Give Your Grilled Cheese A Major Flavor Boost With This Unexpected Fruit

When we brainstorm additions to take a grilled cheese sandwich to the next level, those toppings often lean savory like bacon or pesto. However, for majorly craveable sweet-savory interplay, you should be adding fruits to grilled cheese (yes, really), and one of the best candidates for the job is none other than peaches. In the hot skillet, the slow caramelization enhances peaches' natural sweetness, deepening those sugars with rich, mouthwatering depth that pairs perfectly with the sammy's gooey cheese-pull.

Before adding them to your sandwich, soften the peaches with a light saute. This extra step makes a world of difference for the finished sandwich, creating a cohesive, uninterrupted, tender mouthfeel. To do it, thinly-slice a fresh peach and add it to a buttered skillet over medium heat. You could also use a scoop of coconut oil as the fat component, imparting the peaches with subtle sweetness as they cook. Once the peaches have visibly softened, they're ready to pack into a grilled cheese. Word to the wise: Take care not to use overripe peaches here, as they'll fall apart or turn to mush. 

To assemble a peach grilled cheese sandwich, build it as you normally would, placing a slice of buttered bread into a hot skillet, topping it with cheese, and then adding the prepared peaches (and more cheese). Finally, pile on another slice of bread and flip to cook until golden brown and crisp. Under the heat, the luscious cheese will melt to surround the peaches in every bite.

Any bread you have on-hand will get the job done, but sourdough makes the ultimate grilled cheese. Sourdough offers the structural integrity necessary to support those toothy peaches, while also contributing a note of fermented tang to round out the sandwich's flavor profile. Whole wheat bread, a seeded multigrain loaf, or a ciabatta roll would all work well, too. 

As for the cheese component, provolone and mozzarella feature a mild taste that'll let the peaches really shine. If you prefer a bolder flavor, try opting for sharp white cheddar, nutty gruyere, or sweet-funky brie. The toppings don't have to stop there, either. A sprinkle of fresh thyme and a drizzle of hot honey would pair fabulously here. The thyme adds an herbal note, while the hot honey brings a touch of heat that pairs beautifully with the sweet peaches.

This grilled cheese upgrade is also a great way to use up an abundant peach harvest during peak growing season. Craving even more fruity pairings? There are plenty of other types of fruit to try, too, like pears — the fall fruit that deserves to be nestled in your next grilled cheese sandwich.