Name: Blueberry Grilled Cheese (With Goat Cheese & Basil)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 6 min
Total time: 11 min
Ingredients: 2 thick slices bread (sourdough is great here); 1 tsp olive oil (can sub butter or mayo); 2 Tbsp goat cheese; 2 slices mellow white cheese (like havarti or mozzarella); ¼ cup chopped blueberries; ¼ cup fresh arugula; A few fresh basil leaves; Pinch each salt and pepper; Optional: a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction

This Blueberry Grilled Cheese takes your grilled cheese game to a new level with fresh berries, goat cheese, and arugula!

Four blueberry grilled cheese sandwich halves stacked on top of one another

What’s the difference between a grilled cheese and a panini? The first time I went to Italy I ordered a panini, beyond excited to try my first authentic Italian grilled sandwich.

And what did I get? A regular ole cold sandwich.

Because apparently “panini” simply means “sandwich” in Italian. So when did the American “panini” transform into a strictly grilled WITH GRILL LINES sandwich? And is that the only stipulation for meeting the qualifications for a “panini”?

In an effort to remain politically correct (and because I do not own a “panini maker”), we’re going to call this delicious melted goodness a grilled cheese… a fresh blueberry + basil + goat cheese + more cheese + arugula grilled cheese sandwich.

Two blueberry grilled cheese sandwiches on a plate, with one sandwich cut in half and stacked on top of the other

Ingredients in blueberry grilled cheese

To make this panini — I mean sandwich, you’ll need 3 main items: bread (sourdough is key), blueberries, and goat cheese. But to truly take it to the next level, you’ll want to also include a white cheese, arugula, basil, salt, pepper, and maybe some balsamic.

Bread: To start, you’ll need 2 thick slices of bread. Bonus points if you use sourdough – it’s the best bread for grilled cheese sandwiches!
Olive Oil: Next, you’ll need 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Butter or mayo will work too… up to you!
Goat Cheese: Add creamy decadence with 2 tablespoons of goat cheese.
White Cheese: Pair the goat cheese with 2 slices of a mellow white option, like havarti or mozzarella.
Blueberries: Next, throw in ¼ cup of chopped blueberries.
Arugula: Add a bit of greens by including ¼ cup of fresh arugula.
Basil: Include a few fresh basil leaves for some subtle extra flavor.
Salt & Pepper: Sprinkle on a pinch of salt and pepper, each.
Optional: Finally, optionally include a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction for extra flavor and that perfect final touch.

How to make blueberry and goat cheese grilled sandwich

Don’t worry, this sandwich is simple to make. The most tedious part is halving the blueberries. After that, just assemble and cook!

Step 1: Coat the outside
Spread olive oil (or butter or mayo) onto the outward facing side of each piece of bread.

Step 2: Add the cheese
Onto the inside of each piece of bread, spread the goat cheese evenly and top with an additional slice of havarti or mozzarella.

Two pieces of sourdough bread, one coated with goat cheese and the other topped with a dollop

Step 3: Add the fillings
Onto one of the pieces of bread, pile on the chopped blueberries, arugula, and basil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, optionally adding a drizzle of balsamic. Set the remaining piece of bread with cheese on top.

One piece of sourdough bread topped with goat cheese, a slice of mozzarella, and halved blueberries beside a second piece of bread topped with goat cheese and mozzarella

One piece of sourdough bread topped with goat cheese, a slice of mozzarella, halved blueberries, and arugula beside a second piece of bread topped with goat cheese and mozzarella

Step 4: Cook the sandwich
Cook the grilled cheese in a pan or panini press on medium heat for about 5 minutes flipping halfway through, or until everything is melted and hot.

Two blueberry grilled cheese sandwiches in a skillet

How to switch up your grilled cheese

This sandwich is pretty forgiving in the ingredient category. You can switch out the cheese, fruit, or a few other items and still wind up with a delicious sandwich!

For the cheese, you can totally skip the goat and mozz and load up on something like brie. That’s actually a really popular one for combining with blueberries!

And as for the blueberries themselves, the beauty in berries is that they’re usually interchangeable. That means you can also go the strawberry route, and you’ll have one seriously delicious sandwich in your hands!

More loaded sandwiches

Because one grilled cheese recipe is never enough, here are some ideas for 4 more mouth watering sandwich combos!