Give Grilled Cheese A Decadent Protein Boost — Add This Italian Deli Meat (And It's Not Prosciutto)

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There's nothing quite like a classic grilled cheese. Toasted bread with a crisp outside and fluffy inside paired with gooey, melty cheese is a cheese lover's dream. But if you're someone that prefers to enjoy your grilled cheese with a bit more texture, adding in some meat is a great solution. Bacon, ham, or something fancier like prosciutto are all tasty pairings for this sandwich, but there's another Italian deli meat that will really upgrade a grilled cheese; pancetta is the savory addition your cheesy sandwich is missing. 

Pancetta (not to be confused with bacon) is cured pork belly seasoned with salt and herbs. You'll more often find this meat in carbonara, but it deserves a spot in your grilled cheese sandwich lineup. The herbal notes and salty flavor of the meat cuts through the rich cheese, making this the ultimate flavor combination. To add pancetta to grilled cheese, it's best to crisp up the pancetta either in a pan or in the oven first to make it nice and crunchy. You'll then add the crispy pieces to the grilled cheese sandwich and grill it like normal until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. 

Pancetta as the sole filling in a grilled cheese is tasty enough, but there are ways to make this sandwich even better. Sliced pancetta is better for the structure of your sandwich than diced pancetta, but both will work — just make sure to crisp it up first either way. For the cheese, mozzarella or gruyere will give you a creamy finish and the perfect cheese pull, but you can also use a mild cheese like Swiss to balance out the salty meat.

If you want to add more color and flavor to the sandwich, spinach or arugula would add an earthy touch. There are plenty of condiments to level up grilled cheese, but basil pesto or a savory jam will taste especially delicious paired with pancetta. Even fruit jams would work well with pancetta, such as a guava jam, to add a nice layer of sweetness to balance out the salty meat. 

Be sure to eat this sandwich while it's warm so the cheese is nice and melty. It's delectable on its own, but you can pair it with a warm soup such as tomato or French onion for the ideal cozy meal. Whichever way you choose to enjoy your pancetta grilled cheese, it's impossible for it to not be delicious.