Pumpkin Cheddar Grilled Cheese
Hello easiest sandwich of my life. Let’s think about how often we eat a quick, last-minute, thrown together meal. For us, it’s quite often. I do plan meals but sometimes I forget an ingredient or don’t actually feel like cooking after a full day of work. In this case, I turn to simplicity; to fresh, seasonal ingredients that I have sitting around; and also to cheese, of course. Which is how this Pumpkin Cheddar Grilled Cheese sandwich was born.
It was Saturday. Paul was at a work function. I had run errands and had a blog to-do list that was a mile long but I was also pretty hungry. So I started thinking healthy and quick. I had some fresh pumpkin puree in the fridge, I spotted my (all-time) favorite cheese (TJ’s Unexpected Cheddar) and this grilled cheese was born.
Not only is this grilled cheese quick, it’s also festive, colorful, mostly healthy and a truly filling sandwich. The sage and garlic add a perfect savory layer to the sweetness of the pumpkin. It’s a perfect lunch or fast halloween night dinner!
Pumpkin Cheddar Grilled Cheese Recipe
Yield: 2 sandwiches
Total Time: 10 minutes
Sharp white cheddar grilled cheese with a pumpkin twist. Sage, parmesan and a dash of nutmeg add to this autumn-inspired sandwich.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 Tbs. parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. dried sage
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
Dash of nugmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Butter
4 slices sandwich bread
4-6 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, sliced (I used Unexpected Cheddar from Trader Joe's)Directions:
Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. In a small bowl, mix the pumpkin, parmesan cheese, dried sage, garlic powder, nutmeg and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Butter one side of each piece of bread. Place one slice (butter side down) in the skillet, line the slice with cheese, top with about half of the pumpkin mixture, top with a little more cheese and top with another slice of bread (butter side up).
Repeat with the other two slices of bread. Cook both sandwiches for about 4 minutes on each side until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melty.
Cassie's Notes:
For a little different flavor, sub butternut squash puree for the pumpkin puree.This would make a fine quesadilla as opposed to a grilled cheese sandwich; just sub in your favorite tortillas and shred the cheese instead of slicing it.
Print Recipe
This is genius! I never would’ve thought to add pumpkin to my all-time lunch favorite, but I can only imagine how creamy and flavorful this is. YUM!
Ok now grill cheese is prob the one thing I never thought to add pumpin too. I bet it is fantastic. Just wish it was my lunch for today!!!
Oh this does sound like a really delicious sandwich!
Wowzers, this looks delicious Cassie! My kind of sandwich!
I would have never thought to put pumpkin in a grilled cheese sandwich, but it sounds delicious!
Oh yum, what a fun twist on grilled cheese Cassie! I need to try this for lunch one day soon!
What a perfect way to use pumpkin! Very creative and sounds delicious…I have to give this a try!
I could live on grilled cheese and this looks like a fantastic version!
YUM! And I love that you used Unexpected Cheddar!!
I might have to give this a try, but I am thinking I might need to add some bacon – remember that bacon that Pop cooked the other evening that I was complaining about smelling up my house? Well – I am still thinking (and smelling) bacon – pumpkin is not my favorite and whipped cream seems like an unlikely addition to this grilled cheese sandwich, so I am thinking I need another layer of flavor
Yummy! I live on grilled cheese sammies during the colder months and this one looks exceptional! Love the fact that you used white cheddar–it’s one of my faves!
I never ever thought of putting pumpkin on a sandwich! This is brilliant!
Do wha?!! This is so awesome! I’m always looking for ways to add pumpkin to anything. Can’t believe I’ve never thought to put it on a sandwich! Duh! Love this!
Get OUT.
Grilled cheese with pumpkin? You are a genius my friend!
What a brilliant idea!!
so unique–love it! you and Tracy (of Shutterbean) are on the same wavelength today
Interesting. I haven’t tried that combo but it sounds like it would be good.
Having this for lunch. Seriously. I’ll report back to you.
Oh yum! What a great sandwich!!
Easy, festive and pumpkin goodness?! What more can I ask for, right?
I love this sandwich SO much. Pumpkin and sage are such a winning combination and, when I’m reaching for cheddar, sharp whites bring such a lovely bite to any dish. This is FANTASTIC, Cassie!
That cheddar looks so good! Well, the whole sandwich looks good but that sliced cheese sucked me in.
WHy am I out of pumpkin puree at a time like this!
Cassie, you are so great! I almost never have cheddar cheese on hand, but I happen to have just bought some yesterday to make Smitten Kitchen’s apple cheddar scones which were SO AMAZING. Cheese biscuits are my new fav, which means I really want to try your sriracha cheddar biscuits. But anyway. This sandwich looks fabulous and I can’t wait to make it with my also never-have-on-hand-but-somehow-do sandwich bread!!
This is my kind of grilled cheese, love the pumpkin!
So glad I saw this–definitely making this tonight, but subbing in butternut squash because that’s what we have. Thanks!
OH WOW…this looks amazing, Cassie!!
i love how easy it is to just throw this together!
Oh I want grilled cheese and soup so much now!
Two words…. Lunch. Today.
I’ll take a grilled cheese anyway, and this one looks perfect! Love pumpkin everything!
Oh heavens, this looks divine! Dinner is still a good hour away for us, so I’m drooling hungrily over this right now!
um, what? This looks amazing. Another winner, I’d say.
A very interesting sandwich, sounds so good!!
Okay, and after I adapt those nachos, I’m going to make this too. I have everything I need for it except the bread.
You are so creative! I love this. I’ve never had anything savory with pumpkin in it. But this, this I can get behind!
Yummie! I just made myself this for lunch and loved it. Thank you for giving me new ideas.