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If you’re a cheese lover, this Ultimate French Raclette Grilled Cheese Sandwich is about to take your cheese game to the next level! Imagine raclette cheese melting together between two slices of the best bread, with layers of thinly sliced prosciutto and caramelized onions. Pressed to golden brown perfection in a panini press or frying pan, this sandwich delivers the perfect crispy combination of gooey cheese and buttery, toasted sourdough bread.
The nutty flavour of French raclette cheese makes this best grilled cheese recipe extra special. Serve it alongside a side of salad, a dill pickle, or a bowl of soup for the ultimate comfort meal. Want to elevate it even more? Pair it with a glass of white wine, a dollop of fruit preserves, or a small cheese board featuring more of your favourite cheeses.
Whether you’re celebrating Cheese Day (April 12th!), craving a simple sandwich, this raclette sandwich is a must-try. Grab your raclette maker or a special raclette grill, and let’s get cooking.
While raclette grilled cheese may give you a taste of the Swiss Alps, this Amazing Caprese Chicken Sandwich will transport you to Italy! Likewise, this Authentic French Croque-Monsieur is delicious too!
⭐ Why You Will Love This sandwich
- Leftovers! This raclette cheese sandwich is the best part of a classic raclette dinner, now in the form of a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich! It's perfect for using up cheese leftovers, especially the creamy, melted cheese from your last raclette party.
- With only five simple ingredients, this sandwich is a breeze to make! Even better, it’s easy to adapt to what you have on hand. Try swapping the meat or adding veggies like green onions or even a splash of vinegar for some tang.
- This is a comforting and filling meal, whether you're serving it for a quick lunch or an indulgent dinner. The crispy combination of toasted bread and gooey cheese will make it your new favourite go-to sandwich!
🧀 Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredients listed below make four delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. You can easily adjust these ingredients to make fewer or more sandwiches, depending on your needs!
- Sliced bread – Freshly baked bread is always best for a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. Something like sourdough bread, which is rustic and chewy, is perfect for holding up against the gooey cheese filling!
- Raclette cheese – A semi-firm cow’s milk cheese with a nutty flavour that’s perfect for melting. This raclette cheese sandwich can be made with French raclette cheese or any other best cheese you prefer. It’s essential for getting that perfect melt and creamy texture.
- Onions – White or yellow onions work great, but for extra flavour, caramelize them to bring out a bit of sweetness. These will complement the melted cheese beautifully.
- Prosciutto – You want to get fancy with prosciutto, it’s a great choice, it is thinly cut and delicious.
- Butter – A must for ensuring the bread gets that perfect golden brown crispness. You can use salted or unsalted butter, but olive oil is a good alternative for a slightly different flavour. Non-stick cooking spray can also be used to avoid sticking in the panini press.
📖 Variations
Grilled cheese sandwiches are incredibly versatile, and this raclette grilled cheese sandwich is no exception! Here are a few ideas to elevate your sandwich to the next level:
- Bread – Use your favorite rustic bread for this gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. A crispy baguette works wonders, or even make smaller sandwiches by using this bread for sliders.
- Cheese – If you can’t find raclette cheese, try high-quality Gruyère, Comté, or Emmental. These semi-firm cow’s milk cheeses melt beautifully and are perfect for melted cheese goodness.
- Onions – Switch things up by using thinly sliced red onions for a pop of colour and flavour, instead of the usual cooked onions. Maybe some picked one if you have!
- Prosciutto – If you have leftover ham from your last raclette party, feel free to use that! Other cold cuts or even deli meats will work wonderfully for adding that salty, savoury flavour.
- Other add-ins – Get creative with some extra ingredients like roasted potatoes, kale, spinach, artichokes, mushrooms, thyme, garlic, or grain mustard. These can give your sandwich a delicious, flavourful twist.
🥪 Instructions
First, cook the sliced onions on low heat in a pan for about 40 minutes until caramelized.
Then, place four slices of bread on a flat board and place the sliced raclette cheese (Step 1), add a piece of prosciutto (step 2), spread the onions evenly over each slice, and add some pickles (step 3). Close the sandwich with another slice of bread (step 4).
- Lastly, turn your panini press on and grease the bottom with butter. Place the sandwiches on the press and brush the top of each sandwich with melted butter or oil. Close the press gently and heat for 3-4 minutes or until the bread has turned golden.
Tip: Repeat this process depending on how many sandwiches your panini press can hold or if you decide to double the recipe.
💭 Recipe FAQs
Raclette cheese is a semi-firm cow’s milk cheese that comes from the Swiss and French sides of the Alps. It’s typically more expensive than your typical grocery store cheese due to the high quality and import costs, but it is so worth it!
“Raclette” comes from “racler” which means “to scrape” in French. The traditional way of enjoying raclette cheese is to melt a wheel of cheese on an open fire or heated surface. As the cheese melts, it gets scraped onto plates to be enjoyed with a selection of veggies and meats!
While raclette grilled cheese sandwiches are best enjoyed immediately after being heated in the panini press, you can store any leftovers in the fridge for a short time. However, the filling can make the crisp bread soggy, so it's not recommended to store it for long. If you're not able to finish the sandwich, enjoy it fresh for the best flavour!
Just like with any grilled cheese sandwiches, this raclette sandwich pairs perfectly with crispy French fries or Portobello baked fries, a fresh salad, or a light soup. If you want a creamy side, consider adding a dipping sauce like garlic sauce or mayonnaise.
The best bread for this gourmet grilled cheese sandwich is really up to your personal taste. Sourdough bread, rye bread, or a baguette will give you a rustic and hearty feel, while regular sandwich bread is perfect for a more classic option. For a unique twist, try artisan breads to elevate the cheese goodness.
🍞 More Easy Sandwiches
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📖 Raclette Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Equipment
- 1 wooden board
- 1 Panini press
Ingredients
- 8 slices bread
- 8 slices raclette cheese
- 2 sliced onions
- 8 slices prosciutto
Instructions
Caramelized onions
- In a hot pan, pour some olive oil and cook the sliced onion for 40 minutes on low until caramelized. Set aside.
Raclette Grilled Cheese
- Place four slices of bread on a flat board and place the sliced raclette cheese, add a piece of prosciutto, spread the onions evenly over each slice, and add some pickles.
- Close the sandwich with another slice of bread.
- Turn your panini press on and grease the bottom with butter. Place the sandwiches on the press and brush the top of each sandwich with melted butter or oil. Close the press gently and heat for 3-4 minutes or until the bread has turned golden.
Notes
- Use your favorite bread or any leftover cold cuts.
- You can use a regular pan with a spatula to press the grilled cheese sandwiches if you don’t own a panini press.
Annick says
Brilliant! Why I did not think about it before! We loved it and added some pickles in it, it was amazing!
Christine says
Juste bravooo
Recette parfaite, photos magnifiqueeee
Karina says
Great idea, delicious!