Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups Are a Crispy, Gooey Treat for Kids (or Adults)

Grilled cheese is a perfect food. The beauty of this comfort food is that it only requires a few humble ingredients, it comes together in minutes, and eating it feels like a warm hug. My latest scroll on TikTok showed me a clever spin on this childhood staple: grilled cheese roll-ups. The ingredient list for these roll-ups is exactly the same as any grilled cheese, but the method is slightly different. I waited for a rainy, lazy day to try out these roll-ups and see how they held up to my favorite nostalgic sandwich.

To make these roll-ups, you’ll need thick slices of white bread, finely grated cheese (such as white cheddar or Gruyère), and melted butter. A side of tomato soup isn’t necessary, but it sure wouldn’t hurt. First trim the crust on all sides of the white bread. Then take a rolling pin and gently roll out the bread so that it’s flatter, thinner, and slightly larger in surface area. Next, sprinkle some finely grated cheese on top of the bread and roll it on up. Use a few dabs of melted butter to help seal up the edge.

Melt another tablespoon or two of butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Gently place the roll-ups in the pan, seam-side down, until the seam is sealed and golden-brown. Use tongs to rotate the roll-ups so that the exterior becomes crispy and golden-brown. Once they’re toasty and browned on all sides, remove them from the pan and serve them as is or dunk them into a bowl of creamy tomato soup.

Get the recipe: Grill Cheese Roll-Ups

I went into making these with pretty high expectations because grilled cheese is one of those dishes that I don’t think can be improved upon. Do I think these roll-ups are a better version of a classic grilled cheese? Honestly, not really. Do I think that these roll-ups are fun and delicious? Absolutely. Their shape was unconventional and I could totally see kids being really into them.

My biggest grievance with these roll-ups is that they are much more involved to prepare than a standard grilled cheese. While I can basically make a grilled cheese with my eyes closed, these roll-ups required a few extra steps. Trimming the crust, rolling out the bread, and then rolling up and sealing each one was time-consuming and somewhat messy. Instead of only worrying about creating two golden-brown sides of a sandwich, you have to gradually rotate the roll-ups so that all sides get some nice color. Basically, preparing and cooking them required more attention and patience, and I’m not sure that the results were mind-blowing enough to feel like it was worth the extra effort.

I probably wouldn’t make these again, but I did think they were fun to make once. And if you’re a grilled cheese enthusiast they’re definitely worth trying. If you have kids, I have no doubt that they’d have a grand ol’ time dunking these roll-ups into a bowl of soup. Other than that, I’m not sure what occasion they’d be appropriate for other than a rainy day inside when you have the time.

Don’t let your stovetop heat go higher than medium. If the skillet gets too hot, you’re going to burn the bread before the cheese on the inside has a chance to melt. That’s why it’s always best to go low and slow when cooking a grilled cheese.

This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups Are a Crispy, Gooey Treat for Kids (or Adults)