15 Grilled Cheese Sandwiches That Are Crispy, Oozing, and Anything but Basic

This is, according to former Serious Eats editor Kenji, "possibly the best (and messiest) breakfast sandwich in existence." It's got melty cheese and runny yolks, and you'll want a knife and fork for enjoying it.

We'd happily eat kimchi on its own, but the spicy, fermented cabbage is just as delicious when layered with cheese between two slices of heart white bread. Cook it over low heat until it's golden brown and nicely melty, and you've got yourself a spectacular sandwich.

This recipe is our preferred method for making the very best grilled cheese sandwich. The secret? Toasting the bread on both sides—and choosing a cheese with good meltability.

So maybe it's not a typical grilled cheese, but this Italian fried mozzarella sandwich is basically a grilled cheese taken up a notch. Frying the sandwich at a relatively low temperature ensures that the cheese melts before the bread gets too brown, and seasoning the egg mixture with Pecorino adds a welcome layer of tang.

This version of ham and cheese features a generous mound of satiny, savory ribbons of ham sandwiched between a thin layer of tangy Swiss cheese, with tart mustard and pickles added to counter the sweet and salty deli ham. It's all piled high and cooked in a skillet, where it's pressed for a portion of the time, until the bread is golden and crisp, and the cheese melts, blanketing the warm ham.

Ooey-gooey and oh-so-crunchy, this fried cheese sandwich is a Nebraska icon. The sandwich, which is coated in coarse cornflake crumbs for sweetness and crunch, is the deep-fried alter ego to the classic grilled cheeses.

This recipe recreates the flavors of the classic party app by adding roasted jalapeño, crispy slices of bacon, and a healthy slathering of cream cheese to our standard, double-toasted grilled cheese sandwich. The outside gets toasted in a mixture of butter and rendered bacon fat.

Chocolatey Nutella and rich, gooey brie ooze through the open crumb of butter-toasted French bread to create this sweet-savory extravaganza. Definitely a keeper for those who prefer a lunch with dessert vibes!

Blue cheese, shredded chicken, and Frank's RedHot are straddled by two melted layers of Monterey Jack—all the spicy, meaty, funky, cheesy flavors of a bar food classic, translated into the ultimate comfort food.

Stringy Oaxacan cheese surrounds a spicy, creamy mash of avocado and chipotles in adobo, while a layer of whole papalo leaves add an herbal pop.

Start by spreading minced anchovy fillets over half of the toasts, then layer on mozzarella, pesto, thinly sliced marinated artichoke hearts, and mortadella before closing the sandwiches and grilling them until golden.

The warm, gooey, crisp, buttery comfort of a grilled cheese paired with the creamy tang of guacamole could just be the best thing ever.

Adding a few bells and whistles to a classic never hurt. This grilled cheese is slathered in butter, while the inside is generously layered with soft, mildly pungent taleggio cheese. Tucked in the middle are mixed mushrooms sautéed with herbs and sweet shallots.

Savory piquillo-studded sharp cheddar spread, slices of ham, and scratch-made dill pickle chips create a memorable grilled cheese. Here, briefly warming grated onion, ground mustard, and Cayenne in a portion of the mayonnaise tempers the onion's harshness and blooms the spices for a savory, full-flavored pimento cheese.

This cheesy melt is everything you love about spinach and artichoke dip, in crispy, crunchy, cheesy sandwich form. It's a hearty lunch or, paired with a bowl of tomato soup, a full dinner on its own.