Grilled Cheese Gets Better Flavor From This Spicy Condiment Hiding In Your Fridge

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Grilled cheese is the ultimate comfort food, though who's to say it can't benefit from a little fiery action? Presenting hot sauce — the pillar of every great dish (to pyro-gourmaniacs, at least). This piquant addition deserves a spot in the classic sandwich, as the spice and acidity in the hot sauce cuts through the heaviness of the cheese, giving it a nice, balanced touch. It also gives the handheld a type of complexity that you couldn't get anywhere else. 

To add it, you can let the cheese and hot sauce meld together by parting the bread and drizzling the sauce on top of the melted cheese mid-grill. This makes the fiery sauce the supporting character rather than the one commanding all the attention. That said, you can opt for a less complicated route and just drizzle hot sauce on the bread before you take a bite. 

While you might already have a go-to grilled cheese recipe, consider picking a rustic bread like sourdough. Its delightful crunch complements melty cheese well, and its sourness rounds out the overall flavor. Give a drizzle of ranch a try, too. This powerhouse sauce knows how to make its way to a lot of savory dishes, adding herby complexity without taking the spotlight away from the richness of the sandwich. It's a great way to introduce a new flavor without overpowering the other ingredients. You can also add a knife's worth of mayonnaise on the outside of the bread slices for the crispiest grilled cheese you've ever had. It's not the first time a sandwich has gotten a heated elevation: hot honey can also give grilled cheese an instant upgrade. But with hot sauce, it's all bite and no saccharine touch, which, depending on your taste, can be a grand slam.

You don't even have to just go for plain ol' Tabasco sauce and call it a day — though you might enjoy its tangy notes. The best part about this is there are plenty of options for you to explore. Sriracha remains a classic choice for its beautiful mesh of garlicky, sweet, and bold flavors — perfect for gooey cheeses like Havarti. Huy Fong's Chili Garlic Sauce can also be a splendid addition, as garlic and cheese have been an unbeatable combination in a multitude of dishes, and this specific sauce is known to be versatile. It's even more phenomenal with the complexity of aged cheddar, allowing both ingredients to bring out the best in each other, especially if you enjoy a bold sandwich. 

Sambal can also be a worthy addition for its flavorful umami kick that works well with the sweet and nutty Wensleydale and the creamy and full-bodied Red Leicester. Dijon hot sauce can do wonders to your sandwich with its tangy punch, too, especially when paired with the savory and earthy Gruyère.

If you're worried about the heat these sauces are packing, you can always increase your spice tolerance (yes, it's possible). Better yet, there are plenty of options for those who like milder spice, including fruit-based sauces like the Strawberry Serrano Hot Sauce by Fat Cat. Overall, making this dish is fun. You get to experiment with different cheese and hot sauce combinations, so there's plenty of room for play. But hey, all the more reason to have grilled cheese every day.