Cozy Comforts: French Onion Grilled Cheese

I am all about comfort food this time of year. Hearty soups? Baked casseroles and decadent desserts? Yes to all of it- as long as it warms me up when I come in from the cold temperatures outside! This recipe, a combination of two of my favorite dishes for the Winter- French onion soup and grilled cheese- is a must-have during the chilliest months of the year. It’s not only filling, but it’s packed with a ton of different and satisfying flavors like melty Gruyère, tangy mustard and sweet, crispy onions.

I could easily eat these sandwiches every day leading up to Spring and well beyond- and they’re just so simple to make!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

4 SERVINGS:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 yellow onions, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperate
8 slices sourdough bread
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, plus more for serving
8 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and season with a generous pinch of salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are deeply caramelized, 30 to 40 minutes. (Keep an eye on the onions and adjust the heat as needed. Add a tablespoon or two of water if they are cooking too fast!) The caramelized onions can be held in the fridge for up to 5 days.

2. To make the sandwiches, butter one side of each slice of bread, then place butter side down on your work surface. On half of the slices, spread a thin layer of mustard and season with pepper. Divide the cheese evenly between the four slices, add the caramelized onions, then close the sandwiches with the remaining bread.

3. In a large skillet over medium-low to medium heat, cook the sandwiches until one side is golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip, then cook the other side until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. (Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to do this in batches!) Serve the sandwiches with more mustard for dipping.

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This is such an addictive and easy dish to prepare for lunch or dinner in just a few quick steps- and they are sure to win over even the pickiest of eaters. You can serve these with a side of chips or a cup of soup to keep up with the coziness, be it French onion soup or the all-time classic companion- tomato soup.

There’s really no wrong way to serve this one!