Creamy Mushroom Grilled Cheese (Printer View)

A comfort food pairing of creamy mushrooms and melted cheese on toasted bread.

# Components:

→ 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, to taste
06 - Black pepper, to taste
07 - 2 tablespoons heavy cream

→ Sandwich

08 - 4 slices sourdough or country bread
09 - 4 slices Swiss or Gruyère cheese (3 oz)
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

# Method:

01 - Melt 1 tablespoon unsalted 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 - Stir in minced garlic and thyme leaves; cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Season with salt and black pepper.
03 - Lower heat to low, stir in heavy cream, and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until mixture thickens and becomes creamy without excess liquid. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - Arrange bread slices on a flat surface. Place one slice of cheese on two slices of bread, evenly layer with creamy mushroom mixture, then top with another cheese slice. Cap with remaining bread slices.
05 - Spread softened butter evenly on the outside face of each sandwich.
06 - Heat a clean skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Cook sandwiches 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted throughout.
07 - Remove sandwiches from skillet, slice in half, and serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream transforms humble mushrooms into something silky and restaurant-worthy without any fuss.
  • It's ready faster than you'd think, which means you can satisfy a craving for comfort food on a random weeknight.
  • The contrast between crispy golden bread and melty cheese hiding a creamy filling makes every bite feel indulgent.
02 -
  • Don't skip letting the mushrooms brown properly at the start—this is where all the flavor comes from, and rushing it leaves you with mushroom soup instead of a rich filling.
  • Medium-low heat for cooking the sandwich is crucial because if your pan is too hot, the bread burns before the cheese melts inside. Patience here makes all the difference.
  • If your sandwich starts leaking cream, you've either overfilled it or the bread broke. Make a mental note for next time and just enjoy what you have anyway—it's still delicious.
03 -
  • Slice your mushrooms to roughly the same thickness so they cook at the same rate and the mixture stays cohesive instead of having mushy bits and firm bits.
  • If your cream looks like it's breaking when you add it, lower the heat even further and add it slowly while stirring constantly—this rarely happens with just 2 tablespoons, but it's good to know.
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