Skip to Content

"Encore" Smoked Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Grilled cheese sandwich, yeah that's basic. We're on to something new. Toasted bread, check. Melted cheese, check. Add leftover brisket and you have the makings of a delicious brisket grilled cheese sandwich.

This ultimate comfort food bad boy is made with layers of succulent smoked beef brisket, sandwiched between two slices of buttery grilled bread.

Sounds pretty amazing, right? Well, believe it or not, this masterpiece can be yours with some leftover brisket. Get to cookin'!

Good brisket deserves an encore, and a good grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect vessel for leftover smoked brisket.

brisket grilled cheese sandwich

MOOD MUSIC

Good brisket deserves an encore, and a good grilled cheese sandwich is the perfect vessel for leftover smoked brisket.

grilled cheese ingredients

grilled cheese cooking instructions

prepare the brisket

Make sure the beef brisket is at room temperature. Chop it up using a meat cleaver or sharp knife.

prepare the sandwich

Place bread slices on a plate or work surface. Spread mayo on one side of each slice.

mayo being spread on bread

With mayo covered side on the exterior, cover each slice with a total of 2 cheese slices. Layer the brisket on top of the cheese. Add pickled onions if using. Close the sandwich by topping with the other bread slice. The brisket and pickled onions should be between 2 slices of cheese on each side (top and bottom).

brisket grill cheese in a skillet
grilled cheese in skillet
sandwich with mayonaise in skillet

grill the sandwich

Place an indoor grill pan or skillet on the stovetop and heat on medium-low heat.

Place the sandwich on the griddle and grill 3-4 minutes, then flip the sandwich and grill for another 3-4 minutes.

grilled cheese sandwich in skillet

cooking considerations and tips

Smoke your own brisket or just buy some from your favorite local BBQ spot then reserve some for leftovers.

If you want that golden and crusty exterior combined with an oohy goohy center a few steps have to be taken.

  1. Bread matters! Stay away from thicker slices as it makes it harder to melt the cheese. Avoid bread with lots of holes as the melted cheese will leak through those holes. Lastly, definitely go with white bread!
  2. I know mayo sounds weird, but it’s the move to get that unburnt but crispy exterior. So slather some mayo on your bread before grilling. Mayo does butter better than butter. Just don’t go crazy and use too much; a thin layer is good.
  3. Make sure the heat isn’t too high. Play the long game and go low and slow with the fire. Starting with too high a heat nets a burned exterior and barely melted cheese. Essentially you want the bread to toast at the same rate as the cheese melts.
  4. Make sure you have chosen a good melting cheese. Back when I worked for Kraft Foods, Grilled Cheese sandwiches featuring Velveeta was one of our most popular recipes. Velveeta’s melt was unmatched and thus it was often preferred against more natural cheese for its melting qualities. For me strong cheese taste is as important as melt so I prefer a sharp cheddar cheese.
  5. If the cheese is not fully melted, turn the heat down to low. Just be careful not to burn the bread.
  6. For other leftover brisket recipes try any of these: stuffed avocados, instant pot collard greens, cabbage stew, brisket chili, and brisket fried rice.
brisket grilled cheese sandwich

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Making Brisket Grilled Cheese

What Is The Best Bread For Grilled Cheese?

While the perfect grilled cheese sandwich is really all about the cheese, the bread can definitely make or break the dish. After all, you want a bread that will be hearty enough to stand up to the grilled cheese filling, but not so tough that it's hard to bite into.

So what's the best bread for grilled cheese? In my opinion, it's all about finding a balance between texture and flavor. A good grilled cheese needs a bread with a little bit of heft to it, so a white sandwich loaf is a good place to start.

Some types of bread are better suited than others. For example, a grilled cheese made with sourdough bread will have a complex flavor, thanks to the bread's distinct tang. Meanwhile, a grilled cheese made with brioche will be rich and buttery, due to the high fat content of the brioche.

Ultimately, the best bread for grilled cheese is a matter of personal preference. So go ahead and experiment until you find the perfect combination for your taste buds.

The main things to look for are a nice, even texture and a moderate amount of density. slicing the bread too thinly will result in a grilled cheese that falls apart, while using bread that's too thick will make it difficult to bite through.

How Do You Make Crispy Grilled Cheese?

There's nothing quite like a grilled cheese sandwich made with melt-in-your-mouth cheese and crisp, buttery bread. But if you're looking for an extra crispy grilled cheese, there are a few things you can do to make sure your sandwich comes out perfectly golden brown and crispy every time.

Use mayonnaise in place of butter. Spread the mayo on both slices of bread and all the way to the edges. Cook your grilled cheese over medium-high heat so that the outside gets nice and crispy while the inside remains melted and gooey.

What Is The Best Cheese For Making Grilled Cheese?

For a classic grilled cheese, nothing beats cheddar cheese. It melts beautifully and has a nice, sharp flavor that pairs perfectly with bread and butter.

If you're looking for something a little different, try Swiss cheese. It has a mellower flavor than cheddar, but it still melts nicely and creates a delicious grilled cheese sandwich.

Monterey jack used in this recipe is great for adding a bit of kick to the sandwich.

Finally, if you want to really impress your guests, try using Gruyere cheese. It's slightly sweeter than other types of cheese, but it melts into a gooey, delicious mess that is sure to please everyone at your table.

Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. So experiment with different types of cheese until you find your perfect match. Mixing different cheeses are a great idea also. Sharp cheddar plus mozzarella cheese is the best of both worlds (flavor and melt).

Can you make grilled cheese sandwiches with shredded cheese?

While you can technically make grilled cheese with any type of cheese, shredded cheese is definitely the way to go even more so than thinly sliced cheese. The shredded cheese helps the sandwich stay together, and it also melts more evenly and quickly, resulting in a gooey, cheesy bliss.

Can You Reheat Grilled Cheese?

It's hard to know how to reheat a grilled cheese sandwich so that it tastes just as good as when it was first made. A lot of people make the mistake of microwaving their grilled cheese sandwiches, which makes them soggy and gross.

The best way to reheat a grilled cheese sandwich is in the oven on a low temperature. This will ensure that your sandwich stays crispy and delicious.

more sandwich recipes

make this recipe

Grilled cheese is a classic for a reason- it's simple, delicious, and easy to customize. This version amps up the flavor with some leftover beef brisket added in, giving you a heartier sandwich that will keep you full all afternoon. If you're looking for an easy lunch or dinner idea that will wow your taste buds, give this grilled cheese recipe a try!

If you make this brisket grilled cheese sandwich recipe or any other from the site, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

You can also keep up with my food exploits as well as original recipes! You can find me on InstagramFacebookTwitter, and Pinterest. If you like any of the music you find on the site, visit me at Spotify to find curated monthly playlists.

brisket grilled cheese sandwich

Smoked Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Comforting and cheesy grilled cheese sandwich made with leftover smoked beef brisket and topped with pickled red onions.
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Course: Sandwich
Cuisine: BBQ
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 709kcal
Author: Marwin Brown

Ingredients

  • 4 slices Bread
  • 4 slices Cheddar Cheese Slices
  • 4 slices Monterey Jack Cheese Slices
  • pound Smoked Brisket
  • 2 tablespoon Mayonnaise
  • Pickled Red Onions optional

Instructions

Prepare the bread

  • Place bread slices on a plate or work surface. Spread mayo on one side of each slice.

Prepare the brisket

  • Make sure the brisket is at room temperature. Chop it up using a meat cleaver or sharp knife.

Prepare the sandwich

  • With mayo covered side on the exterior, cover each slice with a total of 2 cheese slices.
  • Layer the brisket on top of the cheese. Add pickled onions if using. Close the sandwich by topping with the other bread slice. The brisket and pickled onions should be between 2 slices of cheese on each side (top and bottom).

Grill the sandwich

  • Place an indoor grill pan or skillet on the stovetop and heat on medium-low heat.
  • Place the sandwich on the griddle and grill 3-4 minutes, then flip the sandwich and grilll for another 3-4 minutes.

Notes

Smoke your own brisket or just buy some from your favorite local BBQ spot then reserve some for leftovers.
If you want that golden and crusty exterior combined with an oohy goohy center a few steps have to be taken.
  1. Bread matters! Stay away from thicker slices as it makes it harder to melt the cheese. Avoid bread with lots of holes as the melted cheese will leak through those holes. Lastly, definitely go with white bread!
  2. I know mayo sounds weird, but it’s the move to get that unburnt but crispy exterior. So slather some mayo on your bread before grilling. Mayo does butter better than butter. Just don’t go crazy and use too much; a thin layer is good.
  3. Make sure the heat isn’t too high. Play the long game and go low and slow with the fire. Starting with too high a heat nets a burned exterior and barely melted cheese. Essentially you want the bread to toast at the same rate as the cheese melts.
  4. Make sure you have chosen a good melting cheese. Back when I worked for Kraft Foods, Grilled Cheese sandwiches featuring Velveeta was one of our most popular recipes. Velveeta’s melt was unmatched and thus it was often preferred against more natural cheese for its melting qualities. For me strong cheese taste is as important as melt so I prefer a sharp cheddar cheese.
  5. If the cheese is not fully melted, turn the heat down to low. Just be careful not to burn the bread.
  6. For other leftover brisket recipes try any of these: stuffed avocados, instant pot collard greens, cabbage stew, and brisket fried rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 709kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 951mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 771IU | Calcium: 740mg | Iron: 4mg
Subscribe To My YouTube ChannelSubscribe To My YouTube Channel for full length recipe videos. Click the bell icon to be notified when I post new videos.
My YouTube Channel
Tried this Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @foodfidelity or tag #foodfidelity!

Sharing is caring!

4.94 from 16 votes (3 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




The Kid

Wednesday 13th of December 2023

Bruh!!! That's all I got...

Kate

Friday 20th of November 2020

I got really hungry reading this recipe. Thanks for sharing it. I will try it in the near future.

Debra

Monday 16th of November 2020

Oh....what a tasty way to use up leftovers....to make them not leftovers. The kids are going to love these sammies.

Jacqueline Debono

Monday 16th of November 2020

This is such a delicious idea for lunch with leftover brisket or even other meat I guess. I've never thought to use mayo instead of butter. Will remember that!

Jamie

Monday 16th of November 2020

Ooh brisket grilled cheese sounds amazing! I know my family would love to have this for lunch with some tomato soup on the side!