11 Fruits That Can Upgrade Any Grilled Cheese

There are many ways to make your grilled cheese sandwiches taste better, such as dipping them in condiments, but adding fruit might just be the best upgrade of them all. Whether you know it or not, there are plenty of tasty options, and when added to the humble sandwich, they lend an extra layer of flavor and texture that's sure to draw in even the most die-hard fans of the classic recipe. Surprise, surprise, they aren't all sweet, either.

I rounded up a list of the best fruits for the job and how to use them in a way that elevates the dish from the ground up. Whether it's spreading jam between the slices of bread or adding sliced citrus, these additions have what it takes to upgrade the dish in delightful ways. I would know — I've tried every one of the yummy suggestions found below, and they do not disappoint. So, whether you want to enhance the simplest version — made with white bread and American cheese — or make a sophisticated lunch with a fancy pick like Brie and gourmet bread, you're in the right place. Fruit is just what you need to take your future grilled cheese sandwiches to the next level.

Berries of all kinds make a wonderful addition to grilled cheese sandwiches. Sweet and sometimes a touch tart, they add a lovely flavor and a bit of texture that fits into the equation like a charm — and blueberries are my top choice. Admittedly, I'm a bit partial to them in general, but they bring a deep sweetness and lots of saucy goodness that mixes with cheese, bread, and butter in a crave-worthy way. Even so, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries also taste phenomenal too, so when the time comes to experiment, just pick your personal favorite.

While sliced or whole berries work great, jams are going to be your friend with this upgrade. They allow you to get lots of juicy flavor without saturating the bread and are super easy to spread. Jams also stay in place while you are munching, so you don't have to worry about any berries pushing out the sides and abandoning ship.

Of course, the cheese you select matters as well. Whether we are talking blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries, cheeses like Brie, feta, goat cheese, ricotta, Havarti, and sharp white cheddar are my go-to picks. They not only complement berries, but they also won't overpower them. Instead, they create a harmonious combination that is nothing if not mouthwatering. Long story short: Add berries to your next grilled cheese, and you'll be glad you did.

Both apples and grilled cheese sandwiches are quintessential American foods, and while they don't get combined in too many dishes, this is one instance where they make a delectable pair. I mean, one look at apple pie with melted cheese on top is proof of that. Regardless, placing thin slices of apple between the layers of cheese on your sandwich is a surefire way to turn up both flavor and texture. The cheese clings to the apples like it's its job, and the tart and subtly sweet taste of the fruit provides a lovely contrast to the overall flavor profile as well. The butter sure doesn't hurt, either.

When I think of an apple grilled cheese, the first thing that comes to mind is Brie. It has an earthy taste and creamy consistency that complements the apples like a champ. In addition to sliced pieces of the fruit, you can also make a Brie grilled cheese with apple butter for some down-home comfort. Yum! You don't have to get fancy, though (am I the only one who thinks Brie is fancy?). Good old-fashioned American or extra-sharp cheddar cheese also takes to apples in spectacular fashion. Or, if you are craving a funkier option, Gorgonzola or blue cheese also tastes wonderful paired with apples. They don't get lost in the mix and still benefit from a bit of crunch by way of the fruit.

Peaches and cheese may sound like an unlikely pair, but let me tell you: They are not. In fact, pizza with peaches and ricotta cheese is a common thing where I live (in Colorado). When Palisade peach season rolls around, you find it on menus all over the place. Just trust me — sticking some freshly sliced peaches or even peach jam in your next sandwich is a decision you won't regret.

Staying on the same pizza train of thought, a mix of mozzarella and ricotta is the ideal choice for a peach grilled cheese. They are subtly sweet and have a decent amount of saltiness as well, two things that make the peaches pop on your tongue. Goat cheese, Brie, Camembert, mascarpone, and burrata also make a yummy grilled cheese with peaches. However, if you opt for a cheese with lots of moisture, like ricotta or burrata, I recommend selecting a less juicy peach. If you don't, it can be challenging to fry the sandwich before it becomes a soggy mess. For the same reason, avoid canned peaches unless you drain and pat them completely dry.

Pears are the next fruit up for your consideration with grilled cheese sandwiches. Sweet and slightly tart, they create a delicious contrast of flavors and textures that is sure to turn some heads. Best of all, they aren't super juicy, so achieving the perfectly crispy exterior and soft center of the bread we all know and love is easily attainable. Score.

As for the type of cheese you want to pair with pears, something bold and pungent is the way to go. For this reason, Gorgonzola, Gouda, and blue cheese all stand out as fantastic options. Something salty like goat cheese will also balance out the inherent sweetness of the fruit, so it makes a good pick if you want more contrast. Of course, Brie is also a great option. You're probably starting to notice a pattern — I've recommended it for every upgrade thus far, after all — but there's no denying that it tastes outstanding with fruit, and that includes pears. You don't even have to be a Brie fanatic like I am. One taste and you'll see exactly why Brie goes with pears and other fruits like the best of friends.

My all-time favorite fruit to put on a grilled cheese sandwich is an avocado. Not only does it go with just about any type of cheese you might have on hand, but it also adds an extra layer of creaminess that's hard not to fall head over heels for. The overall flavor may be subtle, but I promise you it won't go unnoticed. To top it all off, avocados provide you with essential vitamins and minerals, plus lots of heart-healthy fat. As a result, adding them to a grilled cheese sandwich is not only tasty but good for you, too, and that's always a win in my book.

You don't have to feel constrained by the type of cheese you use when putting avocado on the comfort food sandwich. Even so, I like to use something super melty and flavorful, like sharp white cheddar or pepper jack. Creamy, nutty, buttery cheeses like Gruyère, Havarti, and Muenster also fit the bill, but seriously, the sky's the limit.

In addition to sliced avocados, smashed ones, maybe in the form of guacamole, also make an ideal enhancement. They stay in place way better than slippery slices as well. Lastly, you can also incorporate other ingredients, such as bacon, tomatoes, jalapeños, spinach, and more, to create a heartier sandwich with lots of bite.

For the most part, people use tomatoes like a vegetable. Don't get it twisted, though; they are a fruit, plain and simple. With this in mind, they are the next ingredient that seamlessly fits into a grilled cheese sandwich.

I won't do you the disservice of explaining why cheese, bread, butter, and tomatoes taste outstanding together — we all know the sandwich and tomato soup are a legendary pairing. So, let's move on to texture, shall we? Diced, sliced, or crushed, tomatoes add a juicy consistency to gooey grilled cheese sandwiches that's hard not to love. Their bright acidity also cuts through the richness of cheese in the most delicious way imaginable. Oh yeah, this is another instance where absolutely any cheese takes to the fruit in question without issue. Seriously, it doesn't matter what kind you have in the fridge or are craving; tomatoes will make it tastier.

In addition to chopping fresh tomatoes for your grilled cheese sandwich, a spicy tomato salsa, either spread between the layers of bread or served on the side for dipping, makes for a winning combination. If you love spicy foods as much as I do, even better. For an even deeper layer of flavor, sun-dried or fire-roasted tomatoes are here for the win as well. Plus, if you buy a jarred or canned version, they couldn't be simpler to incorporate.

This next fruit may throw some of you for a loop, but bear with me. As it turns out, incorporating lemon is a fantastic way to amplify a plain grilled cheese with citrus. In fact, it's one upgrade celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis recommends, and you know what? If it's good enough for her, it's certainly good enough for us. 

If you're up to experimenting, a light layer of sugary lemon curd, a spread of lemon marmalade, or even thin, sugar-dusted lemon slices tucked between the cheese can transform the entire sandwich. The addition of sugar might seem confounding, but all of the elements combined lead to bright, zesty, salty, and slightly sweet grilled cheese sandwiches that will have you wondering why you never thought of the combination before.

Mozzarella, parmesan, and smooth, buttery cheeses like Gouda and Brie taste phenomenal on a lemon grilled cheese sandwich. They balance out the tartness in expert fashion while still leaving room for the citrusy pop to shine through. Gouda, in particular, also lends a nice nuttiness to the mix. So, while lemon and grilled cheese may be a bit counterintuitive, don't knock it until you try it. The combo made a fan out of me after a single mouthful.

Cherries are yet another fruit that makes a wonderful addition to grilled cheese sandwiches. For starters, the balanced sweet and tart flavors of most varieties lend a lovely taste to the butter, bread, and cheese. Even so, Rainier and Bing cherries are my favorite picks. Just make sure to remove the pits before putting them in your sandwich. Cherry jam is a great shortcut if pitting feels a bit labor-intensive. Whatever you do, steer clear of maraschinos. They may not have pits, but they lack the nuanced flavors found in more natural options. I find they are unbearably sweet, and what's up with that neon red color anyway? Moving on ...

Cherries also have a fairly meaty texture that gives the sandwich a decent amount of bite, and that's always a good thing. When it comes to the specific type of cheese to pair with the fruit, I recommend Gorgonzola or Roquefort. They provide a pungent contrast to the sweetness of the fruit that is mouthwatering, to say the least. If you aren't into stinky cheese — not everyone is — mild and creamy burrata or mozzarella also works exceptionally well, especially if you want the cherries to be front and center on the palate. That's not where the fun stops, though. Buttery Brie, tangy goat cheese, and salty cheddar and Gouda cheeses are also enhanced by the deliciously bold taste of cherries. It just depends on what kind of flavor is calling to you at the moment.

Apricots bring sweet and tart flavors together into one delicious fruit, and as I'm sure you could guess, they also make for a mean grilled cheese. I first came up with this mash-up when I spotted an apricot cheese on a friend's charcuterie board. I thought to myself, if the cheese already has chunks of apricot mixed in, why wouldn't it taste great turned into a sandwich? The answer, of course, is that it does.

You don't have to track down a specialized cheese that already contains apricots to pull this tasty combination off. You could, but if you want to keep things simple, apricot jam is the way to go. It allows you to add as much or as little as you like, and it's spreadable. Fresh, sliced apricots also make a good choice, but preserves are my jam (pun intended). That aside, goat cheese, mascarpone, or cream cheese are what I reach for first. They are smooth, tangy, and take to sweet fruits like pros. Creamy picks like Havarti, Brie, and Gruyère also make outstanding choices, especially if you want an über-gooey sandwich. Yes, please!

Persimmons aren't the most common fruit, but they are just what you need to make a unique grilled cheese sandwich. If you have never had this fruit before, the flavor is a bit hard to pin down, but they have a sweet, honey-like taste backed up by a bit of spice. Some varieties, particularly Hachiya persimmons, also have a slightly drying effect when underripe due to their tannin content. However, this astringency fades as they ripen, so you'll want to make sure they're ready to eat before adding them to your sandwich. Pair them with cheese, and you're in for a treat. It's not a super unusual combination, either, as is evident from recipes like persimmon and goat cheese cheesecake.

Brie is a stellar pick here. It contrasts the sweetness of the fruit with a smooth and slightly funky flavor that's hard not to like. The same can be said for Camembert. The nutty undertones of Gruyère and aged Gouda also create a nice balance of sweet and savory while adding a nuanced taste with some oomph. My final recommendation is blue cheese. Pungent and extra salty, it offsets the sweetness of persimmons beautifully while also giving the finished product more punch for the palate. If you go this route, I suggest opting for thick, rustic bread to seal the deal. The more nuts and seeds, the better, because they enhance texture and give grilled cheese even more layers of flavor.

The final fruit that fits into grilled cheese sandwiches is pineapple. As someone who loves pizza with pineapple, this combination makes perfect sense to me — pizza features cheese and crispy crust, after all. Still, I know it's a controversial topping, so don't write it off just yet if you don't fall into the same camp as me. Super sweet, citrusy, and tropical to boot, pineapple takes a boring sandwich to new heights. It also adds a wonderful texture with lots of meaty bite.

Creating a winning pineapple grilled cheese largely depends on the cheese you use. For me, mozzarella is the obvious pick, especially if you add a few slices of jalapeños. The three elements come together to form a sweet, spicy, gooey mix of flavors and textures that I can't get enough of. However, the nutty flavors of Swiss and Monterey Jack also more than get the job done. If you want a milder option that leaves the pineapple to do the heavy lifting, cream cheese and Havarti won't let you down. They are smooth and mild, so they won't steal the show.

The only thing to worry about when pairing pineapple with grilled cheese is moisture. Pineapple is extra juicy, and you don't want that to hinder the bread's ability to achieve crispy glory. To avoid this, I often use a paper towel to soak up some of the liquid before putting it on my sandwich. After that, though, it performs like a champ.