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Layer your favorite taco ingredients with just a little extra cheese in these Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and smush it between two slices of buttered bread and grill. These have all the comforting goodness of a golden, melty grilled cheese sandwich along with the zingy taco components.

hands holding taco stuffed grilled cheese sandwich

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Taco Stuffed Grilled Cheese Sandwich

If your dinner routine is anything like ours, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. But, I’m always looking for new ideas that my family will love, and this Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe was an easy win! It’s easy enough for a weeknight dinner, and it can be made even easier with the use of leftovers!

Grilled cheese and taco lovers, this is a must-make recipe!! This Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe combines everything you love about a grilled cheese sandwich with everything you love about tacos! It’s the best of both worlds! 

two halves of a grilled cheese sandwich stacked on a plate

Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Ingredients & Substitutions

For the taco seasoning:

  • chili powder
  • ground cumin
  • garlic powder
  • smoked paprika or red paprika
  • dried oregano
  • seasoned salt
  • ground black pepper

For the guacamole:

  • semi-soft avocados
  • finely chopped red onion
  • finely chopped cilantro
  • limes, juiced
  • salt to taste

For the sandwiches:

  • sliced sandwich bread – use any kind you like – white, wheat, sourdough, etc …
  • prepared taco meat – you can use leftovers – or use the recipe included in this post, or your favorite recipe for taco meat
  • prepared guacamole – you can use leftovers – or use the recipe included in this post, store-bought, or your favorite recipe for guacamole
  • cheddar cheese – feel free to use your favorite melty cheese. I use shredded for this recipe, but you can use slices if you prefer.
  • Monterey Jack cheese – feel free to use your favorite melty cheese. I use shredded for this recipe, but you can use slices if you prefer.
  • tomatoes – thinly sliced is best.
  • soft butter – salted or unsalted. If you prefer to use mayo instead of butter, you can do that, too!
  • Sour cream or salsa for serving – use whatever you like to dip of spread on your sandwich!
taco grilled cheese on plate

How to make Taco Grilled Cheese Sandwich

NOTE: See the PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD below for the full recipe instructions.

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For The Taco Meat:

  1. Brown and crumble the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain if necessary.
  2. Add in spices. Mix thoroughly.
  3. Cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the meat mixture is well combined with the seasonings.

For The Guacamole:

  1. Scoop out the avocado halves into a small bowl. Add lime juice and mash with a fork.
  2. Stir in chopped onion, cilantro, and a good pinch of salt. 
  3. Use immediately.

Assembling the sandwiches:

  1. Heat a large skillet over low heat.
  2. Butter the slices of bread and start layering the sandwiches. Finish with your top piece of bread.
  3. Grill until golden brown, then flip and finish the other side.
  4. Serve with sour cream and any extra guacamole for dipping.

Recipe Tips

  • The key to melting the cheese without burning the bread is the low heat setting; grill these low and slow.
  • Make this recipe even easier and faster by using leftover taco meat and guacamole!
sandwich cut in half with small cheese pull

Taco Grilled Cheese: FAQs

➡️ Can I use a taco seasoning packet instead of the individual spices?

Sure! I like to create my own blend to control the salt content and final taste. However, if a store-bought package is easier for you, feel free to use that instead.

➡️ Can you make grilled cheese ahead?

You can – however, it will never be as good as freshly made.

➡️ How to reheat grilled cheese?

MICROWAVE: Use this method ONLY if you don’t mind the change in texture (i.e., your sandwich will likely be steamed and not crisp). Place the sandwich on a microwave-safe plate and cover. Heat on HIGH power for 45-seconds to 1-minute or until the sandwich is heated through.
STOVETOP: Add butter to a skillet and melt over medium-low heat. Add the sandwich to the pan and cover with a lid or aluminum foil tent. Cook for 2-3 minutes and carefully flip the sandwich over and continue cooking covered until the sandwich is heated through. Be sure to watch your sandwich closely, so it doesn’t burn.
PANINI PRESS: Heat your sandwich using a panini press until heated through, watching to ensure it doesn’t burn.

closeup of taco grilled cheese sandwich

Other recipes you may enjoy

hands holding sandwich halves
4.53 from 23 votes
Servings: 6 sandwiches

Taco Stuffed Grilled Cheese

By Jamie Sherman
Taco Grilled Cheese is a grilled cheese sandwich grilled to golden perfection, along with all of your favorite zingy taco components.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Inactive Time: 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour

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Ingredients 

For The Taco Meat

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

For the Taco Seasoning

  • 4 teaspoons chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, or red paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the Guacamole

  • 3 semi-soft avocados
  • ¼ cup fine chopped red onion
  • ¼ cup fine chopped cilantro
  • 1 ½ limes, juiced
  • salt to taste

For the sandwiches

  • 1 loaf sliced sandwich bread
  • prepared taco meat
  • prepared guacamole
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 8 ounces Monterrey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 3 small tomatoes, thin sliced
  • 4 tablespoons soft butter
  • Sour cream and/or salsa, for serving

Instructions 

For The Taco Meat: 

  • Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat.  Cook and crumble the ground meat until no pink remains, drain off any fat.
  • Add in spices with 1/4-cup of water.  Mix thoroughly and cook until most of the water has evaporated and meat and spices are well combined.

For The Guacamole: 

  • Slice open, seed, and scoop out the avocado halves into a small bowl. Add lime juice and mash with a fork. 
  • Stir in chopped onion, cilantro, and a good pinch of salt.
  • Use immediately.  

Assembling the sandwiches:

  • Heat a large skillet over low heat.
  • Butter the slices of bread and start layering the sandwiches – buttered sides facing out.
  • Start with about 1 once of cheddar; top with about 1/4 cup of taco meat, then a 1/4 cup of guacamole; layer a few tomato slices; top with 1 ounce of Monterrey Jack; finish with your top piece of bread.
  • Grill on low for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown, flip and finish the other side for an additional 4-5 minutes.
  • Serve with sour cream, salsa, and any extra guacamole for dipping.

Notes

  • The key to melting the cheese without burning the bread is the low heat setting; grill these low and slow.
  • Depending on the amount of filling, you may be able to get eight sandwiches in total. I made six hearty sandwiches with a little meat and guacamole leftover. Begin and end layers with cheese. They are the glue that holds the whole thing together.
  • This recipe was originally submitted by Kim at Soliloquy Of Food & Such.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich, Calories: 786kcal, Carbohydrates: 40g, Protein: 42g, Fat: 53g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 20g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 1050mg, Potassium: 1056mg, Fiber: 10g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1972IU, Vitamin C: 22mg, Calcium: 702mg, Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Like this? Leave a comment below!

This post was originally published on May 3, 2014. Updated on April 23, 2020, and February 10, 2022. 

Jamie

Jamie Sherman founded Love Bakes Good Cakes in February 2012. She is a self-taught home cook passionate about sharing easy, delicious, and family-friendly recipes. From comforting classics to irresistible desserts, I believe homemade food brings people together. Join me on my journey of creating and sharing meals that bring joy to every table!

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4.53 from 23 votes (23 ratings without comment)

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9 Comments

  1. Rance says:

    Saw it on FB. Showed the wife and we had it tonight….Dang , it was good. Definitely, will be doing it again

  2. Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says:

    Yum, what a great looking sandwich. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!

  3. Felicias Red Door Life says:

    I really must not read things like this after working out when my body is craving the calories I just burned off. This looks so good…I wonder…I may have to change dinner plans for tonight.

  4. Jen C. says:

    YUM! Desperation is the master of invention, yes?! | DoMeasurablyMore.com

  5. Rustic & Refined says:

    PIN'd it to eat, I mean try later! That definitely sounds like a "Man" favorite if I ever heard one and lord knows mine can be picky. But he loves tacos and grilled cheese. Thanks so much for sharing it!

  6. Betsy Hartmann says:

    I just attended the Wisconsin Grilled Cheese Championship on 4/27. The Taco Grilled Cheese would have made a super entry!!!

  7. Louie George Jr says:

    Yummmy

  8. Melissa @ My Recent Favorite Books says:

    This sounds like a very tasty sandwich! Pinned to my Mexican food board. =)

  9. Catherine says:

    There is nothing like a good tasty sandwich!!! and those cherry blossoms are beautiful. Blessings, Catherine