15 Condiments That Take Grilled Cheese To New Heights

When done right, grilled cheese sandwiches are a perfect food. Cheesy, gooey, salty, and buttery, they hit the spot every time. They don't have to be elaborate, either. A simple recipe of bread, butter, and just one or two types of cheese leads to sandwich heaven. Still, a few condiments never hurt, and these tasty sammies are prime for an upgrade. That's why I rounded up a collection of condiments to point you in the right direction. I'm not just talking about the basics, like ketchup, mustard, and plain old mayo, either. You already know about them. I'm referencing more creative picks, like savory jams, chimichurri, or chili crisp, that may not be on everyone's radar for grilled cheese sandwiches, but should be.

Compiling the list of condiments that pair perfectly with grilled cheese sandwiches found below was almost second nature for me because I have first-hand experience with most of them. A few I picked up from food blogs, but either way, I have a lifelong love affair with the delectably simple sandwich. As a result, I've been exploring condiments that amplify their flavor for as long as I can remember. While some of the ones I tried over the years weren't anything to write home about, the ones found below lead to a lip-smacking combination. So buckle up, because once you learn about them, your grilled cheese sandwiches will never be the same again.

In Chicago, giardiniera is a classic condiment for Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs, so you can see how it would be a shoo-in for grilled cheese sandwiches. Giardiniera is a hearty condiment made with a mix of diced garden veggies, like carrots, cauliflower, celery, and bell peppers. Some recipes also include spicy peppers, but, either way, the mix is marinated in vinegar or oil, and it adds zesty, tangy, and spicy flavors plus lots of yummy crunch to whatever it touches. Pair all of that with gooey cheese and perfectly browned bread, and you have a grilled cheese sandwich you won't soon forget. Best of all, it goes with just about any kind of cheese you can think of.

To pull off this delicious combination, it's best to spread a layer of giardiniera inside the sandwich before cooking. It's also important to minimize the amount of oil or vinegar that goes inside. Otherwise, your bread will become a soggy mess. Besides, you can just dip the whole shebang in the brine to maximize flavor. Bonus points if you also use some of the brine to make Dolly Parton's dirt road martini.

When you're craving a grilled cheese sandwich with a touch of sweetness, savory jams are just the thing. Unlike a typical fruit jam, like strawberry or raspberry, they add a depth of flavor without taking it too far away from its original comfort food origins. Savory jams give you a taste of sugar plus a burst of richness that takes to a grilled cheese sandwich like a charm. Spread one between the layers or use it to dip, and you won't regret it.

A favorite savory jam to pair with grilled cheese is habanero, but only do so if you're a fiend for spicy foods. If heat isn't your jam (pun intended), bacon, tomato, or onion jam (one of four sweet ingredients that lead to a killer grilled cheese) also make outstanding picks. The sky's the limit here. Grilled cheese is essentially a blank canvas, so if you spot a unique savory jam somewhere and think it might fit the bill, just go for it. Chances are high it'll hit the mark.

Basil pesto is often thought of as a sauce, but it can also be used as a condiment. One look at a pesto grilled cheese is all the proof you'll ever need of that. Then, once you give it a taste, watch out. Savory, salty, a little sweet, and deliciously aromatic pesto grilled cheese is the stuff dreams are made of. Whether you spread a thin layer between the slices of bread or pair your sammie with a ramekin of it for dipping, basil pesto is a must-try condiment.

Thanks to the bold flavors of basil pesto, choosing the right cheese will take you far. Mozzarella is the obvious choice because, well, Italian cuisine. Still, Havarti and gouda are some of my other favorites to pair with the condiment. However, when I want to cut through the inherent sweetness of pesto, I reach for a sharp white cheddar. Brie, Monterey Jack, and feta cheese also taste great with pesto, though, so don't feel confined to mozzarella alone.

Hot sauces are a favorite condiment for countless dishes, and that includes grilled cheese sandwiches. For starters, they come in a world of flavors, so you can use them to instantly infuse the sammie with various tangy, spicy, and sweet elements. Secondly, they quite literally bring the heat, and that's something I always enjoy. If you don't, this upgrade may not be for you, but rest assured that leaving a bottle of hot sauce on the table when you are sharing with friends will almost always lead to some takers.

Determining your favorite hot sauce is a labor of love. While we all have our preferences, when it comes to grilled cheese sandwiches, I prefer something a bit more mild, like Valentina. It allows me to use a large quantity without the dish becoming too spicy to bear. Even so, almost any hot sauce will pair nicely with the simple sandwich, so feel free to reach for your favorite. Or, better yet, use this as an excuse to try out some new ones.

Kewpie mayo is loved by chefs and just about anyone who's had a taste of it. Some would even go so far as to say it is the best condiment for grilled cheese sandwiches. Before we jump ahead, though, Kewpie mayo is made with more egg yolks than traditional American mayo, and it also features a mix of less abrasive-tasting vinegars plus MSG. You can find some products in the States that forgo the MSG, but either way, the recipe results in a rich, creamy mayo with lots of umami flavor.

Add Kewpie mayo to a grilled cheese sandwich — either by dipping or spreading it between the slices of cheese — and you wind up with a decadent rendition of the classic that will make even pro chefs proud. Whether you choose to fry in butter or mayo at this point is up to you — I'm typically butter all day — but in this instance, I'd be willing to change my allegiance. At least temporarily.

Hummus is a fantastic dip, but it also makes an incredible condiment for grilled cheese sandwiches. In fact, it's one of my favorites because it adds a nice dose of nutrition — the base is made from chickpeas, after all — while simultaneously adding some bulk. Of course, it doesn't slack in terms of flavor, either. Even the most basic hummus recipes are nutty, salty, tangy, and rich, and you know what? All of those flavors go with a classic grilled cheese.

When it comes to making a grilled cheese sandwich with hummus, you don't have to stick to the basic recipe. One of the best things about hummus is that it comes in a variety of flavors, and many of them are beyond tasty on the sammie. Still, my top picks include hummus flavored with garlic, roasted red peppers, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, or black beans. Spread any of them on a grilled cheese, or use it for dipping, and you'll be glad you did.

Olives are a hit-or-miss food for many people. You either love them or you hate them. Still, when turned into a savory, briny, earthy paste — AKA olive tapenade — they boast enough flavor to turn many people into fans. There are a few fun and creative ways to use olive tapenade, like creating a base for pizza with it, but you should add the robust condiment to your next grilled cheese sandwich. All of the flavors meld with cheese and bread in a delightful way, and they sure add a serious punch for your taste buds.

Olive tapenade is another condiment that you'd be wise to spread on your grilled cheese before cooking. Just remember that it is potent stuff. A thin layer will more than suffice. In addition, if you are purchasing a store-bought product and serving anyone with a plant-based diet or fish allergy, always check the ingredients. Some olive tapenade varieties contain anchovies.

Coarse and bright green, chimichurri may look a whole lot like pesto, but it is an entirely different condiment when it comes to flavor. It is also from a different region of the world, Argentina instead of Italy, but I digress. Made with parsley, oregano, dried chiles, salt, pepper, sometimes garlic or shallots, olive oil, and red wine vinegar, it boasts a tangy, herbaceous flavor that can only be described as divine. Add it to a grilled cheese, and both the sandwich and the condiment only get better.

I spent several years living in Central America, and chimichurri is a staple of the region. You find it on restaurant tables everywhere, and people can slather it on pizza, sandwiches, meat, and more, so its versatility is undeniable. With this in mind, pairing chimichurri with a grilled cheese sandwich just makes sense. It adds lots of herby goodness plus a tiny kick of heat, tang, and umami that any cheese can get along with. It is great for dipping or direct application, too.

Whether you call it chili crunch or chili crisp, there's no denying that it makes an outstanding condiment for grilled cheese sandwiches. That is, of course, if you enjoy some heat paired with a bold burst of umami garlic. We can't be friends if you don't. I jest, but combining the flavors with cheese is a true delight. The texture also gets a touch of crunch, which complements the bread while simultaneously giving the gooey cheese some extra pizazz.

Thankfully, there are lots of tasty store-bought options. I should know: I recently tasted and ranked many of them. Whichever brand you go for, though, the bold flavors of the condiment will do your grilled cheese right in terms of texture and flavor. It's not just for Asian cuisine, after all. It also has what it takes to elevate classic American comfort food. Don't even get me started on what it can do for mac and cheese.

Pickle lovers rejoice, because relish is yet another delicious condiment perfect for grilled cheese sandwiches. Considering pickles and sandwiches are an iconic duo, this probably isn't too surprising, but switching up the format — from spears or slices to minced — is just what you need to bring the two elements together into a cohesive, flavorful unit. Why bother eating them separately when you can get all the flavors and textures in a single bite?

Depending on the relish, you can get a whole lot more out of the condiment than just vinegary pickles. Some are extra sweet, others are spicy. Some feature tomatoes, and others are dill-forward. No matter what type of relish you choose, cheese is an accommodating host to it. Add your favorite type of relish to your next grilled cheese, and you won't even remember that it ever went on hot dogs. My top pick is a spicy relish with Swiss cheese, but something as simple as dill pickle relish with good old-fashioned American cheese won't let you down, either.

A lot of people only think of tzatziki as a dipping sauce. While it makes a mean addition to pieces of pita bread, crackers, and more, it's capable of way more than that. Actually, there are quite a few creative ways to use tzatziki. However, using it for something as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich could be the best use.

For those of you who aren't already privy to the joys of tzatziki, it is made with Greek yogurt, cucumbers, lemon, olive oil, salt, pepper, and sometimes dill or mint (potentially even both). When all blended together, you wind up with a decadently creamy yet light and bright-tasting condiment that adds freshness to anything it touches, grilled cheese sandwiches included. If you want to amplify the Mediterranean vibe even more, you can also add feta to the mix. Its tangy saltiness is basically made for tzatziki's cool creaminess. Just pair the crumbly feta cheese with a creamier option like Havarti or provolone to make sure it all sticks to the bread and you're good to go.

Kimchi, a Korean fermented vegetable condiment, brings a whole mess of spice and crunch to the table. Use it as a condiment for grilled cheese sandwiches and you'll never look back.

Kimchi gets much of its flavor from gochugara, a spicy Korean red chili powder, but its base is created with fermented cabbage. It also features garlic, ginger, scallions, and sometimes fish sauce. The result is a crunchy dish overflowing with a mix of savory, tangy, sour, and umami elements. It's also typically fairly spicy, but if you opt to make your own classic cabbage kimchi, you can play around with the spice level.

All the flavors of kimchi come together with our beloved crispy cheesy sandwich to create a meal of legendary proportions. Your best bet is to pair it with a bold cheese, like an extra sharp cheddar or a heavily smoked gouda, so that it doesn't get overpowered by the kimchi. It's not like that would be an awful thing, but balance is key. You also should spread it between the slices instead of attempting to dip your sandwich in it. That simply won't do the mash-up justice.

It doesn't matter if we're talking Thai or Indian curry; the sauces and pastes used to make the dishes in either region are no-brainers when it comes to turning up the flavor of your grilled cheese sandwiches. Packed full of bold, bright seasonings, like turmeric, lemongrass, garlic, spicy peppers, masala, and more, they will make your grilled cheeses shine just as bright as a classic bowl of curry with veggies and rice. We all know they aren't lacking in the flavor department.

Curry sauces are easy to use as a condiment for grilled cheese. All you have to do is dip your sandwich straight into a small cup of it. If you opt for curry paste, though, you'll want to spread it on the cheesy bread before cooking. Or, you can stir it into another sauce, like ketchup. If you've never tried it, curry ketchup is next level, too. Thankfully, curry is also bold enough that many cheeses work well with it. Paneer cheese is a solid pick, but try Havarti, Muenster, or Colby-Jack. They all have a milder approach and superb melting potential.

Zhug, or zhoug (both spellings are common), is a coarse condiment akin to chimichurri and pesto. However, this culinary gem comes from Middle Eastern and Jewish cuisine. The bulk of it consists of shredded cilantro, parsley, and spicy peppers, but it also features a mix of savory herbs, including cumin, caraway seeds, garlic, salt, pepper, and sometimes cardamom powder. And, yup. You guessed it; it tastes phenomenal paired with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Zhug has a fresh herbaceous flavor backed up by earthy and spicy elements, similar to its South American cousin, chimichurri. However, the use of cilantro, caraway, and cardamom gives it a unique balance of brightness and warmth, resulting in a much zestier taste. It can elevate even the most subpar grilled cheese sandwiches. It'll do the heavy-lifting, no questions asked. Once you get a bite, you'll be glad it is, too. The flavors join forces with cheese and bread in a way that simply isn't fair to other condiments. Zhug and grilled cheese are an undeniable combo.

How could ranch not be included on this list? Many Americans love their ranch and don't hesitate to put it on all kinds of things — even grilled cheese sandwiches. It lends a creamy, fresh flavor to the sammie that is irresistible. It's a go-to pick when simplicity is key. You probably always have some in your fridge, and it won't let you down in terms of texture or flavor.

I'm not alone in this pairing concept, either. I worked in restaurants and bars for 20 years, and ranch dressing was the most popular dipping sauce people would ask for, barring ketchup, by a long shot. Most people requested a ramekin for their fries, but I couldn't even fathom telling you how many asked for someone to dip their grilled cheese in. So, suffice it to say, ranch dressing and grilled cheese are a match made in heaven (or your kitchen).