Grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic comfort food that hits the spot whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, a late-night snack, or a cozy dinner on a cold day. Smoking your grilled cheese sandwiches adds an incredible depth of flavor, transforming this simple sandwich into something absolutely delicious.
While using a smoker for grilled cheese might seem unconventional at first, following these steps will have you creating perfectly smoky sandwiches on your Traeger that are perfect for weekend cooking or impressing guests.
Table of contents
Easy Traeger Grilled Cheese
Making grilled cheese on your Traeger delivers consistently delicious results that work great for casual family meals, game day snacks, or whenever you want to elevate a simple sandwich.
The beauty of grilled cheese is its versatility – you can customize everything from the bread to the cheese blend to match your preferences. Gouda and mozzarella make an excellent combination for their rich flavor and smooth melting texture, creating the perfect base for countless variations.
What You’ll Need
- Sourdough Bread – feel free to use your favorite type of bread
- Mozzarella
- Gouda
- Gruyere
- Butter
How to Make Traeger Grilled Cheese
Step 1: Pre-heating the Grill
- Preheat the grill to 400°F, placing the cast iron pan directly on the grill grates and allowing it to heat for 5-10 mins.
Step 2: Assembling the Grilled Cheese
- Spread one side of each slice of bread with about 1/2 a tablespoon of butter. This will be on the ‘outside’ of the sandwich.
- Shred your cheese and then place the cheese on the inside and cover with the other slice of bread, butter side out.
Step 3: Cooking the Grilled Cheese
- Place half a tablespoon of butter in the hot cast-iron pan, then lay the grilled cheese in the pan and let it sizzle.
- Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, checking every 3 minutes to ensure a golden crust is forming.
Step 4: Serving Your Smoked Grilled Cheese
- Once the bread is to your desired golden-brown state, slice the smoked grilled cheese in half and serve immediately.
What Temperature to Cook At
For this recipe, the Traeger will be set at 400°F and cook for 8-10 minutes per side.
How to Store Leftover Grilled Cheese
The bread and cheese won’t keep well if you try and store leftover grilled cheese sandwiches. They’re best eaten straight away, and can be kept out of the fridge in a container for a day.
My Favorite Wood Chips to Use
I’ll use something mild, like oak or pecan, but you can use apple, cedar, or mesquite—whatever your go-to is.
Cheese Combinations
You can use virtually any cheese you prefer for your smoked grilled cheese. Popular options include:
- Jarlsberg
- Swiss
- Havarti
- Edam
- And many others
Feel free to blend different cheeses for more complex flavors. For an extra touch, try sprinkling Parmesan on the outside of the sandwich before smoking. A helpful tip is to grate your cheese before assembling the sandwich – this helps it melt more evenly and completely.
What Else Can You Add to Your Sandwich?
You can easily customize your smoked grilled cheese with additional ingredients to suit your taste. Popular options include:
- Ham, bacon, and tomato for a classic twist
- Jalapeños and chili for added heat
- Arugula or other greens added after cooking for freshness
Feel free to experiment with your own combinations. While these extras can be delicious, keeping your smoked grilled cheese simple often produces the best results – sometimes the smoky flavor and melted cheese are all you need.
What Kind of Bread Is Best?
We use sourdough for its durability – it holds up well in the smoker without falling apart. Since the sandwich isn’t in the smoker for very long, you can also use softer breads if needed. Good alternatives include:
- Ciabatta
- Rye bread
- Vienna bread
- Regular square whole wheat bread
The key is choosing wide bread slices that give you plenty of space to layer your cheese and create a substantial sandwich.
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Want More Traeger Recipes?
Here are some of my favorite Traeger recipes you can try at home.
What to Serve With Smoked Grilled Cheese
Smoke-grilled cheese sandwiches are the star of the show and generally don’t need any sides. I find that when I’m cooking up a grilled cheese, I’m on the go or just after a light snack. If you want to serve other things with this dish, try:
Traeger Grilled Cheese
Equipment
- 1 Pellet smoker
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of sourdough thickly sliced
- 200 g mozzarella cheese
- 200 g gouda cheese
- 200 g gruyere cheese
Instructions
Step 1: Pre-heating the Grill
- Preheat the grill to 400°F, placing the cast iron pan directly on the grill grates and allowing it to heat for 5-10 mins.
Step 2: Assembling the Grilled Cheese
- Spread one side of each slice of bread with about 1/2 a tablespoon of butter. This will be on the ‘outside’ of the sandwich.
- Shred your cheese and then place cheese on the inside and cover with the other slice of bread, butter side out.
Step 3: Cooking the Grilled Cheese
- Place half a tablespoon of butter in the hot cast iron pan, laying the grilled cheese in the pan and letting it sizzle.
- Cook for about 4-5 min per side, checking every 3 mins to ensure a golden crust is forming.
Step 4: Serving Your Smoked Grilled Cheese
- Once the bread is at your desired golden-brown state, slice the smoked grilled cheese in half and serve right away!
- Pair your grilled cheese with potato wedges, tomato soup, or fruit jam to upscale this recipe!
Smoke On!
Charlie
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
Hungry For More?
Smoke On!
Charlie
Hi, I’m Charlie, I have been meat-smoking and grilling for the past 15 years. I have an array of different smokers, thermometers, and have a love for finding the right wood and charcoal combo My favourite recipes are my EXTRA CRISPY smoked pork belly, juicy pulled pork, smoked brisket, duck poppers, and ANY SEAFOOD I grill).
I loves sharing his tips with beginners, helping them navigate the world of smoking. I find it’s not just about cooking; it’s a quest for that perfect smoky flavor.
You will usually find me playing with the kids, perfecting my brisket bark, or sipping beers with boys around the fire. Can’t wait to share all my delicious smoking and grilling recipes with you!
You can read more about me on our About Us page.
Hungry For More?