How Gordon Ramsay Elevates His Grilled Cheese With Onions

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is notoriously critical of kitchen blunders, both on TV and social media. When he's not hosting shows like "Kitchen Nightmares," "Hell's Kitchen," and "MasterChef," he often duets and reacts to others' cooking videos over on TikTok, expressing his distaste for strange creations. However, that doesn't mean he's opposed to a little experimentation in the kitchen.

Back in 2020, Ramsay posted a YouTube video showcasing his go-to grilled cheese recipe. Ramsay used a combination of Romano and asiago cheeses (perfect for upgrading lasagna) on thick-cut country bread. He slathered the outside of the bread slices with butter to ensure the perfect crispy cook, then seasoned the outer bread with salt. Inside, Ramsay combined the cheeses and added an unexpected ingredient: Kimchi.

In an exclusive interview with Tasting Table, Ramsay shared his current grilled cheese preferences. Though kimchi didn't make the cut this time around, he does still add in an extra ingredient to elevate the sandwich.

When asked about his perfect grilled cheese, Gordon Ramsay told Tasting Table that he would start with a sourdough bread base, drizzled with olive oil. He would then add some braised short rib and comté cheese. Though this sandwich may sound delicious, it's not super practical for a quick and easy meal. Ramsay did, however, recommend one easier recipe that you can make at home with a little less effort.

Ramsay recommends adding some onions to elevate your grilled cheese. He suggested caramelizing them first and deglazing them with sherry vinegar. This aged vinegar is similar in flavor to balsamic vinegar and allows the caramelized onions to release from the pan through the deglazing process.

As for the rest of the sandwich, Ramsay recommended combining the onions with finely grated aged cheddar on some white bread. Grating the cheese will help it melt more quickly and evenly, as compared to slicing it. Once it's all assembled, he suggested pressing the whole sandwich inside a panini press for a perfectly crispy outer layer. 

Though it may be his current go-to method for a quick sandwich, Gordon Ramsay wasn't the first to come up with the idea of adding caramelized onions to grilled cheese. Chef Tiffani Thiessen shared her recipe with Food Network back in 2015 where she also recommended deglazing the caramelized onions with a little sherry vinegar. She recommended using Gruyere cheese on rustic Italian bread, however.

The New York Times Cooking also features a grilled cheese recipe incorporating onions, cheese, and sherry vinegar, and compares the flavor to that of French onion soup. Since grilled cheese sandwiches are often paired with tomato soup on the side, these flavors will give you the best of two worlds at once.

Of course, you can always experiment with different breads and cheeses to find your perfect blend. The next time you find yourself craving a grilled cheese, don't be afraid to elevate the dish a little with some onions for a more indulgent experience — endorsed and inspired by Ramsay himself.

Static Media owns and operates The Daily Meal and Tasting Table.