Name: Mediterranean Grilled Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 slices sourdough bread; 1 heaping tablespoon softened butter or mayonnaise (I use salted butter); Za’atar spice blend (recipe below); 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped; 1 tablespoon oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped small; 2-3 kalamata olives, pitted and chopped small; 1/4 cup – 1/3 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese, depending on the size of your bread; 1/4 cup – 1/3 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese, depending on the size of your bread; 2 teaspoons dried thyme; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1.5 teaspoons sesame seeds, toasted if desired; 1.5 teaspoons ground sumac; 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

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This gourmet grilled cheese is packed with delicious flavor from Mediterranean ingredients, including baby spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and a homemade za’atar spice blend. It’s buttery, gooey and has an extra crisp exterior that’s guaranteed to become your new favorite.

A grilled cheese sandwich is one of my favorite comfort foods. Especially when it’s paired with a warm bowl of tomato soup. It’s not meant to be healthy, so I don’t skimp on the amount of cheese or butter I use.

My toddler also loves eating grilled cheese sandwiches, so we’ve been making them a lot in our house recently. They’re quick and easy to make for lunch or dinner when you don’t feel like cooking.

Table of Contents

Mediterranean grilled cheese recipe ingredients

Bread: The bread you use for your grilled cheese sandwich matters more than you think. My favorite type of bread for grilled cheese is sourdough.

Other types of bread that work well for grilled cheese include brioche, challah, rye, or thick-cut white bread (such as Texas toast).

Butter or mayonnaise: You can spread butter or mayonnaise on the outside of the bread. I always use salted butter, but you can use unsalted if you prefer.

Mayo has a higher smoke point, which can help you achieve a more even, golden brown crust. On the other hand, butter will give you a rich flavor and a slightly more tender bread.

Za’atar spice blend: This is a Middle Eastern spice blend that’s popular in the eastern Mediterranean region. It’s a mixture of dried herbs, toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and salt.

My homemade za’atar spice mix includes dried thyme, dried oregano, sesame seeds, ground sumac, and salt.

While toasted sesame seeds are more traditional, I don’t toast them because they will get nice and toasted while cooking the grilled cheese sandwich.

Baby spinach: This adds color and it’s rich in nutrients.

Sun-dried tomatoes: Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes are a total flavor bomb. They add a slightly sweet and salty taste which is delicious.

Kalamata olives: These add a slight tanginess, bold, and salty flavor.

Mozzarella cheese: This is an excellent melting cheese that’s known for its stretchy, creamy, and smooth texture when heated. Because it has a mild taste, I recommend pairing it with a flavored cheese, like cheddar.

Cheddar cheese: I like using a mild to medium cheddar to make this grilled cheese sandwich. It has a delicious flavor that doesn’t overpower the other ingredients.

Sharp cheddar can be used too if you prefer a bold and more pronounced cheese flavor.

TIP: Freshly shredded cheese is superior to cheese slices when making a grilled cheese. Shredded cheese melts more quickly and evenly, which gives you that delicious gooey texture.

Avoid using pre-shredded cheese, which usually contains anti-caking agents like potato starch. This can affect its melting ability.

How to make a Mediterranean grilled cheese

Make the za’atar spice blend. Add the thyme, oregano, sesame seeds, ground sumac, and fine sea salt to a small bowl or jar with a fitted lid. Mix until well combined.

You’ll need ½ teaspoon of the za’atar spice blend to make the grilled cheese.

Wilt the spinach. Spray a skillet with cooking oil (or add a few drops of water) and set it to medium heat. Once hot, add the spinach and sauté until wilted.

Transfer the spinach to a cutting board and let cool. Squeeze out any excess water using a paper towel or tea towel.

Grate the cheese. Use a standard box grater to grate the cheese. The amount of cheese you’ll need will depend on the size of your bread.

Grate enough cheese to create a small mound of cheese over one slice of bread. This is around 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of each type of cheese.

Make the sandwich filling. In a medium bowl, add the wilted spinach, mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and kalamata olives. Stir to combine.

Butter the bread. Use a spoon or fork to gently combine the softened butter and za’atar blend. Spread an even layer of butter mixture on the outside of the bread, about ½ tablespoon per slice depending on the size of the bread.

Assemble the sandwich. Place the cheese mixture on the unbuttered side, then close sandwich with the buttered sides on the outside.

Cook the grilled cheese. Cover and cook the sandwich over medium-low heat until the bottom is nice and golden brown, about 3 minutes.

Flip and press down lightly on the sandwich with a spatula. Cook until the cheese has melted and the bread is golden and crisp, about 3 minutes.

TIP: If the bread is browning too fast before the cheese gets a chance to melt, lower the heat so the filling can get nice and gooey inside.

Let rest and enjoy! Transfer the cooked sandwich to a cutting board and let it rest for a minute. Cut it in half and serve warm.

How to use za’atar spice mix

If you’re making my homemade za’atar spice mix, you’ll have leftovers to use for more grilled cheese sandwiches or other recipes. Below are some tasty ways to use this za’atar spice blend.

Sprinkle za’atar on grilled chicken, fish, or tofu before cooking.
Toss za’atar with roasted vegetables or potatoes
Toss za’atar with chickpeas to make crispy roasted chickpeas.
Sprinkle za’atar over poached, fried or scrambled eggs.
Combine olive oil and za’atar to make a delicious dip for crusty bread.
Sprinkle za’atar on homemade pita chips or focaccia bread.
Sprinkle za’atar on avocado toast or sliced tomatoes.

What’s the secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich?

The secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich is to use good quality bread (I like sourdough), freshly shredded cheese, a salted butter, and to cook it low and slow. That’s the key to getting melted cheese AND a golden and crisp exterior.

I also recommend covering the pan with a lid or baking sheet. This helps to trap the heat so the cheese can melt more evenly while the bread gets nice and toasted.

Please let me know how you like this Mediterranean grilled cheese recipe in the comments below! Your feedback and review encourages me to keep creating new and yummy recipes. I hope you love this grilled cheese sandwich as much as I do.