French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this French Onion Grilled Cheese Sandwich. Featuring caramelized onions, Gruyère, sharp cheddar, and sourdough bread, it’s rich, savory, and perfectly satisfying.
2 Servings
Ingredients
For the Caramelized Onions:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 4 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 3 medium yellow onions peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped
- 1/4 cup beef broth dry sherry, or water
For the Sandwiches:
- 4 slices hearty sourdough bread
- 6 oz Gruyère cheese shredded
- 4 oz sharp white cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
To Prepare the Caramelized Onions:
- Heat Butter and Oil: In a large, heavy skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
- Cook Onions: Add the sliced onions to the skillet, stirring to coat them evenly. Cover and cook for approximately 5 minutes, allowing the onions to soften.
- Add Seasonings: Remove the lid and incorporate sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well to blend.
- Continue Cooking: Cover the skillet and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the onions in 5-minute intervals, stirring occasionally, until they reach a deep golden brown color. This process will take approximately 20 minutes.
- Deglaze: Add the beef broth, dry sherry, or water to the skillet, scraping the bottom to release any caramelized bits. Cook for an additional minute.
- Add Thyme: Stir in fresh thyme leaves and remove the skillet from heat. Transfer the caramelized onions to a heatproof bowl and carefully wipe out the skillet with a paper towel.
To Prepare the Sandwiches:
- Prepare Skillet: Warm the remaining olive oil and butter in the skillet over medium-low heat.
- Toast Bread: Place the sourdough bread slices in the skillet and toast until lightly golden, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add Cheese: Flip the bread slices and distribute the shredded Gruyère and sharp white cheddar evenly over each slice.
- Melt Cheese: Cover the skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes until the cheese has melted thoroughly.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Remove the skillet from heat and transfer the toasted bread to a cutting board. Spread caramelized onions over two of the slices and top with the remaining bread slices.
- Slice and Serve: Allow the sandwiches to cool for 1–2 minutes before slicing in half. Serve immediately for the best experience.
Notes
To make this recipe gluten-free, simply substitute the sourdough bread with a high-quality gluten-free bread of your choice. Ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free as well, particularly the broth if using store-bought.