Fettuccine grilled cheese sounds so over the top – and it is! Who knew creamy pasta sandwiched between two slices of bread would be so delicious?
I have a weakness for carbs, don’t you? Yes, a protein usually accompanies my servings; however, there’s nothing wrong with carb loading on occasion. Fettuccine grilled cheese is carbs on carbs, and all I can say is wow! This sandwich is so good. There’s soft, chewy ciabatta with a crackly, broiled crust, melty cheese, and pasta in between– think pasta and bread in one handheld meal. There’s tons of texture, the saucy sandwich is delightfully melty, and the entire experience is incredible from start to finish.
Why You’ll Love Fettuccine Grilled Cheese
If fettuccine grilled cheese sounds like something you can get into but you need a bit more convincing, consider the following:
Great use of leftovers – The sandwich utilizes leftover pasta. This grilled cheese is a fantastic way to transform leftover pasta into something new and exciting, and chilled pasta is also easier to sandwich between a split loaf of ciabatta.
Easy, satisfying meal – This grilled cheese takes 10 minutes from start to finish. All you have to do is assemble, broil, and eat. It doesn’t get much easier than that.
Customizable – I used one of my go-to recipes, which involves a deliciously creamy, cheesy marinara-based sauce, but you can use fettuccine tossed in any sauce you like – Alfredo, pesto, bolognese; they all work well.
Fettuccine Grilled Cheese Ingredients Notes
- Ciabatta bread: The Italian white bread has enough texture to stand up to even the sauciest pasta. Moreover, ciabatta toasts well without becoming so hard that it’s difficult to bite.
- Balsamic vinegar: Its sweet fruitiness contrasts the sandwich’s cheesy, otherwise rich flavors. The acidity is also quite refreshing.
- Leftover pasta: Although unexpected, leftover pasta makes a fantastic sandwich filling. While something slightly cheesy works best, you can use any type you have on hand. Once again, leftovers are ideal because they’re a little firmer and easier to add to the bread, along with a generous amount of cheese. Hot, freshly cooked pasta on bread tends to get messy quickly.
- Jack cheese: Jack cheese delivers the cheese pull everyone expects from a grilled cheese sandwich, plus the cheese pull it offers surpasses that of other types. Even better is that jack cheese has a mild, buttery flavor.
Refer to the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients with precise measurements.
How to Make Fettuccine Grilled Cheese
- Prepare the bread: After you halve a loaf of ciabatta, drizzle the cut side with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, followed by some black pepper.
- Assemble: Place both halves of the bread cut side up on a baking sheet, then add leftover pasta to the bottom half and top with cheese.
- Broil: Place under the broiler for 2 minutes or until the cheese melts and starts to bubble. The top half of the loaf will also get nice and toasted.
- A finishing touch: Top the cheese layer off with microgreens, then close with the top half of the loaf.
- Slice and serve: Cut into individual sandwiches (preferably with a serrated knife) and serve.
Variations, Substitutions, and Cooking Tips
Try another cheese – Combine jack and parmesan, try mozzarella, use classic American, or step it up with gouda or brie.
Add fresh herbs – Basil would work nicely, as would fresh parsley.
Go with leafy greens – Spinach or a nice hearty lettuce will add some green to the sandwich and a slightly bitter, vegetal flavor.
Make it extra saucy – If you have leftover sauce from the pasta, serve it on the side for dipping. Even better, if you prepare a pasta dish specifically for the sandwiches, make more sauce than needed so you can dip and dunk while you eat.
Make it vegan – Vegan-friendly fettuccine grilled cheese is possible. You only need your favorite dairy-free pasta dish and a dairy-free cheese that melts well. Also, ensure that the ciabatta you purchase is vegan. Although most are, some bakers choose to replace water with milk.
Preheat the leftovers – This tip depends on your broiler’s efficiency. Most will heat the pasta through, especially if brought to room temperature beforehand. That said, cold spots are possible. Preheat the leftovers before adding the pasta to the bread to avoid them. Nothing puts a damper on a toasty grilled cheese than cold bites of pasta.
What to Serve with Fettuccine Grilled Cheese
Fettuccine grilled cheese is even better with a protein. Since the sandwich is all carbohydrates, a small portion of protein on the side would create a more balanced meal. You can also go the light and fresh route with a simple salad of tomatoes, crisp romaine, red onion, and cucumber with a balsamic vinaigrette.
- 1 loaf ciabatta bread
- About 3 cups leftover pasta (I used this recipe)
- Olive Oil
- Black Pepper
- Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 cup shredded Jack cheese
- ½ cup microgreens
- Preheat the oven to Broil.
- Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic onto the bottom side of the sliced ciabatta and top with freshly ground black pepper.
- Add the leftover pasta and top with the shredded cheese.
- Place both halves of bread onto a baking sheet and place under the broiler for about 2 minutes, or until the cheese begins to bubble and is a light golden brown.
- Top with microgreens and slice into sandwich-sized pieces!
- Serve immediately!
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