Grilled Cheese With Kimchi

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Sep. 21, 2022
20150219-grilled-cheese-kimchi-sandwich-vicky-wasik-1.jpg
Photograph: Vicky Wasik

Why This Recipe Works

  • Toasting both sides of each slice of bread ensure maximum flavor and crispness in every bite—the perfect foil to melted and gooey cheese.
  • Using a moderately low flame for toasting ensures the bread turns an even golden brown without brining, and gives the cheese more time to melt.

The Grilled Kimcheeze is proof that kimchi belongs in a grilled cheese about as much as a slice of American cheese belongs in a bowl of kimchi jjigae. (That is, a lot.) This recipe takes our classic grilled cheese technique, which involves toasted both sides of each bread slice in butter so that it's delightfully crisp and flavorful throughout. Beyond that, there's not much to it—add the kimchi and cheese and get it all good and melty, making sure to do it all over a moderately low flame for a crust that's evenly golden-brown just as the cheese fully melts and not charred with cold cheese still in the center..

Recipe Details

Grilled Cheese With Kimchi

Cook 12 mins
Active 12 mins
Total 12 mins
Serves 1 sandwich

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons (30g) butter, cut into 3 even pieces

  • 2 slices hearty white bread, such as Pepperidge Farm or Arnold

  • 2 slices American, cheddar, or Jack cheese

  • 1/2 cup kimchi (3 ounces; 85g), drained and roughly chopped

  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. In a large non-stick skillet, melt one-third of butter over medium heat until foaming subsides. Add both bread slices and cook, swirling occasionally, until pale golden brown on bottom side, about 2 minutes.

    Two pieces of bread being toasted in butter in a pan

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

  2. Transfer to a work surface toasted side up. Place one cheese slice on top of one slice of bread. Top with kimchi and second cheese slice. Close sandwich, with both toasted sides facing inwards.

    Two pieces of toasted bread on a cutting board with one piece layered with a slice of American Cheese and kimchi

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

  3. Melt one more piece of butter in the skillet and reduce heat to medium low. Add sandwich and cook, swirling occasionally, until deep, even golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove sandwich using a flexible metal spatula. Add the remaining butter. Return sandwich to skillet toasted-side up. Season with salt. Cook, swirling occasionally, until second side is deep, even golden brown and cheese is thoroughly melted, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Compiled sandwich being toasted again in the pan

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
578 Calories
42g Fat
31g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 578
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 42g 54%
Saturated Fat 26g 129%
Cholesterol 111mg 37%
Sodium 1252mg 54%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 533mg 41%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 239mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)