In terms of comfort food, grilled cheese is the comfiest. Not only does it evoke memories of childhood dinners, it also makes for the perfect winter meal when paired with hot soup.

As much as we adore and often crave the American cheese rendition of these beloved sandwiches, trying out different cheeses and add-ons is always a rewarding experience. We piled dill pickles, tomatoes and deli meats on our grilled cheese as kids, but are ready to explore some more new toppings.

Here are 25 of the gooiest, tastiest grilled cheese recipes we could wrangle up:

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  • Grilled Figs and Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://80breakfasts.blogspot.com/2012/05/grilled-figs-and-cheese.html">Grilled Figs and Cheese recipe from 80 Breakfasts</a></strong>

  • Steak & Potato Barbecued Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://bsinthekitchen.com/steak-potato-barbecued-grilled-cheese/">Steak & Potato Barbecued Grilled Cheese recipe from BS in the Kitchen</a></strong>

  • Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/11/balsamic-brussels-sprouts-grilled-cheese/">Balsamic Brussels Sprouts Grilled Cheese recipe from How Sweet It Is</a></strong>

  • Margherita Pizza Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://bsinthekitchen.com/the-margherita-pizza-grilled-cheese/">Margherita Pizza Grilled Cheese recipe from BS in the Kitchen</a></strong>

  • Broccoli & Cheddar Soup Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://bsinthekitchen.com/broccoli-cheddar-soup-grilled-cheese/">Broccoli & Cheddar Soup Grilled Cheese recipe from BS in the Kitchen</a></strong>

  • Italian Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://chocolateandcarrots.com/2011/07/italian-grilled-cheese">Italian Grilled Cheese recipe from Chocolate & Carrots</a></strong>

  • Caprese Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/11/caprese-grilled-cheese/">Caprese Grilled Cheese recipe from Cooking Classy</a></strong>

  • Blueberry Brie Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.ilanafreddye.com/2012/12/blueberry-brie-grilled-cheese.html">Blueberry Brie Grilled Cheese recipe from Whisked</a></strong>

  • BLT Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.foodiecrush.com/2012/08/blt-grilled-cheese-recipe/">BLT Grilled Cheese recipe from Foodie Crush</a></strong>

  • Loaded Nacho Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://bsinthekitchen.com/the-loaded-nacho-game-day-grilled-cheese/">Loaded Nacho Grilled Cheese recipe from BS in the Kitchen</a></strong>

  • Arugula And Ham Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.sixteenbeans.com/2012/08/arugula-ham-grilled-cheese.html" target="_hplink">Arugula And Ham Grilled Cheese recipe from sixteenbeans.</a></strong> Just classic. Gooey cheddar, salty ham, peppery arugula. We'll take three.

  • Spinach And Artichoke Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://annies-eats.com/2012/08/09/spinach-and-artichoke-grilled-cheese/" target="_hplink">Spinach And Artichoke Grilled Cheese recipe from Annie's Eats</a></strong> You could stuff spinach, artichokes and cheese into an old shoe and we'd probably love it -- but we're sure this will be significantly tastier.

  • Bacon, Egg And Hashbrown Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/08/01/bacon-egg-hash-brown-grilled-cheese-sandwich/" target="_hplink">Bacon, Egg and Hashbrown Grilled Cheese recipe from Brown Eyed Baker</a></strong> This is the only breakfast sandwich worth eating. It is a one-stop-shop of deliciousness.

  • Bacon Jam And Avocado Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.closetcooking.com/2012/08/bacon-jam-and-avocado-grilled-cheese.html" target="_hplink">Bacon Jam and Avocado Grilled Cheese recipe from Closet Cooking</a></strong> Every time we look at this photo, we have to stop to catch our breath.

  • Fried Chicken And Waffle Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.adrienneshouse.com/blog/fried-chicken-and-waffle-grilled-cheese-sandwiches/" target="_hplink">Fried Chicken And Waffle Grilled Cheese recipe from Adrienne's House</a></strong> We used to think that chicken and waffles were one of the greatest combinations of all time -- and then we saw this and realized how small-minded we'd been all along, as the original lacks cheese.

  • Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.honeysucklelife.com/2011/05/16/grilled-pimiento-cheese-sandwiches/" target="_hplink">Grilled Pimento Cheese Sandwich recipe from Honeysuckle Life</a></strong> This staple of Southern cooking is a classic for a reason -- it is one of the most delicious creations on earth.

  • Grilled Cheese With Avocado And Heirloom Tomato

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.fifteenspatulas.com/2012/04/02/grilled-cheese-with-avocado-and-heirloom-tomato/" target="_hplink">Grilled Cheese With Avocado And Heirloom Tomato recipe from Fifteen Spatulas</a></strong> You will get us <strong>EVERY TIME</strong> with a picture of gooey cheese, guys.

  • Garlic Focaccia Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://keepyourdietreal.com/food/sandwiches/the-best-grilled-cheese-ever/" target="_hplink">Garlic Focaccia Grilled Cheese recipe from Keep Your Diet Real</a></strong> We are launching a full investigation as to why grilled cheese is not made on garlic bread more frequently.

  • Tomato Basil Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://espressoandcream.com/2012/07/tomato-basil-grilled-cheese.html" target="_hplink">Tomato Basil Grilled Cheese from Espresso and Cream</a></strong> This grilled cheese looks like the simple, comforting sandwiches of our youth -- but with a fresh, herbaceous twist.

  • Lamb Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://passthesushi.com/lamb-grilled-cheese-sandwich/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lamb-grilled-cheese-sandwich" target="_hplink">Lamb Grilled Cheese recipe from Pass the Sushi</a></strong> We love gyros. We love grilled cheese. Put them together? Minds get blown.

  • French Onion Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.portuguesegirlcooks.com/2012/04/french-onion-grilled-cheese.html" target="_hplink">French Onion Grilled Cheese recipe from Portuguese Girl Cooks</a></strong> I think we can agree that the only way to improve upon French onion soup is to put it between two slices of buttered, toasted bread. Genius.

  • Watermelon Grilled Cheese Bites

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://www.brit.co/summer-comfort-food-watermelon-grilled-cheese-bites/" target="_hplink">Watermelon Grilled Cheese Bites recipe from Brit + Co.</a></strong> We love this modern, bite-sized take on a grilled cheese. Grilling watermelon and halloumi, then sandwiching them together sounds like summer in a bite.

  • Grilled Cheese Pull-Aparts

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://thecreamline.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/grilled-cheese-pull-aparts/" target="_hplink">Grilled Cheese Pull-Aparts recipe from The Creamline</a></strong> "Whoa. Whoa. Whoa." That is all we could say when we found this recipe. This is brilliant, simple and makes us wish we could reach into the computer and pull off a piece.

  • Homemade American Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://insidenanabreadshead.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/behold-the-power-of-cheese/" target="_hplink">Homemade American Cheese recipe from Inside Nana Bread's Head</a></strong> Sometimes you just want a classic, comforting grilled cheese without having to use processed American cheese. Make your own!

  • Super Frico Grilled Cheese

    <strong>Get the <a href="http://steamykitchen.com/21442-super-frico-grilled-cheese-sandwich.html" target="_hplink">Super Frico Grilled Cheese recipe fro Steamy Kitchen</a></strong> A grilled cheese between two crispy cheese-skirts. This has got to be the ultimate grilled cheese.

Also on HuffPost:

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  • Arlington, VA: Bayou Bakery

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: Muff-a-Lotta Chef-partner and New Orleans native David Guas's menu spells muffaletta phonetically according to the Yat pronunciation (an English dialect unique to NOLA). His recipe also stays true to his roots with a briny garlic-and-oregano-laced olive salad, salami, mortadella, smoked ham and aged provolone in a sesame-seed-studded toasted Italian roll. <strong>Plus: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-burgers-in-the-us" target="_hplink">Best Burgers in the U.S.</a></strong> <em>Photo © Scott Suchman.</em>

  • Portland, OR: Bunk Sandwiches

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: Oregon Albacore Tuna Melt At Bunk, co-chefs Tommy Habetz and Nick Wood reinvent iconic American foods. That means transforming biscuits and gravy into a sandwich filled with braised rabbit leg, or preparing luscious melts, like this version packed with locally canned albacore and finished with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Tillamook cheddar. <strong>Plus: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/americas-best-bars/" target="_hplink">America's Best Bars</a></strong> <em>Photo © David Reamer.</em>

  • Dallas: Smoke

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: Chopped Coffee-Cured Beef Brisket Chef-owner and F&W People's Best New Chef 2012 Tim Byres slow-cooks the meat for this coffee-inflected brisket sandwich in the restaurant's backyard wood-burning smokehouse. <strong>Plus: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-pizza-places-in-the-us" target="_hplink">Best Pizza Places in the U.S.</a></strong> <em>Photo © Jody Horton.</em>

  • Miami: Bin No. 18

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: De-Constructed Cuban Shredded pork and gooey triple-cream cheese fill a tomato-garlic-and-olive-oil-rubbed ciabatta roll in Bin No. 18's loose interpretation of the traditional Cuban sandwich. Although it's served with a fig-and-port-wine reduction, customers usually skip the accompaniment and reach for the hot sauce Sriracha. <strong>Plus: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-steak-in-the-us" target="_hplink">Best Steak in the U.S.</a></strong> <em>Photo © Alfredo Patiño.</em>

  • Oakland, CA: Bakesale Betty

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: Fried Chicken Sandwich These delicious sandwiches, filled with crispy buttermilk-soaked, cayenne pepper-spiced fried chicken, sell out fast. Each of Bakesale Betty's two Bay Area locations is only open for three hours a day--even less if there aren't enough sweet torpedo rolls to keep making sandwiches. <strong>Plus: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-grilled-cheese-in-the-us" target="_hplink">Best Grilled Cheese in the U.S.</a></strong> <em>Photo © John Joh.</em>

  • Brooklyn, NY: Mile End

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: Smoked Meat To create smoked meat--NYC pastrami's fattier, spicier Canadian cousin--for the sandwiches at his Montreal-style Jewish deli in Boerum Hill, chef-owner Noah Bernamoff cures Pat LaFrieda- sourced, prime-Angus-certified beef brisket in a dry rub of salt, black pepper, spices and garlic before oak-smoking and steaming the meat for several hours. <strong>Plus: <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-bacon-burgers-in-the-us" target="_hplink">America's Best Bacon Burgers</a></strong> <em>Photo © Taylor Wallick.</em>

  • Ann Arbor, MI: Zingerman's

    <strong>Sandwich</strong>: Reuben Oprah Winfrey is a noted fan of this grocery-store-turned-Jewish-deli's famed Reuben--and with good reason. The sandwiches are made with locally sourced corned beef, Emmentaler Swiss cheese, house-made Russian dressing and house-made rye bread. Zingerman's shop also offers mail-order sandwich kits for out-of-state Reuben cravings. <strong><a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/slideshows/best-sandwiches-in-the-us/10" target="_hplink">Click Here for More of the Best Sandwiches in the U.S.</a></strong> <em>Photo © Ryan Stiner.</em>