Pear & Apple Grilled Cheese With Caramelized Onions Recipe
This Pear & Apple Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Onions is a delightful twist on a classic comfort food. Sweet, tender slices of pear and apple paired with sharp cheddar cheese and rich caramelized onions create a perfect balance of flavors, all sandwiched between crispy, buttery sourdough bread. Ideal for a cozy lunch or a satisfying snack, this recipe combines savory and sweet elements with a luscious melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 sandwiches 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Butter
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Filling
- 1 medium pear, thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple, thinly sliced
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: In a skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter. Add the thinly sliced onions and a pinch of salt. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes until they turn golden brown and soft. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the vinegar has reduced and the onions are richly flavored. Remove the onions from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the Skillet: In the same skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter over medium heat to prepare for grilling the sandwiches.
- Assemble the Sandwiches: On two slices of sourdough bread, evenly layer half of the shredded cheddar cheese, followed by an even layer of the caramelized onions, then the apple slices, followed by the pear slices. Top these fillings with the remaining cheddar cheese and cover with the other two slices of bread to form two complete sandwiches.
- Grill the Sandwiches – Side One: Place one sandwich in the skillet and grill it for about 4-5 minutes on one side, until the bread is golden brown and crispy.
- Grill the Sandwiches – Side Two: Carefully flip the sandwich using a spatula and grill the other side for another 4-5 minutes, allowing the cheese inside to melt thoroughly.
- Repeat and Serve: Repeat the grilling process with the second sandwich. Once both sandwiches are grilled to perfection, remove them from the skillet, let them cool for a minute, then slice each sandwich in half and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use ripe but firm pears and apples to avoid mushy texture in the sandwich.
- Caramelizing onions slowly enhances their sweetness and complements the fruit flavors beautifully.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste, especially if your cheese is pre-salted.
- Serve the sandwiches warm for the best melty cheese experience.
- You can substitute cheddar with Gruyère or Monterey Jack for different flavor profiles.
Keywords: grilled cheese, pear, apple, caramelized onions, sourdough, cheddar, sandwich, autumn recipe, easy lunch
