Brie Grilled Cheese
This outrageously delicious Strawberry, Turkey, and Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich provides sweet, salty, and spicy flavors in every bite. Shake up your grilled cheese routine with this out-of-the-ordinary recipe.
This Brie Sandwich is one of my favorite Grilled Cheese Recipes as the contrast in colors and texture is tantalizing to both the eyes and the palate.
Why You Must Make
- Who doesn’t adore a classic grilled cheese: crisp buttery toast with hot, gooey cheese in every bite?
- While the standard grilled cheese is made with white sandwich bread and American or Cheddar cheese, there are also numerous variations of this classic dish. Trying different cheese, bread types and spreads are fun ways to shake things up!
- This is a terrific recipe if you have leftover Brie from entertaining.
- If you want to go gourmet, try a Brie grilled cheese sandwich.
My sister, Maddy, was here for a visit and we whipped up these Brie sandwiches one day for lunch. In agreement, we decided this was the best lunch either of us had eaten in months. Bill, AKA the picky hubby, finished every bite, too!
Expert Tips
The nontraditional mix of ingredients in this Brie sandwich tastes incredible. If you have a panini press, go ahead and go that route, but simply sauteing in a fry pan or grill pan creates an amazing grilled cheese sandwich.
- I used ciabatta bread for this particular grilled cheese. Feel free to use your favorite sturdy bread.
- The original recipe called for thicker slices of smoked turkey vs. the usual deli cut. This helps prevent excess shredding. If you don’t like smoked turkey, regular deli turkey will taste great, too. And if you’re looking for a use for leftover Thanksgiving turkey, thin slices will work well in this grilled cheese sandwich.
- Remove the rind off your Brie before slicing. Brie is quite sticky, so don’t worry if it’s a messy process. Your Brie sandwich will taste wonderful no matter if your Brie is perfectly sliced or not.
- PRO- Tip: You can always place the Brie in the freezer for 15-30 minutes to firm it up or spray your knife with a non-stick cooking spray to minimize sticking.
- PRO-Tip: Do you know how to chiffonade herbs? It’s a process of rolling a few leaves of the herb into a cigar-like shape, then thinly slice it perpendicular to the stem forming slivers of herbs. By using this method, there won’t be any big pieces of basil in your sandwich.
- Use a pastry brush to apply melted butter onto the exterior sides of the bread. These brie sandwiches are loaded so I found it easiest to butter one side of the bread, place it on the grill pan or panini press, add toppings, then butter the other slice and top the sandwich.
- The red pepper jelly that I used was not spicy. Look at the ingredient list for red pepper flakes, jalapenos, etc. then pick either a spicy or non-spicy version depending on your palate.
How to Make
Whether you crave a classic grilled cheese on white sandwich bread or a more exotic version, like this Brie sandwich, here are some tips for how to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.
- Use good quality bread for your Grilled Cheese Recipes. Skip the mushy Wonder bread and go to the bakery section of your grocery store and pick out a hearty loaf of your choice. I love ciabatta, but it is full of holes, so it’s doable, but it depends on your loaf.
- PRO-Tip: If the bread is too thick, it will be hard to melt the cheese and warm the other fillings.
- Shake up your cheese selection with your favorite melty cheese. Orange cheeses like American and Cheddar are standard, but Brie, Swiss, or Gouda are delicious alternatives. Or use a couple of different cheeses for a more complex-flavored sandwich. Much as I love Mozzarella, it’s rather bland in a grilled cheese unless you’re adding other flavorful ingredients.
- Speaking of other ingredients, your sandwich can be more than bread and cheese. Consider adding bacon or ham, herbs, pickles, avocados, tomato slices, pesto, fruit, jams or relishes. Make it the best grilled cheese for YOU!
- Either butter your bread slices or put butter into your saute pan. If using a panini press to cook your grilled cheese, use a pastry brush to apply melted butter to either the press or the bread.
- PRO-Tip: Jazz up your sandwich by coating it in mayonnaise instead of butter or even mayo plus a generous sprinkling of Parmesan!
- Don’t cook on high heat. A lower temperature will allow the cheese to melt before the exterior gets too dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brie is a double creme cow’s milk cheese that originated in the Brie region of France. Most notable is the contrast between the soft interior and the rind, which is just dried cheese that has been in contact with Penincillium candidum, an edible mold.
Don’t worry, though, as there doesn’t appear to be a problem with those allergic to Penicillin, the antibiotic, having an adverse reaction when eating Brie. The rind is edible and when in France, it may insult your host if you don’t eat it.
Brie has a mellow, nutty flavor with soft mushroom undertones. Old, past its prime Brie will have an ammonia odor. Avoid eating that!! Brie will last about 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator after opening.
Red fruit jams and jellies are terrific with Brie. Think cherry, raspberry, strawberry. But even red pepper jelly or apricot jam pair well with Brie.
Besides adding it to a cheese board (or grilled cheese sandwich), there are loads of other ways to enjoy Brie. Try a Brie mac and cheese or add it to a cold sandwich instead of Cheddar. Serve with crackers and a small bowl of jam for a simple starter. Wrap a round of Brie in puff pastry and bake for a warm, gooey appetizer. Add it to your garlic bread or even on top of a plate of spaghetti or another pasta dish!
Just think of what would be served with your toasted cheese sandwich at your favorite diner. A small bowl of tomato soup, a simple salad, or a side of fruit would be fabulous accompaniments.
You May Also Like:
- Reuben Sandwich from Spend with Pennies
- Chicken Pesto Grilled Cheese
- Caprese Grilled Cheese
- Mediterranean Grilled Cheese
- Brie BLT
- French Dip Sandwich
- For a French twist, try this Croque Monsieur Sandwich
- More Entree Recipes
Strawberry, Turkey and Brie Grilled Cheese Recipe
A gourmet grilled cheese sandwich made with Brie, turkey and strawberries!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces brie, rind removed, and sliced into ½ inch thick slices
- 8 slices bread (I used ciabatta)
- 8 ounces sliced smoked turkey (I used 8 slices)
- 8 fresh basil leaves, rolled and sliced into thin slices (chiffonade)
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- 2 tablespoons pepper jelly
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- Whole or halved strawberries for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Layer 4 bread slices evenly with turkey, basil leaves, strawberries, and brie.
- Spread 1 ½ teaspoons of pepper jelly on one side of each of the remaining 4 bread slices.
- Place bread slices, face down on top of the brie. Brush sandwiches with melted butter.
- Cook sandwiches, in batches in a preheated Panini press for 2 to 3 minutes or till golden brown. Or cook in a saute pan until golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh berries and basil, if desired.
Notes
Adapted from Southern Living.
Use any favorite jam in this recipe. Thinly sliced holiday turkey leftovers work well, too.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1 sandwichAmount Per Serving: Calories: 508Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 1389mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 3gSugar: 14gProtein: 25g
9 Comments on “Brie Grilled Cheese”
Now this is a sandwich I wouldn’t hesitate to enjoy! Fabulousness all around. That’s really good looking ciabatta! Great idea.
I do love both grilled cheese and brie, but I don’t think I’ve ever tried these two things together. I’ll definitely need to fix this. Also, as a huge fan of sweet & savoury combos, this recipe is calling my name!
Oh my goodness! What a brilliant sandwich. I adore fruit with brie and strawberries are perfect — especially right now. I can’t get enough of them. ~Valentina
Love this idea. Slightly sweet, savory and cheesy. Everything you need for the perfect sammie!
The sandwich looks beyond delicious! I really love the combo of summer berries and brie.
I see that I’m going to have to run to the store in the morning for some brie. Just pulled a smoked turkey breast from the freezer and I have everything else to make this. I just have to try this sandwich! Thanks!
This looks fabulous, Liz! I need to try this immediately and you already have me thinking ahead to Thanksgiving – maybe with cranberry chutney in place of the strawberries!
Absolutely perfect! I’ve always loved a good grilled cheese and especially one with hot pepper jelly too. Bravo! Glad you had a nice visit with your sister. Keep cooking like this and I bet she comes back 🙂
Yum! I just had breakfast and now I want to start lunch! This looks wonderfu!