Are you obsessed with the grilled cheese sandwich at Starbucks? It's made with a blend of white cheddar, mozzarella, and garlic parmesan butter and is so easy to recreate at home with this Starbucks Grilled Cheese copycat recipe!
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I'm not sure why it took me so long to order a grilled cheese from Starbucks, but let's just say that when I finally did, my mind was blown. What I assumed was going to be a bland boring sandwich that I ordered on a whim because I was hungry and had no options, was ridiculously delicious. How?!
Of course, I immediately did some research to figure out how Starbucks made their grilled cheese so good and then quickly recreated it.
On their website, Starbucks describes the sandwich as "A blend of white Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses on sourdough bread, topped with a Parmesan butter spread." Their ingredient list also lists dehydrated garlic.
Well, that explains it! A parmesan butter spread AND white cheddar and mozzarella AND sourdough?
No wonder this grilled cheese sandwich is incredible!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
If you've ever had a Starbucks grilled cheese, you know how awesome they are and this recipe will help you recreate the sandwich at home. A sandwich that tastes just like the one you can get at the cafe.
And if you've never had this specific grilled cheese, but you're always looking for the perfect cheesy and crispy sandwich, you're going to love this because it really is a fantastic grilled cheese.
This menu item costs over $6 in my area, so it's a pretty pricey habit to start. But it's so much less expensive to create at home. And also super duper easy.
🗒 Ingredients
You really don't need much to make the perfect grilled cheese... Just 3 cheeses, bread, seasonings, and butter! Here's exactly what's required:
- Butter (salted or unsalted)
- Finely grated parmesan cheese
- Garlic powder
- Salt (if butter is unsalted)
- Sourdough bread
- Sliced white cheddar cheese
- Sliced mozzarella cheese (the kind from the deli like this, not fresh mozzarella)
🥪 How to make Starbucks grilled cheese
And you make this grilled cheese just like you would any other... Except you'll whip up that special butter spread first. It's a parmesan butter spread, but I decided to add garlic powder to it as well.
In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, parmesan, garlic powder, and salt (if using unsalted butter) until combined.
I like to use a little rubber spatula to mix well.
Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat (this is my all-time favorite griddle).
Spread butter mixture onto one side of all four slices of bread.
Top the non-buttered sides of two of the bread slices with cheese.
Place remaining bread slices, butter-side up, on top.
Transfer sandwiches to griddle or skillet and cook slowly until golden on bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until sandwiches are golden on second side and cheese is melted.
Slice and serve!
This grilled cheese sandwich is SO good and tastes just like the one you get at Starbucks!
My husband was shocked and so excited when he took a bite. He was with me for our first Starbucks grilled cheese experience and absolutely loved it, but was taken aback at home much we paid for two sandwiches and two coffees.
Don't get me wrong; I'll still happily stop by Starbucks for a grilled cheese when I need a quick and easy lunch on-the-go, but now we can also enjoy them at home whenever we want!
🧀 Can I use other cheeses?
Of course, you can make this grilled cheese with absolutely any cheese you want! It will just likely taste a bit different than the one you get at Starbucks.
But honestly, as long as you have that garlic parmesan butter spread, you're going to be just fine!
Here are some other cheeses that would work:
- Orange cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- Pepper Jack
- Provolone
- Gouda
- Swiss
- Fontina
- Gruyere
- Colby Jack
- Muenster
I'm also not at all opposed to a brie or blue cheese/gorgonzola grilled cheese, but both of those cheeses will make this sandwich taste very different from Starbuck's.
🍞 Can I use other bread?
Yes, you can make this on any bread that you want, but the buttery toasted sourdough really does hit the spot. Even if you think you don't like sourdough, I urge you to give this a try!
If you don't have sourdough, I recommend a ciabatta or brioche, though. multigrain would also be tasty.
☕️ More Starbucks copycat recipes
I love recreating my favorite coffee shop menu items at home and have lots of Starbucks copycat recipes ready for you! All of these are easy to make and taste just like what you get at the cafe.
Here are some of my favorites:
- Egg Bites
- Strawberry Acai Refresher
- Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher
- Chocolate Cream Cold Brew
- Pink Drink
- Iced White Chocolate Mocha
- Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade
- Iced Toasted Vanilla Oat Milk Shaken Espresso
- Pistachio Latte
- Bacon, Gouda, and Egg Sandwich
The only dangerous thing about having this recipe is that it's very likely you're going to want this buttery and cheesy deliciousness for lunch every single day.
But at least you can enjoy it from the comfort of your home! Now, who's hungry for lunch??
Let me know in the comments below if you love the Starbucks grilled cheese and if you've tried this copycat recipe to make it at home!
❓ Frequently asked questions
Prices vary depending on where you live. In my area, a Starbucks grilled cheese costs $6.25, but it may be a bit more or less in other locations. Use the Starbucks app to see how much it costs at your local shop.
Starbucks uses both white cheddar and mozzarella in the grilled cheese, as well as parmesan in the butter spread.
There are 520 calories in the grilled cheese at Starbucks.
📖 Recipe

Starbucks Grilled Cheese {Copycat Recipe}
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tbsp salted or unsalted butter, softened
- 1 Tbsp finely grated parmesan cheese
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- Pinch salt, if butter is unsalted
- 4 slices sourdough bread
- 2 oz sliced white cheddar cheese
- 2 oz sliced mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together softened butter, parmesan, garlic powder, and salt (if using unsalted butter) until combined.
- Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat.
- Spread butter mixture onto one side of all four slices of bread. Top the non-buttered sides of two of the bread slices with cheese. Press remaining bread slices, butter-side up, on top.
- Transfer sandwiches to griddle or skillet and cook until golden on bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until sandwiches are golden on second side and cheese is melted.
- Slice and serve.
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Al says
Exact copycat!!!! Thank you!!!