Copycat Starbucks Grilled Cheese Recipe

In a post-pandemic world, many of us work from home. When we tire of our trusty sofas, it can be nice to work from a coffee shop to get a change of scenery. Numerous people  work at the most popular coffee chain of all, Starbucks. Most of the sustenance from Starbucks is of the sandwich variety and is therefore easy to make at home. The chain's signature grilled cheese is no exception, and recipe developer Catherine Brookes brings us this copycat Starbucks grilled cheese recipe as proof. 

Now, you too can save a few bucks by whipping up this exceptional grilled cheese at home. "I love making this for lunch on the weekend or to pair alongside other dishes," Brookes says about this easy and affordable meal. 

For this easy grilled cheese recipe, all you'll need are sourdough bread, salted butter, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, cheddar cheese, and mozzarella cheese.

While the filling options are endless for grilled cheese sandwiches, you might be wondering, "What cheese does Starbucks use in its grilled cheese?" A blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses sets Starbucks' recipe apart from the rest. "Mozzarella melts so well, making everything creamy and oozy, and cheddar gives that extra tangy taste," Brookes says about the combination.

Another particularly unique aspect of this copycat Starbucks grilled cheese is the use of seasoned butter, a cheesy garlic mixture that Brookes recommends slathering on the outsides of the bread. Are you drooling yet?

"Adding garlic powder and Parmesan to the butter gives an extra richness and delicious flavor to the bread and really takes this grilled cheese to the next level," Brookes notes. To make the compound butter, stir the softened salted butter in a bowl along with the garlic powder and grated Parmesan cheese. It comes together in a matter of seconds, which has us wondering why we don't spread this butter on everything.

Next, assemble your grilled cheese sandwiches by placing the sliced cheddar and mozzarella between the sourdough slices. Be sure the buttered sides are on the outside so they can crisp up in the skillet.

Now, for the fun part: Let's get those grilled cheeses sizzling! Place the sandwiches into the heated skillet with one of the buttered sides down. Allow the first side to crisp up for 3-4 minutes before flipping the sandwiches over and heating the other side for 3-4 minutes. You'll know they're done when the bread is golden and toasty and the cheese is gooey and melted.

Once the sandwiches are made, dive into a simple and endlessly satisfying meal. Want something extra for dipping? These copycat Starbucks sandwiches are "perfect served with some homemade soup or stew — tomato soup would be great," Brookes says.

• Copycat Panera Tomato Soup Recipe
• Copycat McDonald's Chicken McNuggets Recipe
• Copycat Animal Style Fries Recipe
• 3-Ingredient Copycat Frosty Recipe

At Starbucks, the only grilled cheese customization available to you via their online ordering system is to add a bit of sriracha. When you're at home, though, you can run your own grilled cheese life. Just keep Starbucks' commitment to a simple grilled cheese in mind as you're customizing. They likely swear by the basic recipe for a reason, and you'd want to avoid adding too many other cheeses, for instance, or changing out the bread type. That sourdough crunch and triple-cheese blend that Starbucks uses in its grilled cheese are integral to this copycat recipe.

With that in mind, you can make this grilled cheese a little more filling by sliding some cured or deli meat in between the layers of cheese. If you want a pop of brightness, some fresh spinach, arugula, or thinly sliced radishes would counter the rich cheese well. Take Starbucks' inspiration and build on their sriracha addition — sriracha mayo, Mexican-style hot sauce, chile garlic paste, are all great options for gently spicing up this grilled cheese.

• Copycat Starbucks Egg Bite Recipe
• Copycat Starbucks Bacon, Sausage & Egg Wrap Recipe
• Copycat Starbucks Impossible Breakfast Sandwich Recipe
• Copycat Starbucks Pumpkin Bread Recipe 
• Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe