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    Home » Sandwiches

    Published: Jun 19, 2019 · Modified: Jun 30, 2023 by Renée · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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    A sliced ultimate grilled cheese sandwich with red peppers and caramelized onion with title text overlay graphics

    Turkey deli meat, smoked cheddar cheese, red bell pepper, and caramelized onions come together in an Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich like no other. If you're anything like me, you are going to love it!!

    vertical photo of a grilled cheese sandwich with caramelized onions and red bell pepper on a white plate with a salad in the background.

    This ultimate grilled cheese sandwich recipe can also be made traditionally in a skillet, so don't let it hold you back if you don't have an air fryer.

    You need this sandwich in your life, so however you can make that happen is the right way to go!

     

    Jump to:
    • The ingredient list:
    • Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
    • Additional add-in suggestions:
    • Can this ultimate grilled cheese be made in a skillet instead of an air fryer?
    • How long does it take to caramelize onions?
    • How to caramelize onions in an air fryer:
    • Additional sandwich recipes:
    • Printable Recipe Card

    Subscribe to my Kudos Kitchen channel on YouTube. See you there!!

    closeup photo of a grilled cheese sandwich cut in half with caramelized onions and red bell pepper.

    The ingredient list:

    **Note - The following lists of ingredients plus kitchen tools and equipment contain affiliate links (highlighted in blue) for your consideration and shopping convenience. #CommissionsEarned

    • Bread (your favorite grilled cheese sandwich variety)
    • Butter
    • Turkey Deli Meat
    • Red Bell Pepper
    • Smoked Cheddar Cheese, Slices
    • Caramelized Onions

    Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

    • Air Fryer or Large Skillet
    • Spatula
    • Offset spatula (optional)

    Additional add-in suggestions:

    • Pulled Pork
    • Ham
    • Shredded Chicken
    • Pickles
    • Spinach
    • Green Bell Peppers
    • Swiss Cheese
    • Provolone Cheese
    • Gouda Cheese
    • American Cheese
    • Apple Slices
    • Asparagus
    • Tomatoes
    • Bacon
    • What's in YOUR fridge? 😉

    Can this ultimate grilled cheese be made in a skillet instead of an air fryer?

    YES!!

    Assemble the sandwich just as shown.

    Then heat a skillet over medium/high heat and cook the grilled cheese sandwich on both sides until it's golden brown and the cheese is melted.

    How long does it take to caramelize onions?

    • In an air fryer, roughly 17-20 minutes.
    • In a skillet on the stovetop, roughly 30-40 minutes.

    How to caramelize onions in an air fryer:

    Sometimes necessity is the mother of great recipe inventions. Such is the case with this Ultimate grilled cheese sandwich.

    Use what you have leftover in the fridge and see what great combos you can come up with! It's all good!

    Additional sandwich recipes:

    Bookmark the following recipes and come back to make them time and time again...

    In the blink of an eye, and in only the time takes to cook Italian sausages you can have a deliciously easy Caprese Sausage Sandwich for dinner tonight!

    This Fried Eggplant Sandwich is seriously delicious. Golden brown fried eggplant slices are layered between toasted bread with lettuce, tomato, and sauteed green bell pepper. One bite and you'll be hooked. This sandwich is so, so good!!

    This copycat German Knockwurst Sandwich is my version of a terrific sausage sandwich I'd had while on vacation in Northern Wisconsin.

    A Bagel Tuna Melt is a delicious open-face sandwich with a slightly updated twist on a traditional tuna melt. You're going to want to make this deliciously melty tuna salad sandwich on a regular rotation. It's THAT good!!

    Closeup vertical image of an ultimate grilled cheese sandwich with caramelized onions and red bell peppers on a white plate.

    When you make this recipe, and I hope you do, I'd appreciate it if you'd take a moment to leave a star rating on the recipe card and briefly comment on why you rated it as you did. FYI - Google appreciates recipe ratings and, in turn, will share my recipes with more people. Thank you so much!!

    Printable Recipe Card

    Grilled cheese sandwich with red bell pepper on a picking table with a salad on a plate.

    Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Renee Goerger
    4.67 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save recipe Saved Recipe!
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 15 minutes mins
    Course easy dinner, lunch, Sandwich
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2
    Calories 723 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 slices sandwich bread your favorite variety
    • 2 tablespoons butter softened
    • 8 slices smoked cheddar cheese
    • 4 slices deli turkey meat
    • ½ red bell pepper seeded and cut into narrow strips
    • ⅓ cup caramelized onions

    Instructions
     

    • Butter one side of each slice of bread. Lay two slices of bread, butter side down.
    • Add two slices of cheese on top of each slice of bread and follow with the sliced turkey, red pepper strips, and caramelized onions. Top with the remaining cheese and the final slice of bread, butter side up.
    • Place (one sandwich at a time) in the fryer basket of an air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 350-degrees.
    • Flip the sandwich. Increase the temperature to 400 and cook the sandwich for an additional 1-2 minutes until golden brown. If desired, flip the sandwich and cook again for an additional 1-2 minutes to brown both sides.
    • Continue the same steps with the second sandwich.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Notes

    This grilled cheese sandwich can also be made in a skillet.
    Continue with the same instructions but heat a skillet to medium-high heat and cook the sandwich on both sides until golden brown.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Calories: 723kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 36gFat: 50gSaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 153mgSodium: 1234mgPotassium: 320mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 2405IUVitamin C: 40.9mgCalcium: 947mgIron: 2.9mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's recipe for the ultimate grilled cheese sandwich as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!

    A grilled cheese sandwich on a picnic table with a glass of iced tea and colorful napkin.

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    Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you'll come back and visit me often. There is always room for you around my table!

    Should you have any questions or comments regarding anything you've seen here on my blog, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. It is always my distinct pleasure to respond to you just as soon as I possibly can.

    Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!!

    Custom Renee Signature

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Judy says

      September 04, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      Only had my air fryer 4 days. Hamburger patties are great as well as hard boiled (air fried) eggs. I'll be trying the carmelized onions next with the grilled cheese so thanks for the lessons. One website doing stovetop required up to an hour depending on how dark the onions one would prefer.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        September 05, 2021 at 9:27 am

        Yeah, a lot of air fryer cooking can be trial and error because of the size of each unit and the heating elements.
        Naturally, making darker caramelized onions will take longer than lighter ones.
        I know this doesn't help much, but it's all I have.
        I'm glad you're enjoying your hamburger patties and eggs. I like making those in the air fryer too.
        Take good care, Judy!
        Renee

        Reply
    2. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

      June 19, 2020 at 8:39 am

      5 stars
      This is absolutely delicious! I love that it’s such a crowd pleaser for the whole family

      Reply
      • Renée says

        June 19, 2020 at 1:16 pm

        Right on! Thanks, Shadi!

        Reply
    3. Taryn says

      June 19, 2020 at 7:59 am

      5 stars
      My husband and I both loved these! He would've eaten mine too if I let him. lol.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        June 19, 2020 at 1:17 pm

        I'm glad you slapped his hand away. LOL
        Thanks, Taryn!

        Reply
    4. Nicole says

      June 20, 2019 at 7:07 am

      5 stars
      This sandwich is incredibly delicious! Love the flavor the onion and red pepper give and turkey is and always will be one of my favorites. And making in the air fryer makes it even better. We just did a cool grilled cheese style sandwich in the airfryer too.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        June 20, 2019 at 7:09 am

        The air fryer is so fun to cook in! Glad you liked this sandwich, Nichole!

        Reply
    5. Jenni says

      June 20, 2019 at 7:05 am

      5 stars
      Wow, I never thought about making a sandwich in the air fryer before! What a fun idea! Love all the great additions to a plain-jane sandwich, too! I can't wait to try this!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        June 20, 2019 at 7:10 am

        I know you're going to love it, Jenni! Have fun with your air fryer!!

        Reply

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