This apple grilled cheese sandwich puts a gourmet spin on a classic grilled cheese! It has the best contrast of flavors and textures, with tender apples, juicy ham, apricot jam, Dijon mustard, and melty Gruyere cheese. It’s a great way to use up leftover holiday ham!
If you love your homemade grilled cheese with a little extra somethin’ somethin’, definitely try my melty Pizza sandwiches and this breakfast-style bacon and egg grilled cheese sandwich, next!
With all the holiday hustling and bustling going on, I thought I’d share one of my all-time favorite recipes to make this time of year: An apple grilled cheese sandwich! Yes, in a sea of mashed potatoes and stuffing, sometimes nothing hits the spot like a good ol’ grilled cheese can. Especially in the days after Christmas, when all I want to do is veg in the living room and watch the game.
Today’s recipe isn’t just any grilled cheese sandwich. It’s the BEST I’ve ever tasted. Sweet-tart apples and salty ham are a match made in grilled cheese heaven. Round out those flavors with apricot jam, spicy Dijon, and melty Gruyère cheese, and I’m done for!
Why I Love This Apple Grilled Cheese
- It’s ready in 5 minutes. Give or take the time needed to grill this sandwich in the pan. It’s quick and easy to assemble, even if it’s a little bit fancier than your classic grilled cheese sandwich.
- Gourmet flavors. This sandwich has all the flavors, textures, and ingredients of a gourmet grilled cheese, like the kind you find in coffee shops and delis, minus the price tag.
- Adaptable. There are so many ways that you can adapt this recipe. Make it with leftover Christmas ham, swap the ham slices for turkey, and get creative with your favorite dressings.
What You’ll Need
These are some notes on the ingredients for this epic apple grilled cheese sandwich. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full recipe with amounts and instructions.
- Sliced Bread – This can be any bread you’d like. I use crusty Italian bread, like ciabatta. Other good options are sourdough or multigrain bread. Or, if you have time, you can bake my skillet bread and slice it thick.
- Apricot Jam – I love the sweet-salty of apricot preserves in this ham and apple grilled cheese. You could use apple butter, too. Or, skip the jam if you prefer.
- Dijon Mustard – Or yellow mustard. Spicy brown mustard would also taste great here.
- Ham – Grilled cheese is one of my favorite ways to use leftover holiday ham. Slice it up nice and thin. You can also use deli ham (I like NatureRaised Farms’ smoked sliced ham) or cooked bacon.
- Apple – Also thinly sliced. Granny Smith is my go-to apple for an apple grilled cheese, but you can use any kind you prefer. Good choices are Honeycrisp, McIntosh, and Golden Delicious apples.
- Gruyère Cheese – Gruyère is a slightly sweet, nutty Swiss cheese. Sharp cheddar and gouda also work great in this grilled cheese recipe. Grate the cheese fresh from the block so that it melts smoothly.
- Rosemary – Finely chopped fresh rosemary rounds out the flavors super nicely. You could also use thyme.
- Butter – The best grilled cheese sandwiches get grilled in salted butter, IMO. Butter adds flavor, but you can also use olive oil if needed (or go half-and-half).
How to Make a Ham and Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwich
This grilled cheese comes together in minutes and needs just a short sizzle in the pan with butter afterward. Let’s walk through the steps:
- Start with the jam and mustard. First, spread apricot jam and Dijon evenly over each bread slice.
- Assemble. Next, top each sandwich half with slices of ham. Add your sliced apples, followed by the shredded cheese. Sprinkle over the rosemary and close the sandwiches.
- Cook. Now, grill the sandwiches in a skillet with melted butter until they’re crisp and browned on both sides. Keep the heat on medium so the butter doesn’t burn before the cheese fully melts.
Make It in the Air Fryer!
If you own an air fryer, make an air fryer grilled cheese by buttering the outside of the bread before you assemble the sandwich. Cook at 370ºF for about 5 minutes per side.
Tips and Variations
- Don’t burn the bread. If the butter in the pan starts to smoke or the outside of the bread is browning faster than the cheese is melting, that’s a sign to turn down the heat!
- If you’re cooking with olive oil instead of butter, sprinkle the outside of the bread with a little salt to add flavor.
- Change up the ham. Instead of ham slices, make this apple grilled cheese sandwich with leftover roast turkey at Thanksgiving (also check out my turkey salad sandwich). In this case, I like to replace the apricot jam with leftover cranberry sauce!
- Apple and brie grilled cheese. Replace the grated Gruyère with slices of brie cheese.
Storing Leftovers
- In the fridge. Grilled cheese is always best served fresh, however, you can refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Reheat. I like to reheat my apple grilled cheese in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a little extra butter to help crisp up the bread again.
More Favorite Sandwich Recipes
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Assemble the sandwiches. Spread jam and mustard over the sliced bread. Arrange ham slices over 4 slices of bread. Add sliced apples and mounds of cheese over the ham. Season with rosemary and close sandwiches with the remaining slices.
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Grill. Melt butter in a saute pan over medium heat. Grill the sandwiches until they’re golden brown on both sides. Use more butter if needed. Serve immediately.
Calories: 530kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1399mg | Potassium: 350mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 457IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 465mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
