This roast beef grilled cheese with smoked gouda is a grown up update that is hearty enough to satisfy the biggest appetites! It’s perfect for using up your leftovers for lunch or dinner in a meal that will make every one happy.

two halves of roast beef grilled cheese with smoked gouda on a bed of potato chips in a red plastic food basket

Simple grilled cheese and tomato soup was a staple growing up.

I always considered it a complete meal, perfect for lunch or dinner.

My husband, on the other hand, does not agree.

And then I swapped the basic American cheese for some smoked gouda and added in layers of roast beef and caramelized onions.

The result?

A beautifully complex flavor profile of rich beef complimented by smoked melted cheese and sweet but savory caramelized onions layered between two crisp buttery slices of sourdough bread.

No one would turn this sandwich down!

two roast beef grilled cheese sandwiches with smoked gouda stacked together on a wooden cutting board

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

Onion– A large onion thinly sliced
Butter– Softened to make it easy to spread on the bread
Sage– To season the onions
Bread– Use a good quality bakery style sliced sourdough.
Roast beef– Use a good quality sliced roast beef. This is also an excellent sandwich to use up leftover roast beef.
Cheese– 4 slices of smoked gouda
Creamy horseradish– An optional spread for the sandwich. You could also use dijon mustard or anything else you like.

How to Make

These roast beef grilled cheese sandwiches with smoked gouda are a bit more high maintenance than a basic grilled cheese but totally worth it!

To make it, start by caramelizing the onions in a tablespoon of melted butter in a griddle over medium heat.

Add the sage and stir the onions to coat with the butter and seasoning.

Then, reduce the heat to medium low and let the onions saute, stirring every now and then, until they’re nice and caramelized.

This could take anywhere between 20-30 minutes.

When you have the onions caramelized, remove them from the heat and build the sandwich.

Butter the outsides of both pieces of bread with the remaining tablespoon of butter.

Set the griddle over medium heat.

Add one slice of bread buttered side down to the center.

a slice of sourdough bread topped with sliced gouda cheese, roast beef, and caramelized onions on a buttered skillet

If using, spread half the horseradish evenly out over the inside of the slice of bread.

Top the bread with 2 slices of cheese followed by an even layer of meat before heaping on a generious helping of onions.

Add the rest of the cheese.

Spread the inside of the remaining slice of bread with the rest of the horseradish and place it on the sandwich, buttered side up.

Let the sandwich sizzle, using a flat spatula to press it down once or twice to flatten some, until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 1-2 minutes.

Carefully use the spatula to flip the sandwich and cook the sandwich for another 1 to 2 minutes or until that side is also golden brown.

Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board.

Let the sandwich rest 30 seconds or so before slicing and serving.

Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions

We like to pair this roast beef grilled cheese with chips but it would also be yummy with:

your favorite bowl of soup
french fries
a side salad

Storing Leftovers

I don’t recommend making more than you can eat as leftover grilled cheese will get soggy in the fridge.

However, if you have leftover caramelized onions you can store them in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Tips and Tricks

Use quality ingredients here so the sandwich really tastes its best!
No need to use horseradish if you aren’t a fan. Dijon would be good or you could use any other spread you like.
You can use more or less roast beef to suit your preferences.
Deli sliced roast beef is perfect but this is also wonderful for using up your leftover roast beef.

Other Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Roast beef grilled cheese with smoked gouda is a favorite variation on a classic sandwich.

Make it and enjoy!

Looking for other grilled cheese sandwich recipes?

Try these:

If you’ve tried this ROAST BEEF GRILLED CHEESE WITH SMOKED GOUDA, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!

Roast Beef Grilled Cheese With Smoked Gouda

This roast beef grilled cheese with smoked gouda is a grown up update that is hearty enough to satisfy the biggest appetites! It's perfect for using up your leftovers for lunch or dinner in a meal that will make every one happy.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 40

Total Time: 45

Servings:

Calories: 590kcal

Author: Meaghan @ 4 Sons R Us

Ingredients

1 large white onion thinly sliced
2 tbsp butter softened & divided
1/8 tsp dried sage
2 slices sourdough bread
1-2 tbsp creamy horseradish optional
1/4 lb sliced quality roast beef
4 slices smoked Gouda cheese

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

Heat a griddle over medium heat. Melt a tablespoon of butter on it. Add the onions & sage, stirring to coat with the butter. Reduce the heat to medium low and let the onions saute, stirring every now and then, until they’re nice and caramelized. This could take anywhere between 20-30 minutes.
1 large white onion, 2 tbsp butter, 1/8 tsp dried sage
Butter the outsides of both pieces of bread with the remaining tablespoon of butter.
2 slices sourdough bread
Raise the heat to medium, add one slice of bread buttered side down to the center. If using, spread half the horseradish evenly out over the inside of the slice of bread.
1-2 tbsp creamy horseradish
Top with 2 slices of cheese. Pile on the meat in an even layer. Top with a generous helping of the caramelized onions. Top with the rest of the cheese. Spread the inside of the remaining slice of bread with the rest of the horseradish, and place it on the sandwich, buttered side up.
4 slices smoked Gouda cheese, 1/4 lb sliced quality roast beef
Let the sandwich sizzle, using a flat spatula to press it down once or twice to flatten some, until the bottom is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 1-2 minutes.
Carefully use the spatula to flip the sandwich and cook until the other side is also golden brown and cheese is melted, about another 1-2 minutes.
Transfer the sandwich to a cutting board. Rest 30 seconds before slicing & serving. We like ours with either chips, but a warm bowl of soup would be yummy too!

Notes

Use quality ingredients here so the sandwich really tastes its best!
No need to use horseradish if you aren’t a fan. Dijon would be good or you could use any other spread you like.
You can use more or less roast beef to suit your preferences.
Deli sliced roast beef is perfect but this is also wonderful for using up your leftover roast beef.