This Apple Brie Grilled Cheese is crispy, extra cheesy, savory, and a little sweet! Brie cheese melts more than most cheeses which makes this sandwich extra special and just melt-in-your-mouth delicious! It's very simple, easy to make, and the perfect lunch or dinner for fall and winter.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Perfect for cold weather - If you're looking for the perfect fall grilled cheese, this is it! The flavor combination of brie, crunchy apples, crispy bread, and fresh thyme makes this the perfect lunch or dinner for fall and winter. It's rich, warm, comforting, and just so good! If you like the combo, I highly recommend checking out the Apple Brie Crostini as well!
Easy and quick - Grilled cheese is one of the easiest meals you can make and this one is no different! It can be ready in under 20 minutes and calls for just a few simple ingredients. All you need is bread, brie, cheddar, apple, butter, mustard, and thyme!
Extra cheesy - Brie is perfect for grilled cheese because it has a low melting point so it get extra goey quickly. Cheddar adds more flavor and the combination of the two makes this sandwich extra delicious.
Ingredients
- Bread - I like using sourdough for this grilled cheese but you can use any type of bread you like best.
- Brie - You'll need a round of brie. I like sheep or goat milk brie but any you like and have works. It melts really well and makes amazing grilled cheese!
- Cheddar cheese - I added cheddar to the sandwich to give it more flavor. I like sharp cheddar with a stronger flavor. Use any cheddar you prefer. The younger the cheddar is, the easier it usually melts but I always just use older cheddar for its flavor.
- Apple - Honey crisp apples are my favorite but practically any kind of apple you like works here. You want an apple that's a little sweet but something that's still a little harder so it stays intact in the sandwich and has bite to it.
- Butter - Spreading butter on the outside of the sandwich helps the bread to crisp up and brown. You can also use cooking oil like avocado oil if you prefer.
- Mustard - Spreading a little bit of mustard on the inside of the bread gives it a ton of flavor and a little heat. You can use dijon mustard but like like using honey garlic mustard.
- Fresh herbs - You can add fresh thyme, sage, or finely chopped rosemary to the sandwich. I find thyme works the best so that's what I use in the recipe. If you don't have fresh herbs you can use dried thyme instead.
Variations and Substitutions
- Vegan cheese - If you can find vegan brie and vegan cheddar, this sandwich can be made fully vegan! Just swap the butter for vegan butter.
- Different cheese - Although this sandwich is amazing with brie, if you don't have it it can be made with either cheddar alone or with other cheeses like Gruyere or Mozzarella.
- Pear - If you don't have apples, you can add a sliced pear instead similar to this Goat Grilled Cheese with Pear and Sage.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Lay your slices of bread on a cutting board, spread butter on the outer sides, and mustard on the inside.
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- Add grated cheddar cheese, brie cheese, thinly sliced apple, and fresh thyme to two slices and top with the other two slices.
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add the bread. I recommend cooking one sandwich at a time so it’s easier to flip if your pan is smaller.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden and crispy.
- Press the grilled cheese down with a spatula as it cooks to make it easier to flip.
- Add more butter if needed.
- Slice the grilled cheese in half and enjoy right away. Serve with more mustard or with a drizzle of balsamic glaze if desired.
Serving and Storing
Just like with any grilled cheese, this one is best served and enjoyed right away while it's still hot and the cheese is all melty!
If necessary, you can store it in the fridge wrapped in foil or in a small airtight container and reheat it the next day in the oven or on the stove to re-melt the cheese but I don't recommend it. It won't taste the same as making it fresh. I don't recommend freezing it either.
FAQs
Brie is amazing for melting! It has a very low melting point. It's already quite soft at room temperature and even in the fridge. It melts really quickly and makes the perfect grilled cheese.
Brie cheese goes really well with apples, pears, honey, jam (try it with fig jam), berries, or nuts.
Yes, the rind on brie is safe to eat. Don't cut it off, it has a lot of flavor!
Other Grilled Cheese Recipes
If you love this brie grilled cheese, I highly recommend trying the three recipes linked below! The halloumi sandwich isn't exactly a grilled cheese but the halloumi is pan-fried and so delicious with roasted veggies and hummus! To see all the latest ones, head over to Sandwiches.
📖 Recipe
Apple Brie Grilled Cheese
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 10 mins
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: Sandwiches
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Apple Brie Grilled Cheese is crispy, extra cheesy, savory, and a little sweet! It's very simple, easy to make, and the combination of apple and thyme makes this the perfect lunch or dinner for fall and winter.
Ingredients
- 4 slices of bread (preferably sourdough)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard (or honey garlic mustard)
- ¼ cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 round brie cheese (approx. 140-160g, 5oz)
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, stems removed
Instructions
- Lay your slices of bread on a cutting board, spread butter on the outer sides, and mustard on the inside.
- Add grated cheddar cheese, brie cheese, thinly sliced apple, and fresh thyme to two slices and top with the other two slices.
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add the bread. I recommend cooking one sandwich at a time so it’s easier to flip if your pan is smaller.
- Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Press the grilled cheese down with a spatula as it cooks to make it easier to flip. Add more butter if needed.
- Slice in half and enjoy right away. Serve with more mustard or with a drizzle of balsamic glaze if desired.
Notes
Storing: This grilled cheese is best enjoyed right away while it's still hot. Once you store it, the cheese will harden up and the bread will lose its crispiness.
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Veronika Sykorova says
Such a delicious fall grilled cheese! It's tried and true and I can promise you you'll love it too!
Yumi says
Made this for brunch for my friends at they loved it!!