Starbucks Grilled Cheese

Indulge in the irresistible goodness of Starbucks Grilled Cheese Sandwich! Made with a perfect blend of sourdough bread, gooey mozzarella, and rich white cheddar cheese on the inside, and a savory butter garlic parmesan crust on the outside. This is comfort food at its finest.

Copycat Starbucks grilled cheese sandwiches on a wood board.


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What makes the Starbucks Grilled Cheese so good?

One grilled cheese sandwich is pretty much like another, right? Wrong. Not when you’re chowing down on a Starbucks crispy grilled cheese sandwich.

Starbucks’ version of the classic sandwich perfectly melts white Cheddar and mozzarella cheese between two slices of tangy sourdough bread spread with an incredible Parmesan and garlic butter. This Starbucks Grilled Cheese recipe is exceptionally delicious, and a must-try for grilled cheese lovers.  

Why you’ll love this recipe

If you have ever ordered a grilled cheese at Starbucks, you already know it is addictively good. The only thing that will leave a bad taste in your mouth is having to shell out so much money to buy it. But when you make this copycat Starbucks Grilled Cheese recipe at home, you can save a lot of money without sacrificing any of the taste.

And don’t worry, although the grilled cheese copycat recipe takes a few more ingredients and a little more time than standard grilled cheese sandwiches, it isn’t complicated and well worth your effort. 

Starbucks Grilled Cheese Sandwich ingredients

To recreate the grilled cheese from Starbucks at home, you’ll need:

  • Unsalted butter 
  • Parmesan cheese, finely grated
  • Garlic clove or garlic powder
  • Sourdough bread
  • Mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • White cheddar cheese, sliced

The exact measurements are on the printable recipe card below.

Copycat Starbucks grilled cheese ingredients on a tray.

How to make a Starbucks-style Grilled Cheese Sandwich

To prepare a homemade version of the grilled cheese from Starbucks:

  1. Put the unsalted butter on the counter to soften.
  2. Crush the fresh garlic, if using, in a garlic press and set aside. 
  3. Mix the softened butter, Parmesan cheese, and crushed garlic or garlic powder in a small bowl to make a parmesan butter spread.
  4. Heat a skillet or griddle pan over medium-low heat. 
  5. While the cooking surface is warming up, spread the seasoned butter on one side of each of the slices of bread. 
  6. When the cooking surface is hot, lay two slices of sourdough bread, buttered side down on it. 
  7. Place half the mozzarella and half the white cheddar on each slice. Top the cheese with a slice of sourdough bread with the buttered side of the sourdough bread facing up. 
  8. When the bottom of the bread turns golden brown, flip the sandwiches over and continue cooking until the other side browns and the cheese melts. If the bread is toasting without the cheese melting, turn down the heat and cover with an upside-down pan for a minute or two. 
  9. Cut the sandwiches in half, if desired, and serve hot. 
Collage of making copycat Starbucks grilled cheese.

Recipe variations

Although the grilled cheese at Starbucks is good, there’s no reason you can make a few changes at home. These are a few additions and substitutions you may want to try: 

  • Add bacon and tomato. A couple of pieces of cooked bacon and a slice or two of tomato give the sandwiches smoky and tangy elements that go great with the richness of the cheeses.  
  • Switch up the cheese. Replace one or more of the cheeses with another one. Romano is an ideal substitute for Parmesan, and you can use Swiss, Monterey Jack, smoked Gouda, provolone, gruyere, yellow cheddar, or even Brie to replace the White Cheddar and mozzarella. 
  • Use different bread. Some people don’t enjoy the tang of sourdough, and switching to a different type is easy. Multigrain is a good choice, and fruit and nut bread is an exciting alternative.
  • Sauce it up. Spread some basil pesto or fig jam on the inside to take it to the next level and give it a gourmet twist.
Copycat Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich halves on a wood board.

What to serve with a Starbucks Crispy Grilled Cheese

Make this sandwich a more filling meal by pairing it with one of these options:

  • Tomato soup. Tomato soup and grilled cheese is a classic combo for a reason. The tang of the tomatoes helps to balance the richness of the cheeses.
  • Side salad. A basic salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onions with a tangy vinaigrette is easy and pairs well with grilled cheese. 
  • Potato chips. This no-cook side adds a lot of crunch with zero cooking. 

Can you make these ahead of time? 

Yes, you can assemble the sandwiches beforehand and cook them when you want to eat. Or, to save even more time, pre-cook the sandwiches and let them cool entirely before wrapping them in aluminum and putting them in the fridge. Sandwiches will last about a day before becoming soggy. 

How to reheat a Starbucks Grilled Cheese Sandwich

The best way to warm up a cooked grilled cheese without losing the crunchiness is in the oven:

  1. Preheat the oven or a toaster oven to 325°F. If your oven has a convection setting, use it. 
  2. Put the grilled cheese on a non-stick baking tray and place in the oven for about six minutes. Flip the sandwich and cook on the other side for 4 to 5 more minutes.  
Copycat Starbucks grilled cheese sandwich on a wood board.

Love Starbucks food? Try these copycat recipes!

Favorite sandwich recipes

Check out more of my easy sandwich recipes and the best copycat Starbucks recipes on CopyKat!

Copycat Starbucks grilled cheese sandwiches on a wood board.

Starbucks Grilled Cheese

You can make Starbucks Grilled Cheese Sandwich at home with this easy copycat recipe.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Starbucks Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 660kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter softened
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 garlic clove grated, or 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
  • 4 slices sourdough bread
  • 2 ounces mozzarella cheese sliced
  • 2 ounces white cheddar cheese sliced

Instructions

  • Place the butter, Parmesan, and garlic in a small bowl and stir until smooth.
  • Spread the butter mixture evenly on one side of each piece of bread. Layer the mozzarella and cheddar cheese slices on the uncoated side of two slices of bread. Place the remaining bread slices on top, with the buttered side facing outward.
  • Place a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat. Carefully place the assembled sandwiches onto the hot griddle or skillet and cook until the bottom is golden brown, about 5 minutes.
  • Flip the sandwiches carefully and continue cooking until the second side is also golden brown and the cheese has completely melted.
  • Slice and serve the sandwiches while they are still hot. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 660kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 1264mg | Potassium: 202mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 845IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 444mg | Iron: 5mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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