Layer your favorite taco ingredients with just a little extra cheese in these Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and smush it between two slices of buttered bread and grill. These have all the comforting goodness of a golden, melty grilled cheese sandwich along with the zingy taco components.
Taco Stuffed Grilled Cheese Sandwich
If your dinner routine is anything like ours, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. But, I’m always looking for new ideas that my family will love, and this Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe was an easy win! It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner, and it can be made even easier with the use of leftovers!
Grilled cheese and taco lovers, this is a must-make recipe!! This Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe combines everything you love about a grilled cheese sandwich with everything you love about tacos! It’s the best of both worlds!
Ingredients for Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich:
For the taco seasoning:
- chili powder
- ground cumin
- garlic powder
- smoked paprika or red paprika
- dried oregano
- seasoned salt
- ground black pepper
For the guacamole:
- semi-soft avocados
- finely chopped red onion
- finely chopped cilantro
- limes, juiced
- salt to taste
For the sandwiches:
- sliced sandwich bread – use any kind you like – white, wheat, sourdough, etc …
- prepared taco meat – you can use leftovers – or use the recipe included in this post, or your favorite recipe for taco meat
- prepared guacamole – you can use leftovers – or use the recipe included in this post, store-bought, or your favorite recipe for guacamole
- cheddar cheese – feel free to use your favorite melty cheese. I use shredded for this recipe, but you can use slices if you prefer.
- Monterey Jack cheese – feel free to use your favorite melty cheese. I use shredded for this recipe, but you can use slices if you prefer.
- tomatoes – thinly sliced is best.
- soft butter – salted or unsalted. If you prefer to use mayo instead of butter, you can do that, too!
- Sour cream or salsa for serving – use whatever you like to dip of spread on your sandwich!
Utensils
- measuring cups and spoons
- fork
- butter knife
- knife
- cutting board
- skillet or griddle
- meat chopper or spoon
- spatula
How to make Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich
NOTE: See the PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD below for the full recipe instructions.
For The Taco Meat:
- Brown and crumble the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain if necessary.
- Add in spices. Mix thoroughly.
- Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat mixture is well combined with the seasonings.
For The Guacamole:
- Scoop out the avocado halves into a small bowl. Add lime juice and mash with a fork.
- Stir in chopped onion, cilantro, and a good pinch of salt.
- Use immediately.
Assembling the sandwiches:
- Heat a large skillet over low heat.
- Butter the slices of bread and start layering the sandwiches. Finish with your top piece of bread.
- Grill until golden brown, then flip and finish the other side.
- Serve with sour cream and any extra guacamole for dipping.
Recipe Tips
- The key to melting the cheese without burning the bread is the low heat setting; grill these low and slow.
- Make this recipe even easier and faster by using leftover taco meat and guacamole!
Taco Grilled Cheese: FAQs
Sure! I like to create my own blend to control the salt content and final taste. However, if a store-bought package is easier for you, feel free to use that instead.
You can – however, it will never be as good as freshly made.
MICROWAVE: Use this method ONLY if you don’t mind the change in texture (i.e., your sandwich will likely be steamed and not crisp). Place the sandwich on a microwave-safe plate and cover. Heat on HIGH power for 45-seconds to 1-minute or until the sandwich is heated through.
STOVETOP: Add butter to a skillet and melt over medium-low heat. Add the sandwich to the pan and cover with a lid or aluminum foil tent. Cook for 2-3 minutes and carefully flip the sandwich over and continue cooking covered until the sandwich is heated through. Be sure to watch your sandwich closely, so it doesn’t burn.
PANINI PRESS: Heat your sandwich using a panini press until heated through, watching to ensure it doesn’t burn.
Other recipes you may enjoy
Taco Stuffed Grilled Cheese
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Taco Meat
- 1 pound lean ground beef
For the Taco Seasoning
- 4 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder
- ยฝ teaspoon smoked paprika or red paprika
- ยฝ teaspoon dried oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ยผ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Guacamole
- 3 semi-soft avocados
- ยผ cup fine chopped red onion
- ยผ cup fine chopped cilantro
- 1 ยฝ limes juiced
- salt to taste
For the sandwiches
- 1 loaf sliced sandwich bread
- prepared taco meat
- prepared guacamole
- 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 ounces Monterrey Jack cheese shredded
- 3 small tomatoes thin sliced
- 4 tablespoons soft butter
- Sour cream and/or salsa for serving
Instructions
For The Taco Meat:ย
- Heat a large skillet over medium/highย heat.ย Cook and crumble the ground meat until no pinkย remains, drain off any fat.
- Add in spices with 1/4-cup of water.ย ย Mix thoroughly and cook until most of the water has evaporated and meat and spices are well combined.
For The Guacamole:ย
- Slice open, seed, and scoop out theย avocado halves into a small bowl. Add lime juice and mash with a fork.ย
- Stir in chopped onion, cilantro, and a good pinch of salt.
- Use immediately.ย ย
Assembling the sandwiches:
- Heat a large skillet over low heat.
- Butter the slices of bread and start layering the sandwiches – buttered sides facing out.
- Start with about 1 once of cheddar; top with about 1/4 cup of taco meat, then a 1/4 cup of guacamole; layer a few tomato slices; top with 1 ounce of Monterrey Jack; finish with your top piece of bread.
- Grill on low for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown, flip and finish the other side for an additional 4-5 minutes.
- Serve with sour cream, salsa, and any extra guacamole for dipping.
Notes
- The key to melting the cheese without burning the bread is the low heat setting; grill these low and slow.
- Depending on the amount of filling, you may be able to get eight sandwiches in total. I made six hearty sandwiches with a little meat and guacamole leftover. Begin and end layers with cheese. They are the glue that holds the whole thing together.
- This recipe was originally submitted by Kim at Soliloquy Of Food & Such.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
This post was originally published on May 3, 2014. Updated on April 23, 2020, and February 10, 2022.
Catherine
There is nothing like a good tasty sandwich!!! and those cherry blossoms are beautiful. Blessings, Catherine
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite Books
This sounds like a very tasty sandwich! Pinned to my Mexican food board. =)
Louie George Jr
Yummmy
Betsy Hartmann
I just attended the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship on 4/27. The Taco Grilled Cheese would have made a super entry!!!
Rustic & Refined
PIN'd it to eat, I mean try later! That definitely sounds like a "Man" favorite if I ever heard one and lord knows mine can be picky. But he loves tacos and grilled cheese. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Jen C.
YUM! Desperation is the master of invention, yes?! | DoMeasurablyMore.com
Felicias Red Door Life
I really must not read things like this after working out when my body is craving the calories I just burned off. This looks so good…I wonder…I may have to change dinner plans for tonight.
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas
Yum, what a great looking sandwich. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Rance
Saw it on FB. Showed the wife and we had it tonight….Dang , it was good. Definitely, will be doing it again