The Spice Train

  • Recipe Index
  • About:
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About
×
Home » Recipes » Main Courses

Grilled Cheese with Bourbon Caramelized Shallots

Updated: Jan 20, 2025 · Published: Feb 3, 2020 by Nicole B. · 2 Comments

4.80 from 5 votes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe

This shallot grilled cheese recipe is a delicious new take on the classic sandwich. Buttery and crispy sourdough bread is stuffed with Bourbon caramelized shallots, chopped tarragon and melted, extra-sharp white cheddar cheese. And to make it even better, the cheese is mixed with dry mustard for extra punch!

Two shallot grilled cheese sandwiches.

Reader comment: "OMG!!!!!!!!!! So good!!!!!!!!!!! Next level, no, top level easy gourmet grilled cheese!"

Recipe ingredients and notes:

  • The bread slices I used here were about 7 inches long. If you use slices much smaller than that, you may want to make 3 sandwiches instead of 2.
  • I don't recommend substituting mayonnaise for butter in this recipe. The signature tanginess of mayonnaise often works well with grilled cheese, but here it clashes with the flavor of the Bourbon shallots.
  • Dry mustard (mustard powder) is a fantastic spice for grilled cheese. The sharpness of dry mustard intensifies the flavor of cheddar without adding the acidity that prepared (wet) mustard would add.
Cheddar, tarragon, dry mustard, butter, Bourbon, shallots and bread.

How to make it:

See full ingredient amounts and instructions in the recipe card below!

Sliced shallots.
  1. Peel, then thinly slice the shallots crosswise.
Caramelized shallots in a cast iron pan.
  1. Cook the shallots in melted butter until browned. Turn the heat off, then add the Bourbon. Turn the heat back on and cook until all liquid is evaporated. Set aside.
Grated cheese in a bowl.
  1. Mix cheese and dry mustard together in a bowl.
Buttered slice of bread.
  1. Spread butter onto one side of each of the four bread slices.
Bread slice with tarragon.
  1. Turn two of the bread slices over and top the unbuttered sides with tarragon.
Bread slice with cheese.
  1. Add the cheese mix on top of the tarragon.
Bread slice with cheese and caramelized shallots.
  1. Add the shallots onto the cheese.
Buttered bread slice.
  1. Top with the two remaining slices of buttered bread, keeping the buttered side on the outside. Heat an empty nonstick pan or a cast iron skillet until hot. Fry each sandwich on both sides.

How to serve it:

Serve the grilled cheese sandwiches by themselves or with a pickle on the side. (I recommend these cinnamon clove-flavored homemade refrigerator sweet pickles!)

Full Recipe

Two shallot grilled cheese sandwiches.
Author: Nicole B.

Grilled Cheese with Bourbon Caramelized Shallots

4.80 from 5 votes
This gourmet grilled cheese sandwich is stuffed with fresh tarragon, Bourbon caramelized shallots and melted, extra-sharp white cheddar cheese.
Print Version (does not include images) Pin Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 35 minutes mins
Servings: 2
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 1170
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients:
  

  • 3 medium-sized shallots (about 1 ¼ ounce each)
  • 4 tablespoons softened, unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 tablespoon Bourbon
  • 4 large slices rustic sourdough bread*
  • 6 ounces extra-sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 ½ tablespoons dry mustard (also called mustard powder)
  • 30 fresh tarragon leaves, roughly chopped

Equipment:

  • cheese grater
  • measuring spoons
  • knife and cutting board
  • nonstick frying pan or cast iron pan
  • mixing bowl
Prevent your screen from going dark

Method:
 

  1. Peel the shallots, then thinly slice them crosswise. Set aside.
  2. Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a pan.
  3. Add the shallots and cook uncovered over medium heat until brown, about 13 minutes.
  4. Turn the heat off, then add the Bourbon to the shallots. Turn the heat back on and cook for another minute.
  5. Take the pan off the heat and set aside.
  6. Mix the cheese and the dry mustard together in a bowl. Set aside.
  7. Spread butter onto one side of each slice of bread.
  8. Turn 2 of the slices over and sprinkle with the chopped tarragon.
  9. Sprinkle the cheese/dry mustard mix onto the tarragon.
  10. Evenly divide the shallots on top of the cheese.
  11. Top the sandwiches with the remaining 2 slices of buttered bread, keeping the buttered side on the outside.
  12. Heat an empty nonstick or cast iron pan large enough to fit one sandwich on medium heat for 3 minutes.
  13. Fry each sandwich until the cheese has melted and the bread is browned (3 to 4 minutes per side).

Recipe notes:

*The slices I used here were about 7 inches long. If you use slices much smaller than that, you may want to make 3 sandwiches instead of 2.
Did you make this recipe?Please consider leaving a review- THANK YOU!

Nutrition (estimate only):

Calories: 1170kcalCarbohydrates: 120.2gProtein: 47gFat: 56.1gSaturated Fat: 30.7gCholesterol: 151mgSodium: 1795mgPotassium: 465mgFiber: 6gSugar: 5.5gCalcium: 766mgIron: 9mg

Comments

  1. Marla Celeri says

    April 06, 2021 at 10:00 am

    OMG!!!!!!!!!! So good!!!!!!!!!!! Next level, no, top level easy gourmet grilled cheese!

    Reply
    • Nicole B. says

      April 06, 2021 at 10:04 am

      I am so thrilled to hear that, Marla! You made my day! :) Thank you so much for coming back and leaving such awesome feedback, I really appreciate that!

      Reply
4.80 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Photo of the website owner.

Hi there!

I'm Nicole, the cook and photographer behind this website. You'll find lots of delicious recipes here, all centered around spices.

More about me

Popular Recipes & Guides:

  • Two slabs of raw baby back ribs with mustard rub in a baking dish.
    Mustard Rib Rub
  • Yellow chicken curry in a bowl on a wooden coaster.
    Thai Pineapple Yellow Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk
  • Smoked paprika rub in a glass jar.
    Smoked Paprika Chicken Rub
  • A yellow, a red and a white onion on a table.
    Onion to cups conversion (sliced, chopped, medium-diced, minced)

Footer

^ back to top

About

  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 The Spice Train

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.