The Canned Secret Ingredient For An Extra Creamy Grilled Cheese Upgrade

Grilled cheese is the ultimate comfort food: Gooey melted cheese sandwiched between bread toasted 'til it's golden brown. From childhood staple to post-work snack, it's hard to imagine a tastier treat that has aged as well as cheddar. While American cheese on white bread — the best bread for the simple sandwich — still hits the spot for plenty of people, there are all kinds of other ingredients worth using to spice things up, such as fresh tomato slices in the summertime or crispy, salty bacon.

If you're in the mood for a gourmet sandwich that's extra rich and creamy, you'll want to grab some canned pumpkin from the pantry. Cheese and pumpkin might initially sound like an odd combination, but the two go together surprisingly well. A common addition to cozy autumnal dishes from mac and cheese to pie, the pumpkin can be paired with sweet and savory ingredients alike.

Canned pumpkin is typically sold plain and unsweetened, making it a great vehicle for all kinds of herbs and spices. Boasting a thick yet spreadable consistency, the puree also adds moisture and creaminess to dishes. When paired with oozing cheese — whether spicy pepper jack or rich, buttery brie — pumpkin will make each bite of grilled cheese mouth-watering.

The possibilities for preparing a gourmet grilled cheese are endless, even with canned pumpkin in the mix. Alongside its creamy consistency, the versatile ingredient has a fairly neutral flavor profile on its own. That means you can allow the base ingredients to shine or experiment with new flavors. As far as cheese pairings go, the squash tastes great with most types, including creamy yet tangy goat cheese, mild or sharp cheddar, and nutty gouda.

In the mood for a gourmet sandwich that's extra gooey but fairly traditional? Spread a thin layer of pumpkin puree (plain or salted and peppered) on bread before piling it with cheese. For a more savory touch, mix pumpkin puree with Dijon mustard and spices of your choosing. A little cayenne pepper and paprika can add heat and smokiness, turned up by pepper jack cheese or mellowed out by mild gruyere. Caramelized onions can also provide extra richness and melt-in-your-mouth texture to a pumpkin grilled cheese.

Want a sweeter sandwich? Cheese and apples are a classic combo to try alongside pumpkin. Cinnamon can bring some warmth and sweetness to the whole thing. You can also opt for pumpkin butter instead of puree. Since it tends to have a slightly sweeter taste from added sugar and spices, it'd be great in a grilled cheese with brie and cinnamon-raisin bread — perhaps the perfect fall sandwich.

With the flavors down, it's time to talk technique. When making the perfect grilled cheese, texture is key. While canned pumpkin's creaminess complements the cheese's gooeyness, it's essential that the cheese ends up gooey in the first place. Avoid the common grilled cheese mistake of unevenly melted cheese by thinly slicing or shredding it. Depending on how thick the pumpkin puree is, this ensures the heat fully penetrates through the bread for a satisfyingly oozing sandwich.

On the topic of bread, achieving a crispy texture and golden-brown color is central to a good grilled cheese. While there's debate over mayonnaise or butter as the optimal exterior spread for this sandwich, you should always use butter in the pan. This cooking fat offers extra flavor when browned, elevating the gourmet sandwich even more. The nuttiness and richness of browned butter also go great with squash, a pairing that's prominent in many fall dishes.

Finally, it's time to think about serving. Sure, grilled cheese is good on its own, but why not pair it with something else that's tasty? The classic sandwich is often dipped into tomato soup, but you can lean into the fall flavors by doubling down on squash. Consider serving a pumpkin grilled cheese alongside butternut squash soup. Even if it's not spooky season, there's no time better than the present to test out this elevated twist on the classic comfort food.