Spaghetti Grilled Cheese
Twist on a Classic: The Comforting and Fun Spaghetti Grilled Cheese
Take two beloved comfort food classics – the gooey, cheesy grilled cheese sandwich and the satisfyingly saucy spaghetti – and mash them together for a surprisingly delicious and undeniably fun creation: the Spaghetti Grilled Cheese! This isn’t your average sandwich; it’s a warm, cheesy hug filled with tender pasta and flavorful tomato sauce, all nestled between perfectly grilled bread.
This recipe is a playful and inventive way to use up leftover spaghetti or simply to indulge in a unique and comforting meal. The crispy, buttery bread provides a delightful contrast to the soft, saucy interior, creating a symphony of textures and flavors that will bring a smile to your face. Whether you’re a kid at heart or just looking for a creative and satisfying sandwich experience, this Spaghetti Grilled Cheese is a must-try! Get ready for a deliciously unexpected twist on two familiar favorites.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 sandwich 1x
- Category: Main Dish
Ingredients
Bolognese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 onion finely diced
- 1 carrot finely diced
- 1 rib celery finely diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 1/4 cups red wine or beef broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 28 ounces whole tomatoes with juice
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Grilled Cheese
- 2 slices soft Italian Bread
- 1 Tbsp butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 Tbsp finely grated parmesan
- 1/2 cup bolognese sauce (above)
- 1 cup angel hair pasta
- 6 slices of fresh mozzarella cheese or 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Bolognese Sauce (makes 6 servings)
- In a large dutch oven, cook onion in oil over medium heat until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add garlic, carrot, and celery, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add beef and pork, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no pink remains. Drain fat.
- Add the wine and simmer uncovered until evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add milk and simmer uncovered until evaporated, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, tomatoes with juice, and bay leaf. Break tomatoes up with a spoon. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until thickened. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Grilled Cheese
- In a small bowl, mix the garlic, basil, and butter together. Then spread this on one side of each slice of the soft Italian bread. Next spread 1/2 tablespoon of the finely grated Parmesan on buttered side of each slice of bread, lightly pressing it into the butter.
- Bring a pot of salt water to a bowl, add the angel hair pasta, and cook until al dente, and drain.
- Stir the cooked angel hair into 1/2 cup of the bolognese sauce.
- Lay a piece of the buttered garlic bread down, buttered side facing down. Top with 3 slices of the fresh mozzarella, (or 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella), arranging it so it covers the bread. Spread the bolognese covered angel hair over the mozzarella, and top with another layer of mozzarella (or the rest of your shredded mozzarella). Add the second slice of bread on top, buttered side facing up.
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add the sandwich and cover the skillet. There is no need to grease the pan. The key here is to go low and slow with heat, and not to move the sandwich. After 5-6 minutes the first side of the sandwich should be golden brown, carefully flip the sandwich, and cover the pan again. Toast the second side of the sandwich and serve immediately.
Notes
- The Bolognese Sauce makes 6 servings – so if you make it all – you will have extra sauce!
- If low on time – you can use spaghetti sauce instead of bolognese. The bolognese adds the meat which adds just a little bit extra to this sandwich!
- My wife likes her “garlic bread” more salty & she would have added garlic salt to the butter (not the garlic itself).
Keywords: Main Dish, Dinner, Lunch, Spaghetti, Grilled Cheese, Garlic Bread, Bolognese