I don’t think I have ever met anyone who doesn’t enjoy the comfort and nostalgia of a good grilled cheese. Buttery, warm, cheesy, what’s not to love? But to be honest, classic american cheese isn’t a staple in my house, so when I want to take a trip down memory lane, I opt to make the old favorites more “adulty”. If I need a simple but sophisticated lunch to warm you up in the winter, I look no further than this caramelized onion and apple grilled cheese. It is warm and gooey, sweet and savory!
Caramelized Onions
The shining star of this dish is easily the caramelized onions. Although they are definitely a labor of love, the sweet, savory caramelized onions are the perfect flavor bomb in this sandwich.
I always make caramelized onions in a cast iron skillet. Don’t ask me why, I don’t know the science, I just know they always come out perfect! Begin with 1 tbsp of unsalted butter and 1 tbsp of olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Thinly slice 1 large sweet onion and add it to the skillet. This may look like a lot but it will cook down to be just enough for 2 sandwiches.
Saute the onions for 3-5 minutes or until they begin to turn translucent. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Get them to a nice amber/medium caramel color, which happens as the natural sugars are released and the liquid cooks out of the onions.
Once a nice amber color is reached, add in 1/2 tbsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp dried italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir and continue to cook for 3-5 minutes or until the liquid has all been absorbed.
Caramelized Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese
Now that the onions are ready, it is time to assemble! This recipe yields 2 sandwiches, so start with 4 thick slices of white bread. On one side of each slice, spread a thin layer of mayonnaise. This sounds odd, but this is really the equivalent to spreading butter on the outside of your bread. It is just a layer of fat to help the bread toast perfectly.
Lay the bread mayo-side down, and on two slices, pile them high with the caramelized onions, spreading edge to edge. On the other two slices, evenly sprinkle 3 oz of shredded white cheese (like gruyere, gouda, or white cheddar) on each and top with 4-5 thin slices of apple. I like using a honeycrisp or mcintosh for this sandwich. Sandwich together one onion slice with a cheese/apple slice, and place in a skillet over medium heat.
Cook the grilled cheeses on each side for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown on the outside and the cheese is melted on the inside. Totally not necessary, but I was gifted an awesome grill press, and though I live in a small apartment without a grill, it is the perfect tool for pressed sandwiches!
Don’t have one? Take another small skillet, place it on top of the sandwich, and weigh it down with a heavy can or jar. Same outcome! This helps the cheese on the inside have closer contact to the heat so it all cooks evenly and melts perfectly.
And that is it! Slice in half (diagonally is the only way to go in my house) and serve immediately so you don’t miss the chance to get an awesome cheese-pull picture! This caramelized onion and apple grilled cheese is the hearty, grown-up version of a childhood favorite. It is the perfect lunch to warm you up this chilly winter.
Want More Lunch Recipes?
- Turkey Apple Brie Panini
- Avocado California Chicken
- Chicken Fajita Bowls
- Chipotle Salmon Burgers
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese
Caramelized Onion and Apple Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large sweet onion sliced thin
- ½ tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp dried italian seasoning
- salt and pepper
- 4 sliced thick white bread
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- ½ mcintosh or honeycrisp apple (or any tart red apple) cored and thinly sliced
- 6 oz shredded gruyere, gouda, or white cheddar
Instructions
- In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, melt butter and olive oil. Add onions and saute for 3-5 minutes or until they become slightly translucent.
- Reduce heat to medium low and continue to cook for 20-25 minutes, or until they become medium caramel in color.
- Add in sugar, balsamic, italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste, and continue to cook for 3-5 more minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. Set aside.
- Spread mayo on one side of each slice of bread, edge to edge. On two slices, pile equal amounts of the onions on the non-mayo side. On the other two slices (non-mayo side) equally pile on the cheese, and 4-5 thin slices of apple.
- Sandwich one slice of the onion covered bread with the cheese/apple slice,(and repeat with the other sandwich). Place both sandwiches in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown, flipping over and repeating on the other side. Use a sandwich/grill press if desired.
- Remove from heat, slice in half, and serve immediately.
