14 Grilled Cheese Hacks You've Been Missing Your Entire Life

A major pet peeve of Alton Brown's? Calling it a "grilled" cheese when it really isn't. He grills not only the bread but also the cheese (you seriously have to see how it's done), ensuring a grilled cheese sandwich like you've never had before.

Want to get in on the ever-popular trend of rainbow foods? Make this colorful grilled cheese that's just as pretty as it is tasty, and you won't be sorry.

Your inner child will go nuts for this rolled-up version of grilled cheese. It's not only fun to make, but the dip-friendly grilled cheese bites somehow taste even better than the regular kind.

Get the recipe: grilled cheese roll-ups

This is the grilled cheese you need to make if you don't live near an In-N-Out Burger . . . or even if you do, because it's definitely not on the menu. When you combine two of the best foods (animal-style fries and grilled cheese), amazing things happen to your taste buds.

When making a grilled cheese with an everything bagel, the key is to flip the bagel so that all those garlicky seeds stick to the cheese in the middle and don't fall off in the skillet. You can take this to the next level by using everything-bagel butter.

Get the recipe: everything-bagel grilled cheese

Classic grilled cheese and tomato soup get an upgrade when you garnish the soup with perfectly crunchy and gooey grilled cheese croutons.

Get the recipe: tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons

You know what makes everything better? Sprinkles! Even grilled cheese. If you're a funfetti-cake fanatic, you'll love this sweet grilled cheese for dessert.

Deep-fried grilled cheese? Yes, it's a thing, and it is a game changer. These little bites of heaven are crunchy on the outside and melty on the inside, and they're easy to make at home.

Get the recipe: deep-fried grilled cheese bites

Move over, turkey and cranberry sandwich. This grilled cheese is the best thing you could do with Thanksgiving leftovers. It's filled with savory cranberry-sage jam, fried shallots, melty cheddar, green beans, and more.

A fact of life is that everything is better when made in a waffle iron. If you've got one at home, you can swap a pan for a waffle iron the next time you make a grilled cheese, and you might never make a regular one again.

Get the recipe: waffle iron grilled cheese

Even if you've had Dominique Ansel's famous Cronut (aka croissant plus doughnut), you'll be blown away by how good this bacon-covered grilled cheese version is.

Spreading mayonnaise instead of butter on your bread before making grilled cheese makes the exterior even crispier and more flavorful. It's how Ina Garten makes grilled cheese, so we're pretty sure it's a legit tip.

It's the best thing that's ever happened to pulled pork.

Just do it.

Get the recipe: mac 'n' cheese grilled cheese