Creamy Mushroom Grilled Cheese (Printable)

A rich sandwich blending sautéed mushrooms and melted cheese on crispy golden bread.

# What You Need:

→ Mushrooms

01 - 7 oz cremini or button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
02 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
03 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
05 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
06 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream

→ Sandwich

07 - 4 slices sourdough or country bread
08 - 4 slices Swiss or Gruyère cheese, approximately 3 oz
09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Directions:

01 - Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced mushrooms and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and moisture evaporates, about 6 to 8 minutes.
02 - Incorporate minced garlic and thyme; cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Season with salt and black pepper.
03 - Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream. Cook 1 to 2 minutes until mixture becomes creamy but not runny. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - Arrange bread slices. Place one slice of cheese on two slices, top evenly with mushroom mixture, then add another cheese slice. Cover with remaining bread slices.
05 - Spread softened butter on the outside surfaces of each sandwich evenly.
06 - Heat a clean skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Cook sandwiches 3 to 4 minutes per side, gently pressing with a spatula, until bread is golden and cheese melts.
07 - Remove sandwiches from heat, slice in half and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The mushrooms get so creamy and luxurious that you'll forget this is technically vegetarian comfort food.
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you've been simmering something all day.
  • The contrast between the crispy, buttered exterior and the soft, oozy center is exactly what comfort tastes like.
02 -
  • Don't rush the mushroom cooking phase, those 6 to 8 minutes are crucial for developing flavor and getting rid of excess moisture that would make your sandwich soggy.
  • Medium-low heat is your friend when grilling the sandwich, too high and the bread burns before the cheese has time to melt properly.
03 -
  • Mince your garlic finely and add it after the mushrooms are already golden so it doesn't burn and taste bitter.
  • Use a spatula to gently press down on the sandwich while it cooks, which helps the cheese melt faster and creates better contact between bread and heat.
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