This Corned Beef Grilled Cheese is the ultimate St. Patricks Day sandwich, made with buttery toasted bread, caramelized onions, melted cheese, and corned beef. Simple, flavorful, delicious!.
This recipe makes a tasty and filling sandwich. If you want to try even more sandwich recipes, you could make a Toasted Steak Sandwich, a cheesy Grilled Cheese Sandwich, or a Croque Monsieur.
Even though you don’t need a recipe for a grilled cheese sandwich, I have to share this one because it’s so tasty and has corned beef, Swiss cheese, and caramelized onions on buttery toasted rye bread.
One thing I love making on nights when I don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen is a grilled cheese sandwich. Also, you probably already have the main ingredients in your kitchen, which are bread and cheese. This makes it easy to make when you don’t want to go to the store.
Corned beef is a hearty and flavorful cut of meat that is delicious when served alone but can be taken to new heights when paired with the right cheese. The salty and savory flavors of corned beef make it a perfect partner for a wide variety of cheeses that can complement and enhance the meat. Choosing the right cheese is key to creating a mouthwatering corned beef dish.
When selecting a cheese to serve with corned beef there are a few considerations to keep in mind
Complementary Flavors
You’ll want to pick a cheese that has complementary flavors to corned beef so that the two foods enhance each other. The salty and peppery notes of corned beef pair well with cheeses that have some sweetness tanginess creaminess, or sharpness to balance out the meat’s heavier flavors. Sharp cheddar, Swiss, Havarti, and Gouda all have nuances that work nicely with corned beef. On the other hand, milder cheeses may get overpowered.
Texture
The tender and shredded texture of cooked corned beef calls for a cheese with a similar soft, melt-in-your-mouth quality. Oozing, melted cheese takes corned beef to the next level. Opt for softer cheeses like Havarti, Muenster, American, and younger cheddars that can get nice and gooey when heated. Hard cheeses don’t melt as easily.
Use
Consider how you plan to use the cheese in your dish. If making a corned beef sandwich, slices of cheese that can be melted on top work best. For hash or casserole dishes, shredded cheese that can be mixed throughout is ideal. Soft spreads like Boursin or cream cheese also pair nicely with corned beef sandwiches.
With these tips in mind, here is an overview of some of the best cheese choices to serve with corned beef:
Swiss
With its smooth, creamy texture and slightly sweet yet tangy flavor, Swiss cheese is one of the most popular choices for corned beef. The mellow flavors of Swiss balance beautifully with spice-cured corned beef. Swiss works well in sandwiches, au gratin dishes, or melted on top of corned beef hash. Baby Swiss offers a gentler tang plus lots of creaminess.
Cheddar
For a classic corned beef pairing, you can’t go wrong with cheddar, especially aged sharp cheddar. The sharpness stands up to the strong spices and salts of the meat. Cheddar adds a pleasing richness and saltiness. Use white cheddar for a milder flavor. Yellow cheddar provides more bite. Cheddar works shredded or sliced.
Havarti
Creamy, buttery Havarti has a mild, tangy flavor that harmonizes flawlessly with corned beef. It melts extremely well, making it an excellent choice for grilled sandwiches. The soft texture also blends nicely when mixed into casserole dishes. Havarti brings out more subtle notes in the meat.
Gouda
With its distinctive nutty, caramel-like sweetness, Gouda provides an interesting counterpoint to salty corned beef. Young Gouda has a mild flavor that allows the meat’s spices to shine. Aged Gouda has a sharper bite that stands up to the beef. Gouda’s meltability makes it a smart addition to sandwiches or hash.
Brie
The soft, rich decadence of brie gives corned beef a luxurious flavor pairing. The buttery brie rounds out the spices of the meat. The creaminess mellows any harsh flavors. While brie has a potent flavor of its own, it won’t overpower the corned beef. Use brie for an upscale pairing.
Muenster
The smooth, melty texture and mild, nutty flavor of Muenster complement corned beef without overwhelming it. Muenster pairs nicely with rye bread for sandwiches. It can also be shredded over sliced corned beef or mixed into hash. The softness melts beautifully over the meat.
Provolone
With its firm texture, smoky flavor, and sharp bite, provolone makes a fantastic match for corned beef. You can use mild provolone for a subtle smoky accent, or aged provolone for a bigger flavor that can stand up to the robust meat. Provolone brings out the meaty flavors.
American Cheese
Don’t overlook American cheese, especially for corned beef sandwiches. The creamy, salty, tangy notes balance the spices while the meltability creates gooey perfection. American cheese’s texture blends flawlessly with tender corned beef. Opt for deli-style American cheese over individually wrapped slices.
Blue Cheese
For an extra punch of robust flavor, try crumbling blue cheese over your hot corned beef or mixing it into hash. The sharpness pairs well with the meat while the creaminess cools the spices. A little bit of blue cheese goes a long way due to its potent flavor.
Colby Jack
Colby Jack combines the mild, buttery quality of Colby with the bold bite of Monterey Jack. Together, these flavors complement corned beef’s saltiness. The semi-soft texture melts nicely over the meat. Colby Jack can be sliced for sandwiches or shredded for maximum meltability.
Pepper Jack
For some heat, Pepper Jack adds a lively kick to corned beef’s spice profile. The cheese’s creaminess balances the slight burn. Mild or spicy Pepper Jack both work well depending on your preferred level of heat. Pepper Jack meshes wonderfully in grilled sandwiches or corned beef hash.
Cream Cheese and Boursin
Rich, velvety cream cheese or garlic and herb Boursin make a simple, decadent spread for corned beef sandwiches. The creaminess perfectly offsets the salty dried meat. Whipped cream cheese or herbed Boursin add flavor without overpowering the beef. Soft spreads pair better with sandwiches than other preparations.
While these cheeses are among the top choices, don’t be afraid to experiment with other varieties too. Fontina, Gruyere, Asiago, and fresh mozzarella can all make great partners for corned beef depending on your preferences. Just be sure to seek out cheeses with complementary textures and flavors.
When served with the right cheese, humble corned beef is elevated into a melt-in-your-mouth treat. Whether you prefer your cheese sliced, shredded, or spreadable, a flavorful cheese accentuates the beef’s spices and adds richness. With so many options, you can enjoy corned beef in new ways. Treat your tastebuds to this classic meat made even better with ooey, gooey cheese.
What Kind of Cheese for this Grilled Cheese Sandwich?
If you can find Jarlsberg cheese, that would be great too. For the cheese, I like to use slices of Swiss cheese.
What Kind of Corned Beef Works Best?
Now if you have some corned beef that youve already prepared to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, then feel free to thinly slice that and use it. If not, just get some corned beef slices from the deli and cut them into strips to add to the caramelized onions you will cook before putting together the corned beef grilled cheese.
Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich on the Blackstone Griddle
FAQ
What cheese taste good with beef?
What do the Irish eat with corned beef?
What makes corned beef taste better?
Does Cheese go with corned beef?
Cheese goes great with corned beef because it balances out the saltiness of the beef. Corned beef is a hugely popular dish, and cheese is a great way to make it even more popular. Adding cheese to corned beef not only enhances the flavor of the meat, but it also helps to prevent it from becoming too dry.
Is Swiss cheese good for corned beef?
Swiss cheese can help to cut the salty flavor of the corned beef while also providing a richness and sweetness to the dish. Swiss cheese can also be melted and served on top of hot dogs or hamburgers for a delicious and unique topping.
Is Fontina cheese good for corned beef sandwiches?
Fontina cheese can be used as an ingredient in many dishes, but it’s especially suited to make corned beef sandwiches because of its flavor and texture. Fontina cheese will give your sandwich a nice depth of flavor that is hard to replicate with other cheeses.
How do you make a corned beef sandwich?
Mix in the corned beef slices. On 4 slices of bread, layer the cheese, and corned beef and onion mixture. Top with the remaining 4 slices of bread. On a griddle or large pan, melt some butter and grill the sandwiches until lightly browned and crispy on both sides and cheese is melted.