5 Grilled Cheese & Soup Pairings Guaranteed to Warm You This Winter

When I was a kid, one of my favorite lunchtime meals during the winter was grilled cheese and tomato soup. My dad would butter the outsides of the hearty wheat bread slices, carefully pile thinly sliced sharp cheddar slices, add the top, and flip the sandwich to perfection. The outsides were crisp and golden brown. Each savory bite was filled with gooey cheese, warm and thick, mixed with the slightly salty taste of the buttered bread. My favorite part was dunking my sandwich into the hot tomato soup. The slightly sweet and acidic flavors of the soup mixed with the fatty goodness of the sandwich was divine.

As I grew older and my taste buds were more accepting of different flavors. I upped the ante and added tomato to my grilled cheese. My traditional tomato soup upgraded to tomato basil soup.

There is an overwhelming amount of variations of this simple, comfort dish – a lot of gourmet pairings that would require specialty trips to the supermarket. This defeats having all the ingredients on hand for an easy weekend lunch or a quick weekday dinner. Here are 5 pairings of simple grilled cheese sandwiches paired with simple soups. Nothing crazy. No specialty gourmet ingredients. Just comfort.

Use the Red Copper Flipwich to make these grilled cheese sandwiches fast and easy.

Grilled Cheese & Tomato Paired with Tomato Soup

This classic grilled cheese and tomato is too good not to post. And it’s a great springboard if you’re starting to expand your grilled cheese cuisine. Try pairing with this souper-easy Tomato Soup (or buy your favorite prepared tomato soup).

Decadent Grilled Muenster & Bacon with Creamy Mushroom Soup

 

Smokey, salty, savory – muenster and bacon is just a chock-full of goodness. Crisp bacon adds a crunchy bite. And paired with an earthy creamy mushroom soup, the flavors make your taste buds explode. The creamy soup is a little heavier than others normally paired with a grilled cheese sandwich. But it just adds to the heartiness of this meal. If possible, avoid condensed cream of mushroom soup because the mushroom flavor is disguised with the excess salt and cream. Try making this 5-star rated Cream Of Mushroom Soup.

Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese with Corn Chowder

This is the “go big, or go home,” MacDaddy grilled cheese and soup pairing you’ve been waiting for. The heat from the jalapeño mixed with the creamy goodness of the cream cheese and cheddar cheese is an explosion of flavor in your mouth. The sweet and savory flavor of this Corn Chowder recipe balances the heat nicely.

Feta and Spinach Grilled Cheese with Chicken & Rice Soup

Ready for a grilled cheese sandwich that’s a total game changer? Feta and spinach grilled cheese breaks all the rules. The salty and creamy taste of the feta mixed with the unique flavor of lightly cooked spinach is exotic. Rather than the gooey melt of a traditional grilled cheese, the feta melts slightly and has crumbly texture with each bite. Using frozen spinach is doable – just make sure that you press the water out before adding it to your sandwich. Otherwise, take the extra time to steam fresh spinach just enough so it wilts and turns dark green. Then add to your sandwich. Pair your sandwich with a classic chicken and rice soup for well-rounded flavor.

Colby Jack and Salami Grilled Cheese with Escarole Soup

 

When you pair the tangy spice of salami with mild, creamy Colby jack cheese, you make your mouth (and stomach) very happy. Take this yummy awesomeness over the top by adding a delicious escarole soup. The light flavors of the soup paired with the complexity of the salami and Colby jack warmed and ready to tackle your wintery afternoon. Try delicious homemade Escarole and Bean Soup, with plenty left over to last you the weekend.