Besides boxed mac and cheese, one of the first “recipes” I ever learned to master by myself in the kitchen was another carb-plus-cheese classic: the grilled cheese sandwich. Around age 7 or so (with parental supervision of course), I delighted in pan-frying my white bread and American masterpiece for lunch on many weekends and days during summer vacation.
Grilled cheese sandwiches continued to be a staple in my diet throughout college, when I was craving quick, easy, and comforting sustenance between classes and exams. But soon after that—when I had access to more fresh ingredients and looked forward to trying new dishes—these nostalgic sandwiches almost disappeared from my menu. That is, until my friend shared a remix that sounded like it would satisfy my child inside while tempting my more grown-up taste buds.
What is Crispy Chili Honey Grilled Cheese?
Over the years, members of the Allrecipes family have dished up dozens of grilled cheese hacks. Some swear by cooking it in an oven, toaster, or air fryer instead of a skillet, while others sneak in bonus ingredients like garlic salt, mustard, or pesto to layer on more flavor. But until now, I have yet to come across a grilled cheese that aligns with one of my favorite 2025 food trends: swicy (sweet and spicy).
Another recipe developer introduced me to “Grilled Cheese Social” author MacKenzie Smith this spring, and since, she’s been generous enough to fill me in about her favorite frozen fries, special sauce, Uncrustables hacks so I could share the dish with you here on Allrecipes. At the same time, I’ve become an ardent follower of MacKenzie’s tempting video how-tos over on social media. That’s where I stumbled upon this idea for a recipe Smith describes as “sweet, spicy, cheesy… aka my entire personality in grilled cheese form.”
Her sandwich recipe starts with familiar cast members: salted butter, sliced sourdough bread, and Gouda (which we’ve declared one of the best cheeses for grilled cheese). From there, though, MacKenzie sweetens the deal with two pantry staples that give my childhood-favorite lunch a swicy spin.
The 2 Secret Ingredients for This Grilled Cheese Recipe
According to MacKenzie, the best grilled cheese recipe includes a spoonful of chili crisp and a drizzle of honey. This is a sentiment I now echo since I’ve had this easy sandwich recipe for lunch every day so far this week.
In case you missed it, chili crisp is a spicy, crunchy condiment that’s made with spices, chiles, and often, fried garlic and onions of some sort, all suspended in oil. It’s been a dinner table staple in China for centuries. During the past couple decades, chili crisp has snowballed in popularity worldwide, and brands like Lao Gon Ma, Mr. Bing, and Fly By Jing are household names.
As for the honey, it’s a lovely foil to the heat in the chili crisp and the salty nature of the butter and cheese.
Tips For Making Crispy Chili Honey Grilled Cheese
If you have four simple ingredients and 10 minutes of time, this beautifully balanced, delightfully crunchy sandwich can be yours. Feeling inspired to follow MacKenzie’s swicy lead? Here are a few pointers to keep top of mind.
- Shred your cheese. For maximum meltability, and so you can evenly distribute the cheese from edge to edge, it’s wise to shred your gouda from a block rather than using a slice. Although pre-shredded cheese is convenient, it’s often coated in anti-caking agents like cellulose. These bonus ingredients do a terrific job preventing the shreds from sticking (yay!), but that means they also tend to impede melting (nay). It’s worth it to bust out your grater and DIY; aiming for 4 ounces total per sandwich. If you can’t find or don’t dig gouda, MacKenzie gives a thumbs-up to Cheddar and Asiago, too.
- Hold off on the honey. Add that shredded cheese on top of one slice of sturdy sourdough (or your favorite style of sturdy bread), then top with a teaspoon or two of chili crisp, based on how much kick you’re craving. Top with the other slice of bread, then pan-fry the sandwich in melted butter. Once both sides are golden, remove the sandwich from the pan and using clean hands, lift up one piece of bread to drizzle a couple teaspoons of honey in the middle. MacKenzie confirms that this timing is crucial, because adding the honey prior to cooking will likely cause the liquid sweetener to spill out from the edges and burn in the pan.
- Pair wisely. Salty, sweet, savory, and spicy all at once, this sandwich is impactful enough to be a meal on its own. That said, it’s quite rich, so I like to enjoy this grilled cheese alongside a bright and fresh side dish like smashed cucumber salad or veggie sticks with hummus. As a hat tip to childhood lunchtimes past, a piece of fresh fruit like an apple is also an A+ pairing.