Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

Okay, let’s talk about the ultimate comfort food mashup. What happens when you can’t decide between buttery garlic bread, rich shrimp scampi, and a gooey, classic grilled cheese? You make this absolutely incredible Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese, that’s what! This sandwich is pure, unapologetic indulgence, and I am so excited for you to try it.

Honestly, this recipe was born out of a serious craving on a random weeknight. I wanted something that felt super fancy and decadent, but I just did not have the energy for a complicated meal. I stared into my fridge, saw some shrimp, a good loaf of bread, and a block of mozzarella, and a little lightbulb went off. I’ve made a lot of wild sandwiches in my day, it’s kind of my thing, but this one instantly became a favorite.

It combines everything we love: savory garlic butter that soaks into the bread, plump and juicy shrimp, and that glorious, melty cheese pull. It’s the kind of meal that feels like a five-star treat but comes together so fast you can even make it for a quick lunch. Get ready, because this is about to become your new favorite sandwich.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

I am so excited for you to make this, and I just know you’re going to be obsessed. It’s one of those recipes that feels so special, but it’s secretly easy. If you need a little more convincing, here’s why this sandwich is a total game-changer.

• Fast and Fancy: You get this ridiculously impressive, restaurant-quality sandwich on your plate in about 30 minutes. It’s my go-to for when I want something that feels decadent but I’m short on time.
• Simple Ingredients, BIG Flavor: We’re not using anything too wild here! But when that garlic butter sizzles and combines with the plump shrimp and all that gooey cheese, the flavor is just incredible. It tastes so much more complex than it is.
• It’s Pure Indulgence: Let’s be real, this is the ultimate comfort food. It’s the perfect meal for a cozy night in, a weekend lunch, or any day you feel like you deserve a truly delicious treat.

Equipment You’ll Need

You don’t need anything fancy to pull this off, I promise! Just grab a few of your kitchen workhorses and you’ll be all set to go. Here’s what I use every single time to get it just right.

• A large skillet: A non-stick works great, but I really love using my cast iron skillet for that perfect, super crispy golden-brown crust.
• A small mixing bowl: You’ll need this for mixing up that incredible garlic butter.
• A spatula: For flipping and giving the sandwich a gentle press to help all that cheese get perfectly gooey and melted.
• A knife: For chopping your fresh parsley and, the best part, slicing the finished sandwich in half!

Ingredients for Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

The magic of this sandwich really comes down to using good, solid ingredients. Nothing here is too wild, but getting the right kind of bread and cheese makes all the difference between a good grilled cheese and an unforgettable one. It’s all about building layers of flavor! Here’s what you’ll need to grab.

• Large Shrimp: You’ll want about a half-pound of large shrimp, something like a 21-25 count size. I always go for peeled and deveined to make my life easier. You want a nice, meaty bite of shrimp in your sandwich, not tiny little specks!
• Italian Bread: Get yourself eight thick slices of a sturdy bread, about a half-inch thick. This is so important! A flimsy bread will just get soggy and fall apart. You need something that can stand up to all that glorious garlic butter and cheese.
• Unsalted Butter: A quarter cup, which is 4 tablespoons. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature so you can mix up the garlic butter easily. If it’s cold, just pop it in the microwave for 10 seconds, but don’t melt it!
• Garlic: Two fresh cloves, minced. Please, please use fresh garlic if you can! The flavor is so much better and brighter than the pre-minced stuff in a jar.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Two whole cups of shredded low-moisture mozzarella. This is your cheese-pull champion! I always recommend shredding it yourself from a block for the best, gooiest melt.
• Parmesan Cheese: A quarter cup of grated Parmesan. This gets mixed right into our butter to create a salty, savory crust on the bread. It’s incredible.
• Fresh Parsley & Olive Oil: Just a tablespoon of each. The parsley adds a little bit of freshness and color, and the olive oil is just to get our shrimp started in the pan.

How to Make Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese Step-by-Step

Alright, this is where all the magic happens! I know it sounds fancy, but I promise the steps are super simple. We’re just going to cook our shrimp, mix up that amazing garlic butter, and then build the best grilled cheese of your life. Let’s do this!

Cook the Garlic Shrimp

First things first, let’s get those shrimp perfectly cooked. Grab your large skillet and heat up the olive oil over medium heat. Once it’s shimmering a little, toss in your minced garlic. You only need to cook it for about a minute, just until it smells absolutely incredible. Be careful not to let it burn!

Now, add your shrimp to the pan in a single layer. They cook really fast! Let them sizzle for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. You’ll know they’re done when they turn pink and opaque and curl up slightly. The biggest mistake is overcooking them, so as soon as they’re pink, get them out of there. Scoop the shrimp out of the skillet and set them aside on a plate. Try not to eat them all before they make it to the sandwich!

Prepare the Garlic Butter

This stuff is the secret weapon. In that small mixing bowl, combine your softened butter, the grated Parmesan cheese, and your finely chopped fresh parsley. Use a fork or a small spatula to mash and mix everything together until it’s totally combined. You’re looking for a smooth, spreadable paste. Seriously, the smell of this butter alone is worth making the whole recipe.

Assemble Your Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

Okay, it’s time to build this masterpiece. Lay out all eight slices of your Italian bread. Take that beautiful garlic butter you just made and spread a generous, even layer on just one side of each slice of bread. Don’t be shy with it!

Now, take four of those bread slices and place them on your work surface with the butter-side facing DOWN. Pile on about half of your shredded mozzarella cheese, dividing it evenly among the four slices. Next, arrange your cooked garlic shrimp in a single layer over the cheese. Follow that with the rest of the mozzarella. This double layer of cheese is key, it acts like a delicious glue to hold everything together. Finally, top each sandwich with one of the remaining slices of bread, making sure the buttered side is facing UP. Perfect!

Grill Your Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

We’re in the home stretch! Place your skillet back over medium heat. You don’t want the heat too high, or the bread will burn before that cheese gets a chance to melt. Once the pan is hot, carefully place one or two sandwiches in the skillet, depending on its size. Don’t overcrowd it!

Let the sandwiches grill for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. You’re looking for the bread to become a deep golden brown and unbelievably crispy. When you flip it, you should see that cheesy, buttery crust forming. While it’s cooking, I like to give the sandwich a gentle press with my spatula. This helps the heat get to the center and ensures the cheese melts into a perfectly gooey, glorious mess. Once both sides are golden and the cheese is oozing out, it’s done! Remove it from the skillet and get ready for that epic cheese pull.

Pro Tips for the Perfect Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

Okay, you’ve got the basics down, but if you want to take this sandwich from just great to absolutely mind-blowing, I have a few little secrets for you. These are the small things I’ve learned that make a huge difference between a good grilled cheese and a legendary one. Trust me on these!

• Shred Your Own Cheese: I know, I know, it’s so tempting to grab that bag of pre-shredded cheese. But please, don’t do it! Those bags have powders on the cheese to keep it from clumping, and that stuff stops it from getting perfectly melty. Grating a block of low-moisture mozzarella yourself will give you the most incredible, gooey cheese pull of your life. It’s worth the extra two minutes!
• Use Thick, Sturdy Bread: I mentioned this before, but it’s so important it’s worth saying again. This is a loaded sandwich! If you use thin, flimsy bread, you’re going to end up with a soggy, sad mess. You need something thick and hearty like Italian bread, brioche, or sourdough that can soak up that garlic butter and hold all that cheese and shrimp without falling apart.
• Keep the Heat on Medium: Patience is your best friend here. If you crank the heat up to high, your beautiful garlic bread will burn to a crisp before the cheese inside even knows what’s happening. A steady medium heat is perfect. It gives the bread time to get golden brown and crispy while ensuring the cheese melts all the way through to gooey perfection.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Give your sandwiches some personal space in the skillet! If you cram them in, they’ll steam instead of grill, and you’ll lose that amazing crispy crust. Cooking them one or two at a time ensures the pan stays hot and gives you that perfect, crunchy exterior we’re all aiming for.

Tasty Variations of Your Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

I absolutely love this recipe just the way it is, but one of the best parts about cooking is making things your own! Once you’ve got the basic recipe down, it’s so much fun to get a little creative in the kitchen. If you’re looking to switch things up, here are a few of my favorite ways to play with this sandwich.

• Give It a Spicy Kick: If you like a little bit of heat, this is an amazing addition. When you’re cooking the shrimp with the garlic, just toss in about a quarter teaspoon of red pepper flakes. It won’t set your mouth on fire, I promise! It just adds this lovely, gentle warmth in the background that tastes incredible with the rich cheese and butter.
• Sneak in Some Greens: Sometimes I feel like adding a little freshness. After you’ve cooked the shrimp and removed them from the skillet, throw a big handful of fresh spinach into the hot pan. It will wilt down in seconds! Just be sure to squeeze out any extra liquid before adding it to your sandwich so it doesn’t get soggy.
• Change Up the Cheese: Mozzarella is the perfect choice for that epic cheese pull, but don’t feel like you have to stop there! I love mixing it up. Try using half mozzarella and half provolone for a sharper, more savory flavor. Monterey Jack is also a fantastic melter, or even a little bit of Gouda would be delicious. Go with your gut!

What to Serve with Your Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

Honestly, this monster of a sandwich is pretty much a full meal all by itself! But if you really want to turn it into a full-on feast, I have a couple of go-to pairings that work perfectly. You just can’t beat the classic combination of grilled cheese and tomato soup. A simple, creamy tomato soup is the perfect partner here. It’s warm, comforting, and that bright, slightly acidic flavor cuts through the richness of the cheese and garlic butter beautifully. Plus, you get to dip your sandwich, which is always a win.

If you’re in the mood for something a little lighter and fresher, a simple side salad is fantastic. I’m not talking about anything complicated! Just some crisp greens, maybe a few cherry tomatoes, tossed in a zippy lemon vinaigrette. That little bit of acid and crunch is the perfect balance to the gooey, buttery goodness of the grilled cheese. It makes the whole meal feel just a little bit more balanced.

Storing and Reheating Instructions

On the off chance you have any of this amazing sandwich left over, you’ll want to store it right to keep it from getting sad and soggy. First, let the sandwich cool down completely, this is super important! If you wrap it while it’s still warm, it will just steam itself. Once it’s cool, wrap it up tightly in aluminum foil and you can pop it in the fridge for up to two days.

When you’re ready to eat it, the goal is to get that crispiness back. My favorite way is to put it back in a skillet over low-medium heat for a few minutes per side. An air fryer also works wonders! Whatever you do, please, please do not use the microwave. It will turn that gorgeous, crispy garlic bread into a chewy, tough mess, and nobody wants that!

FAQs About Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese

I get a lot of questions about this recipe, so I wanted to put the most common ones right here for you! These are the little things that can make a big difference, so hopefully these tips help you nail it on the very first try. Let’s get into it.

What is the best shrimp to use for this Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese?

I really recommend using large or jumbo shrimp for this sandwich. You want to get a nice, meaty bite of shrimp in every mouthful, not have them get lost in all that glorious cheese! To make your life so much easier, look for raw shrimp that’s already been peeled and deveined. It’s a huge time-saver.

Now, if you only have pre-cooked shrimp, you can definitely use it in a pinch. Just be really careful! Add it to the pan with the garlic just to warm it through for about a minute. If you cook it any longer, it will get tough and rubbery, and we definitely don’t want that.

How do I prevent the bread from getting soggy?

Ah, the dreaded soggy grilled cheese! It’s the worst. My number one rule is to use thick, sturdy bread. A good Italian loaf, sourdough, or even brioche is perfect because it can stand up to all the fillings. That generous layer of garlic butter also does double duty, it not only tastes amazing but creates a moisture barrier that helps keep the bread from getting soft. Also, be mindful not to overload the sandwich with anything too wet. If you add something like spinach, make sure you squeeze out all the extra water first!

Can I bake this Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese instead of grilling?

Yes, absolutely! Baking these is a fantastic option, and it’s my secret weapon when I’m making them for more than two people. It’s so much easier than juggling multiple pans. Just assemble the sandwiches exactly as the recipe says and place them on a baking sheet.

Bake them in a preheated oven at 400°F, which is about 200°C. They’ll need about 5 to 7 minutes per side. Just keep an eye on them and flip when the first side is golden brown. You’ll know they’re done when both sides are crispy and the cheese is beautifully melted and gooey. It’s a great hands-off way to get the same delicious result!

Nutritional Information

Alright, for those of you who like to keep track of the numbers, here’s a quick breakdown for one of these amazing sandwiches. Each serving comes in at around 650 calories, with 30 grams of protein and 40 grams of carbohydrates. Remember, this is pure, delicious comfort food!

Please note that this nutritional information is an estimate and can vary depending on the specific ingredients and brands you use. The final numbers will change based on your type of bread, the size of your shrimp, and of course, how much cheese you pile on (and I totally support piling on the cheese!).

If you tried this Cheesy Garlic Bread Shrimp Grilled Cheese recipe, I’d love to hear from you! It would honestly make my day. Please leave a rating and a comment below to let me know how it turned out!

Print