Description
This BBQ Pulled Beef Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a delightful blend of tender, flavorful pulled beef and gooey melted cheese, all nestled between crispy, golden-brown bread. It’s not just a sandwich; it’s a comforting meal that brings back memories of family gatherings and laughter.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs beef shoulder (also known as brisket)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 8 slices of bread (sourdough or Texas toast recommended)
- 8 slices of cheddar cheese (or your preferred cheese)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened, for grilling)
- Optional: pickles
- Optional: coleslaw
- Optional: extra BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Start with the pulled beef. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the beef shoulder and sear it on all sides until nicely browned (about 5-7 minutes).
- In a bowl, mix together smoked paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the spice mixture thoroughly over the seared meat.
- Pour the BBQ sauce and chicken broth over the meat in the pot, so it is almost completely covered. Cover the pot with a lid and let the meat simmer on low heat for 4-6 hours until it is tender and easily shreds.
- Once the meat is done, remove it from the pot and shred it with two forks into fine pieces. Mix the shredded meat with some of the remaining sauce in the pot to keep it juicy.
- Now prepare the sandwich. Preheat a skillet over medium heat and spread softened butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Place one slice of bread, buttered side down, in the skillet. Top it with 2 slices of cheese, followed by a generous portion of pulled beef, and then 2 more slices of cheese.
- Cover the sandwich with another slice of bread (also buttered) and grill for about 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
- Carefully flip the sandwich with a spatula and grill the other side for another 4-5 minutes until it is also golden brown.
- Remove the sandwich from the skillet and let it cool briefly before cutting it diagonally in half. Serve warm and enjoy!
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking and Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
Keywords: Avoid cooking the pulled beef at too low a temperature for too long, as it may become tough. A cast-iron skillet is great for grilling the sandwich as it distributes heat evenly and helps achieve a perfect crust.