Pickle Cheese Toast

This sandwich takes the popular dill pickle wrap and turns it into a gooey, delicious grilled cheese treat. When tangy pickles meet hearty ham and melty cheese, you get an amazing flavor combo that makes this way better than your average grilled cheese.

I came up with these sandwiches during a stormy weekend when the kids wanted something tasty but different. These days they ask for them every week, especially after they come home hungry from soccer practice when we need something filling and fast.

Ingredients

• White or sourdough bread: Get it fresh from a bakery for the tastiest foundation
• Butter: Make sure it's soft so it spreads easily and browns nicely
• Cream cheese: Adds a wonderful richness that works so well with the zippy pickles
• Fontina cheese: This cheese melts amazingly and has a gentle nutty taste that lets other flavors shine
• Thinly sliced ham: Brings savory goodness. Grab fresh-cut from the deli counter instead of packaged stuff
• Kosher dill pickle sandwich slices: These are the real heroes bringing zing and crunch. Go for thick cuts for extra texture

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the bread:

Smear soft butter all over the outside of your bread slices. This will give you that gorgeous golden outside when cooked. Then spread cream cheese on the inside of each slice, covering it completely to block moisture and keep things from getting soggy.

Layer the sandwich:

Put one slice of Fontina on the cream cheese side of your bottom bread piece. This first cheese layer helps hold everything together. Next, lay down your ham slices evenly, then add pickle slices spread across the whole sandwich. Finish with another slice of Fontina, which helps keep everything in place.

Grill to perfection:

Warm up your pan over medium-low heat. This slower cooking lets the cheese get totally melty while your bread turns beautifully golden. Put the sandwich in butter-side down and let it cook for 4-5 minutes until it's golden underneath and cheese starts melting. Carefully flip it with a wide spatula that supports the whole thing, then cook another 3-4 minutes until the other side looks just as good.

Serve immediately:

Take it off the heat and cut it diagonally to make it look extra tempting. Eat it right away while the cheese is still stretchy and the bread is still crispy.

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The kosher dill pickles really make this sandwich special. My grandma always kept homemade pickles in her fridge, and using them in this grilled cheese takes me back to spending summer days in her kitchen. Their tartness cuts right through the rich cheese in the best way.

Make-Ahead Options

You can put these sandwiches together up to 4 hours before cooking them. Just build them as shown, wrap them tightly in plastic, and stick them in the fridge. This helps on busy evenings when you need to get stuff done early. When you're ready to eat, just unwrap and cook as normal, adding about a minute per side since everything will be cold from the fridge.

Perfect Pairings

This sandwich tastes amazing by itself, but really shines with the right sides. Try it with tomato soup for that classic grilled cheese experience plus the extra kick from the pickles. If you want something lighter, go with a simple green salad with vinaigrette dressing to balance out the richness. In summertime, some potato chips and an extra pickle spear on the side really bring out those dill flavors.

Ingredient Substitutions

You can swap Fontina for Havarti, Gouda, or even American cheese if you want. They all have slightly different flavors but they'll all melt really well. Turkey works great instead of ham if you want something lighter. If you like things spicy, try adding some pickled jalapeños along with or instead of some dill pickles. And if you want more texture, thin apple slices add a nice sweet-sour contrast to the mix.

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Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I swap out the cheese?

Sure, feel free to try cheeses like mozzarella, Swiss, or even Gouda to find your favorite combination.

→ What kind of bread works best?

Sourdough or plain white bread is ideal, but any bread that'll toast nicely, like whole grain or gluten-free, works too.

→ Can I throw in extra toppings?

Go ahead! Add bacon, a little mustard, or even thinly sliced onions for extra flavor.

→ What’s the secret to not burning the bread?

Keep the heat on medium-low so the bread toasts gently, giving the cheese enough time to melt.

→ Is it okay to prep this beforehand?

It's better fresh, but you can have your ingredients ready. Just grill it right before eating for the best taste.