The Unexpected Ingredient That Takes My Grilled Cheese to the Next Level (You’ll Never Guess What It Is)

Whenever I get a hankering for comfort food, I make a bowl of pasta or a grilled cheese. You can never go wrong with carbs and cheese (at least as far as I’m concerned), and grilled cheese is especially satisfying in a pinch. While you don’t need more than bread, cheese, and a healthy pat of butter, I add a surprising ingredient to my grilled cheese that gives it the perfect amount of umami: Worcestershire sauce. 

Though I wish I could take credit for this flavorful grilled cheese upgrade, that honor belongs to my best friend, who made me a grilled cheese with a few dabs of Worcestershire sauce on the side after her husband taught her the trick—something he had done since he was a kid. I’ll admit that I was skeptical at first. If you’ve ever tasted Worcestershire sauce solo, it packs quite the punch thanks to potent ingredients such as vinegar, anchovies, onions, garlic, soy sauce, molasses, and tamarind—but once I dunked my grilled cheese in the sauce, I was hooked.

Adding Worcestershire sauce to grilled cheese gives the sandwich an umami-packed punch that just can’t be beat. The popular condiment complements rich, creamy cheeses perfectly, bringing a depth of flavor to the classic bread and cheese combo that never disappoints. It adds the perfect amount of tanginess, spice, and a hint of sweetness, and works with virtually any bread and cheese combo. I typically make my grilled cheese with a thick bread, like sourdough or Italian bread, and opt for cheeses such as manchego, gruyère, fontina, and cheddar.

Over time, I’ve also perfected the inclusion of Worcestershire sauce in my sandwich. While dipping my grilled cheese in Worcestershire sauce always works, I’ve found that adding it directly to the sandwich is even better. For the best results, I add several dabs to the sandwich in between cheese slices as it melts. This allows the flavors of the cheese and Worcestershire sauce to really meld together and prevents the bread from getting soggy and losing its crispiness. Here’s how to make grilled cheese with Worcestershire sauce:

Grilled Cheese With Worcestershire Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 slices of thick bread, such as sourdough
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 slices gruyère, or your favorite cheese
• 4 dabs Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

1. Spread a tablespoon of butter on 1 side of each bread slice. Place one slice, buttered side down, on a work surface and top with half of the gruyère, or your favorite cheese.
2. Add the Worcestershire sauce on top of the cheese so the bread doesn’t get soggy.
3. Top the sandwich with the remaining gruyère and slice of bread, buttered side up. 
4. Heat a nonstick pan over medium-low heat and melt the remaining tablespoon butter until the bottom of the pan is fully coated. 
5. Place the sandwich in the pan and cook over medium heat until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
6. Slice the sandwich and serve.

Other Ingredients to Add to Grilled Cheese

One of the many things to love about grilled cheese is it’s endlessly adaptable. If you’re open to experimenting with your grilled cheese, try these other one-ingredient upgrades. Many of them pair well with Worcestershire sauce, too!

• Honey or hot honey
• Dijon mustard
• Caramelized onions (or onion jam)
• Bacon jam
• Pesto
• Fig jam
• Hot sauce
• Pickle chips

3 Grilled Cheese Recipes to Try

Ready to add Worcestershire sauce (or any other condiments) to your next grilled cheese sandwich? Start experimenting with one of these delicious grilled cheese recipes: