Pear & Apple Grilled Cheese With Caramelized Onions Recipe
This Pear & Apple Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions is a deliciously sophisticated twist on a classic comfort food. Featuring crispy, buttery sourdough bread filled with sweet caramelized onions, sharp cheddar cheese, and thinly sliced fresh pear and apple, it creates a perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors. Ideal for a cozy lunch or a satisfying snack, this grilled cheese brings together fresh fruit and rich cheese in a warm, melty sandwich that’s easy to make on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bread & Butter
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Filling
- 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize Onions: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Add the thinly sliced onions and a pinch of salt, cooking them while stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes until they soften and turn golden brown. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and cook for 2-3 more minutes. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare Skillet & Layer Sandwiches: Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Meanwhile, build the sandwiches by layering half of the shredded cheddar cheese on two slices of sourdough bread, evenly distributing the caramelized onions on top, then layering the apple slices followed by the pear slices. Add the remaining cheddar cheese over the fruit and cover with the other two bread slices.
- Grill Sandwiches: Place one sandwich in the skillet and grill for 4-5 minutes on one side until the bread is golden brown. Carefully flip the sandwich with a spatula and cook the other side for another 4-5 minutes, ensuring the cheese melts completely.
- Repeat Grilling: Repeat the grilling process with the second sandwich, cooking it until golden brown and the cheese is melted thoroughly.
- Serve: Remove both sandwiches from the skillet, allow them to cool for a minute, then slice in half and serve warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use sharp cheddar cheese for the best flavor balance with the sweet fruit and onions.
- Make sure to slice the pear and apple thinly to ensure even heating and melting inside the sandwich.
- Adjust the amount of salt and pepper to your taste preference.
- You can substitute sourdough bread with any hearty bread like multigrain or rye if desired.
- For a vegan alternative, use vegan butter and cheese substitutes.
Keywords: pear grilled cheese, apple grilled cheese, caramelized onions sandwich, autumn sandwich, sourdough grilled cheese, sweet and savory sandwich
