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until deeply golden and caramelized. Add sugar halfway through if desired to enhance sweetness and browning. Remove from heat and set aside.
02 - Butter one side of each bread slice. Place two slices buttered side down on a clean work surface.
03 - Top each bread slice with half the grated cheddar cheese, then distribute caramelized onions evenly over the cheese layer. Sprinkle with black pepper. Cover each sandwich with a remaining bread slice, buttered side up.
04 - Heat skillet over medium-low heat. Place sandwiches in skillet and cook 3-4 minutes per side, pressing gently with spatula, until bread is crisp and golden brown and cheese is fully melted. Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning.
05 - Remove sandwiches from skillet and let rest for 2 minutes. Slice diagonally if desired and serve hot.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The onions cook down into something almost sweet and jammy, turning a simple sandwich into something you crave on a cold afternoon.
  • Sharp white cheddar melts into every corner without getting greasy or bland.
  • Its fast enough for lunch but impressive enough that friends ask for the recipe.
  • You probably have everything you need already sitting in your kitchen.
02 -
  • Patience is the only real trick with caramelized onions; if you try to rush them over high heat, theyll burn at the edges and stay raw in the middle.
  • Always butter the bread to the very edges or youll end up with pale corners that taste like toast instead of grilled cheese.
  • Medium-low heat is your friend when grilling; too hot and the bread scorches before the cheese melts.
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded; it melts smoother and doesnt have that weird coating.
  • If your onions start to stick or look dry, add a tablespoon of water to the pan and keep stirring; theyll loosen up and keep caramelizing.
  • Let the finished sandwich rest for a full two minutes before cutting or the cheese will run out and youll lose all that gooey goodness.
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