The perfect grilled cheese sandwich doesn’t need to contain anything other than cheese, bread, and butter. But that doesn’t mean you can’t branch out far beyond the cheddar.

Read more: 10 Tricks for the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Some of our favorite kitchen creations have been grilled cheese sandwiches that feature tasty add-ins, from pesto to olives to tomatoes. Read on for fresh, cheesy inspiration!

1. Spinach-Basil Pesto


Spread it on one slice of bread before piling on the cheese. Fresh mozzarella and smoked mozzarella pair with pesto beautifully. 

2. Olive Tapenade

Because pungent olives are the best match for gooey tallegio.

3. Tomato, Onion, Rocket, and Fontina

Why not add vegetables to the indulgent sandwich? This summery version has tomatoes, onions, and greens, but you could use anything that fits.

4. Pizza Filling

If tomatoes, parm, and mozzarella don’t belong inside a sandwich, then we don’t want to be right. Add pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, meatballs–or any of your favorite pizza toppings.

5. Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

Sweet, jammy caramelized onions make every bite of your grilled cheese taste like French onion soup. Therefore, use Swiss cheese or gruyere as your cheese here.

This post is part of Food Network’s Comfort Food Feast. See everyone else’s grilled cheese posts below:

Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Lighted Up Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese
Weelicious: Grilled Cheese and Pickle Panini
Devour: Kelsey’s Decadent Grilled Cheese
Elephants and the Coconut Trees: Inside Out Grilled Strawberry and Cheese Sandwiches
Daily*Dishin: Grilled Pimento Cheese with Instant Pickles
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Pork Stew in Port Wine Sauce with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Red or Green: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Three Pepper Cheese, Grilled Onions and Pickled Jalapenos
Dishing With Divya: Egg and Mushroom Cheese Sandwich
Domesticate Me: Barbecue Chicken Grilled Cheese
Taste With The Eyes: Bulgogi Panino with Kimchi, Cheddar and Ssamjang Mayo
Virtually Homemade: Creamy Roasted Tomato and Basil Grilled Cheese with Bacon
The Sensitive Epicure: Grilled Cheddar Cheese Sandwich with Apple, Walnuts and Thyme (Gluten-Free)
FN Dish: 10 Grown-Up Grilled Cheeses