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    Home » Recipes » Savoury

    Quick and Easy Kimchi Grilled Cheese

    Published: Jun 22, 2022 by Michelle · 10 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This recipe for Kimchi Grilled Cheese is a satisfying and hearty sandwich featuring the Korean condiment paired with melted cheese on toasty sourdough bread.

    Sliced kimchi grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate.

    A Korean spin on the classic grilled cheese sandwich, this Kimchi Grilled Cheese is deliciously savoury.

    The sandwich is punctuated with hints of spice, tang from the kimchi and gooey melted cheese.

    What is Kimchi Grilled Cheese?

    It's an Asian fusion spin on the American grilled cheese sandwich with the addition of spicy kimchi.

    What is kimchi?

    Kimchi a Korean condiment consisting of salted and fermented Napa cabbage, radish and gochugaru (red chili powder).

    It tastes crunchy, salty, spicy, sour and umami, somewhat similar to pickles.

    Kimchi is used commonly in traditional Korean dishes such as Budae jiggae (Korean Army Stew).

    Cut kimchi grilled cheese sandwich stacked on a white plate.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    This recipe for Kimchi Grilled Cheese is so easy to make.

    It's a hearty vegetarian sandwich that will fill you up.

    You can have it for lunch or dinner.

    It has only 4 ingredients!

    Ingredients you'll need

    • slices of sourdough bread: or you can use any bread you like
    • mayonnaise: you can use unsalted butter or olive oil as an alternative
    • mozzarella cheese: for that gooey stringiness; you can use any cheese you like; sharp cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack would be great too
    • kimchi: drained; you can use homemade kimchi or store-bought

    Close up of cut kimchi grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate, with shallow bowl of kimchi in the background.

    How to make it

    Assemble the sandwich

    Place a slice of bread on a cutting board.

    Lay a slice of cheese on the bread.

    Add the drained kimchi over top.

    Place on another slice of cheese and top off with the second slice of bread.

    Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the surface of the bread.

    Cook

    Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat.

    Add 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise to the pan and swirl it around to "melt."

    Place the sandwich with the bottom (non-mayo) slice of bread on the pan.

    Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the bottom is toasty and golden brown.

    Carefully flip the sandwich and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown, and the cheese is melted. You may need to lower the heat to medium-low or adjust accordingly.

    Place onto a cutting board and slice in half.

    Garnish with cilantro, green onions or sesame seeds.

    Serve immediately.

    Other additions

    Feel free to amp up the Kimchi Grilled Cheese with:

    • scallions/green onions
    • caramelized onions
    • sliced avocado
    • cilantro
    • pulled pork
    • sesame seeds

    How to serve

    Pair the Kimchi Grilled Cheese with:

    • fries or Korean braised potatoes
    • tater tots
    • veggies
    • Korean strawberry milk

    Cut kimchi grilled cheese sandwich stacked on a white plate.

    FAQs, expert tips & substitutions

    What does kimchi taste like?

    Different kimchi brands will have different flavours.

    Some are spicy, others are tangy. Feel free to experiment and find one you like.

    Kimchi may contain shellfish, seafood and fish sauce, however, there are vegan/vegetarian options.

    Can I use a different cheese?

    You can use any other cheese that melts well, such as Monterey Jack, gouda or sharp cheddar cheese.

    How can I make it vegan?

    You can opt for vegan cheese and use oil instead of butter or mayonnaise.

    Choose a vegan kimchi which does not contain shellfish/seafood.

    What other bread can I use?

    If sourdough is not an option, try an artisan loaf, or country bread for a hearty sandwich.

    Otherwise, you can use regular bread or milk bread.

    Other Korean recipes you may like

    Be sure to check out these recipes:

    Kimchi Fried Rice

    Spicy Korean Tofu in Gochujang Sauce (Dubu Jorim)

    Korean Strawberry Milk (Easy No Cook)

    Spicy Gochujang Eggs in Purgatory

    Korean Braised Potatoes (Gamja Jorim)

    Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!

    Pulled apart sliced kimchi grilled cheese sandwich on a white plate.

     

    Print Recipe
    5 from 8 votes

    Quick and Easy Kimchi Grilled Cheese

    This recipe for Kimchi Grilled Cheese is a satisfying and hearty sandwich featuring the Korean condiment paired with melted cheese on toasty sourdough bread.
    Prep Time2 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time7 mins
    Course: Lunch, Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine: American, Asian, Korean
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 711kcal
    Author: Michelle

    For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.

    Ingredients

    • 2 slices sourdough bread
    • 2 slices mozzarella cheese or any cheese you like
    • 2 tablespoon kimchi drained
    • 2 tablespoon mayonnaise or butter divided
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Assemble the sandwich:

    • Place a slice of bread on a cutting board.
    • Lay a slice of cheese on the bread.
    • Add the drained kimchi over top.
    • Place on another slice of cheese and top off with the second slice of bread.
    • Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on the surface of the bread.

    Cook:

    • Heat a skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat.
    • Add remaining 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise to the pan and swirl it around to "melt."
    • Place the sandwich with the bottom (non-mayo) slice of bread on the pan.
    • Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the bottom is toasty and golden brown.
    • Carefully flip the sandwich and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden brown, and the cheese is melted. You may need to lower the heat to medium-low or adjust accordingly.
    • Place the sandwich onto a cutting board and slice in half.
    • Garnish with cilantro, green onions or sesame seeds if desired.
    • Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 711kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 1306mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 402IU | Calcium: 355mg | Iron: 5mg

    The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.

    Did you try this recipe?Mention @siftandsimmer or tag #siftandsimmer!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heidi | The Frugal Girls

      June 22, 2022 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      What a brilliant idea! I absolutely adore grilled cheese sandwiches and this is the perfect way to level up my dinner! Thank you for sharing!!

      Reply
    2. 2pots2cook

      June 23, 2022 at 2:56 am

      5 stars
      Love kimchi. I have a jar at home, in fact. This is such an amazing idea to have for week dinner since the heat is almost unbearable here !!!! Thank you so much Michelle!

      Reply
    3. Raymund | angsarap.net

      June 23, 2022 at 6:02 pm

      5 stars
      I just leant doing this recently and it was an amazing discovery, kimchi and cheese on a toast might not sound right but it was really good.

      Reply
    4. Savita

      July 15, 2022 at 6:17 am

      5 stars
      Wow, such an interesting way to have kimchi. Loved the recipe so easy and delicious.

      Reply
    5. Am

      August 25, 2022 at 5:28 pm

      5 stars
      Now this is my kind of grown-up grilled cheese! Love the kick and extra texture from the kimchi and it's a great way to use up leftovers.

      Reply
      • Michelle

        August 27, 2022 at 7:25 am

        Totally agree with you -- the best "clearing the fridge" type of lunch!

    6. Toni

      October 15, 2022 at 4:45 pm

      5 stars
      Such a perfect combination of flavors!! I love it!

      Reply
    7. GUNJAN

      November 05, 2022 at 6:51 pm

      5 stars
      This was outstanding grilled cheese recipe. I have never tried kimchi in it earlier and this was a game changer and now I am only going to make it this way.

      Reply
    8. Tayler

      December 07, 2022 at 5:22 pm

      5 stars
      We had this grilled cheese for lunch today and everyone loved it! We will definitely be eating this often!

      Reply
      • Michelle

        December 08, 2022 at 10:37 am

        So happy to hear it, Tayler! It's one of our favorites for lunch too!

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    My name is Michelle and Sift & Simmer is a food recipe blog featuring easy, creative and delicious recipes. I believe that the best food is made from scratch. Read More…

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