I teamed up with my favorite cheese producer, Cabot, to create a recipe for a Giant Grilled Cheese Appetizer! It’s just the thing to serve as a game-day meal, as a party appetizer, or as an after school snack.
This isn’t just any grilled cheese, it’s bigger, more flavorful, and better than the grilled cheese your mom made you when you were a kid. Plus, it’s easy to make.
The secret is to buy a loaf of unsliced bread, and then to slice it lengthwise creating extra long rectangular slices of bread. Then the outside bread gets spread with simple homemade garlic basil butter, and the inside gets filled with a mix of Colby Jack and Vermont Sharp Cheddar cheeses.
Instead of cooking this grilled cheese in a pan, you roast it in the oven. Place the sandwich on a baking sheet and let it cook at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Then increase the heat to broil. Keep your eye on the sandwich, it will only take a few minutes for each side to become golden brown.
Once the giant grilled cheese has toasted, slice it up and serve it. I like to serve the grilled cheese in thin slices perfect for dipping in tomato soup.
I love this recipe because it takes a classic American comfort food and makes it a bit more sophisticated, while turning the meal into a hearty appetizer.
Since this is made in the oven, it’s easy to make several at once. If you are having a party, you can assemble the grilled cheeses in advance and then bake them once guests arrive.
Cabot sells a wide variety of cheeses. Get it in blocks, sliced in cracker cuts, shredded, or in deli slices for sandwiches. I used a block of Vermont Sharp Cheddar that I sliced up and some Colby Jack cracker cuts for my grilled cheese, but cheese in any form will work!
I love the mellow flavor and creaminess of the Colby Jack and the bold sharpness of the Vermont Sharp cheddar. It’s a delicious combination, and both cheeses melt very well. The melted cheese oozing out of the bread will make mouths water.
While I used Colby Jack and Cheddar, you can use your favorite Cabot cheeses to prepare this recipe. If you want to add a little heat use Pepper Jack. For an extra burst of flavor try the Smoky Bacon Cheddar Cheese, the Hand-Rubbed Everything Bagel Cheddar Cheese, or the Hand-Rubbed Tuscan Cheddar Cheese.
Giant Grilled Cheese Appetizer:
Giant Grilled Cheese Appetizer
This giant sized grilled cheese is made with colby jack and cheddar cheeses and is topped with a garlic basil butter. Serve it as an appetizer or a meal - this is an easy way to feed a crowd!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of unsliced White or Wheat Bread
- 3 tablespoons Butter, a room temperature
- 2-3 cloves of Garlic, either finely chopped or pressed with a garlic press
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped Basil
- Cabot Colby Jack Cheese
- Cabot Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese
- Optional: Serve with warm Tomato Soup
Instructions
Using a sharp serrated knife, carefully slice the loaf of bread horizontally into long half-inch thick slices. Set aside.
In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic, and basil. Then spread one side of each slice of bread with this butter mixture.
Place one slice of the buttered bread on a baking sheet, with the buttered side facing down. Next, arrange slices of the cheese on top of the bread so that they are lightly overlapping. Alternate a slices of the Colby Jack with slices of the Vermont Sharp Cheddar.
Once a solid layer of cheese has been arranged on the bread, add the second piece of bread on top, so that the buttered side is facing up.
Arrange a baking rack so that it is on the top third of your oven. Place baking sheet with the sandwich in the center of this baking rack and turn the heat of the oven to 350 degrees.
Let the sandwich cook for 10 minutes, then increase the heat of the oven to broil. Keep a close eye on the sandwich. The top should brown in just a minute. Then remove from the oven, flip, and return to the oven so that the second side can brown.
Once the sandwich is toasted and golden brown, remove it from the oven and slice it. If you like, serve with warm tomato soup.
This post was sponsored by Cabot. Thank you for supporting the brands that make The Kittchen possible.