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–+ servings
stacked mushroom onion melt

Grilled Cheese Mushroom Sandwich

This Grilled Cheese Mushroom Sandwich combines everything cozy and savory– sautéed mushrooms, melty fontina cheese and caramelized onions, all on crispy sourdough bread. It’s quick to make and great for lunch or a weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Serves 2 sandwiches
  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 8 oz mixed mushrooms I used a mix of shiitake & portobello
  • 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
  • 1 cup shredded fontina cheese
  • 5 tbsp butter
  • 2 sprigs of thyme
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions 

  • Sauté the onions: Using a mandolin or knife, thinly slice the onion. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions with a pinch of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until soft and slightly golden. Drizzle in the balsamic glaze and cook another 2–3 minutes until jammy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Sauté the mushrooms: In the same skillet, 2 tbsp butter over medium-high heat. Slice mushrooms and add to pan along with sprigs of thyme. Let them cook undisturbed for a few minutes to develop color. Stir and continue cooking until golden and tender, about 6–8 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Assemble the sandwiches: Butter one side of each slice of sourdough. On the unbuttered side, layer fontina cheese, a generous spoonful of balsamic onions, sautéed mushrooms, and a little more cheese. Top with the second slice of bread, buttered side facing out.
  • Grill until melty: Heat a skillet over medium. Cook sandwiches 3–4 minutes per side, pressing gently, until the bread is golden and crisp and the fontina is fully melted.
    Slice and serve warm — crispy on the outside, sweet and savory, and irresistibly gooey in the center.

Notes

Fridge, Freezer, and Make Ahead

Fridge

Store leftover grilled cheese in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted, or use an air fryer to bring back the crunch.

Freezer

Freezing the assembled sandwich isn't recommended, as the mushrooms and caramelized onions can release moisture when thawed, making the bread soggy. However, you can freeze the cooked mushroom and onion mixture in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Make Ahead

The caramelized onions and sautéed mushrooms can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, assemble the sandwiches with fresh sourdough and fontina cheese, then grill until golden and melted.