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A Grilled Cheese Bar is so easy to put together and your guests will love creating their own grilled cheese sandwich.
I love a party where your guests help with the cooking. A Waffle Bar is another fun party idea or have your guests make their own crepes with this Crepe Bar idea. Build your own Nachos Bar is another fun party idea.
If you are looking for an easy dinner party idea, a Grilled Cheese Bar is the way to go. All you have to do is gather the ingredients and then let your guests go to work creating their own combinations and cooking their own food!
The key to success is variety! I put together a fun assortment of ingredients and then let my guests create.
Grilled Cheese Bar Ingredients
- Cheese
- Bread
- Meat
- Condiments
- Add ons
What Kind of Cheese Do I Use for Grilled Cheese?
We had a selection of six different kinds of cheese. I sliced the cheese to make it easy for them to grab.
- Smoked cheddar
- Havarti
- Brie
- Colby Jack
- Pepper Jack
I rolled out some butcher paper onto the table and placed the cheese right on the paper. Then I just labeled each type of cheese with a marker. So easy and fun.
Bread for Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Having a selection of different breads makes it fun. We went with sourdough, herbed focaccia and ciabatta.
Meat for Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Turkey
- Ham
- Roast Beef
- Pepperoni
- Prosciutto
Grilled Cheese Condiments
I picked up all of the condiments from Trader Joes.
- BBQ Sauce
- Dijon Mustard
- Pesto Mayo
- Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce
- Cranberry Apple Sauce
Grilled Cheese Add Ons
- Potato Chips – yes, they are amazing on a grilled cheese sandwich.
- Caramelized onions
- Roasted red peppers
- Black Olives
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Apple Slices
- Red Onions
Grilled Cheese Ideas
The fun part was just seeing all the fun combinations that people put together. Some of our favorite combinations are this Pizza Grilled Cheese and a Nacho Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
How to Create a Grilled Cheese Party
I had two panini grills lined up, heated and ready to go. I also had some olive oil and a brush that they could give the bread a nice little coating before putting it on the grill. If you don’t have a panini grill you could use a frying pan, an electric skillet or griddle. Whatever you normally cook your grilled cheese sandwich in.
I think this may have been one of the easiest dinner parties I have ever done. Once I had all the ingredients assembled I was finished. The guests did the rest of the work and made their own dinner.
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Toniann says
Love the idea of a grilled cheese bar. Can I ask what other things you served with it? Some side ideas for instance? Thanks so much!
Leigh Anne Wilkes says
I served it with a green salad. Have fun!
Janie S says
Thank you for this fun idea. We had some couple come over for game night and a grilled cheese sandwich bar (thanks to you).
Everyone loved it and loved sharing their own creations – mostly the men
We used 2 waffle irons, 2 skillets, and a George Forman grill. It went beautifully.
Leigh Anne says
Sounds like such a fun evening!
Yesextoys says
I think a Grilled Cheese Party would be a super fun idea for a rehearsal dinner.
SusanFromIowa says
Thank you for this idea! We wanted to host a wine, cheese and chocolate gathering, but wanted to provide something a little heartier than just cheese tastings and this was a hit! We had many compliments!
We also learned that we could make many at a time in the oven by pre-heating 2 baking sheets at 400 degrees and placing the buttered sandwiches between the hot pans. They turned out perfectly melted inside and toasted on the outside after apx. 8-10 minutes. Thanks for sharing!
Melody H says
This is great! How many people did it serve, and how much of everything did you need? I am thinking of this idea for my whimsical wedding but have no clue where to start!
Leigh Anne says
We had 8 people at the party but there was plenty of leftovers. I would just figure out how many guests you have and decide how many sandwiches per person you want to plan on and go from there.