Cheese Frenchee: The Midwest's Deep-Fried Twist On Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheeses are a key member of the sandwich category and a staple in the American diet, especially among children. In fact, they're actually growing in popularity, as according to statistics gathered by Tastewise, nearly 18% of restaurants feature grilled cheeses on their menus and grilled cheese-trending topics have increased on social media 3.34% in 2023. You can use practically any kind of cheese you'd like for a grilled cheese sandwich, ranging from traditional American or cheddar to fancier options like brie or fontina. And, of course, there are toppings galore that you can add between the two slices of bread before frying up the sandwich including caramelized onions, pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and even mac and cheese.

Different countries around the world have their own versions of the grilled cheese sandwich, such as the croque monsieur from France and the quesadilla from Mexico, and even different areas of the United States feature unique grilled cheese sandwiches. One such sandwich, the cheese frenchee, hails from Nebraska, and let's just say it's quite the creative take on the classic grilled cheese recipe.

Not a midwest local and wondering what exactly a cheese frenchee is? Well, just a word of warning, once you find out you might find yourself hoping on the next flight to Nebraska to try out some of this gooey goodness. A cheese frenchee is a cheese sandwich that is not grilled like a traditional grilled cheese recipe, but instead deep fried after being dipped in eggs and milk and coated with cornflakes.

The invention of the cheese frenchee has been credited to King's Food Host, a popular Nebraska restaurant from the 1950s to 1970s. In 2017, the eatery founder's daughter, Deb Price, shared the original recipe for the cheese frenchee on Facebook for all to have, revealing it was actually made with Kraft American Ribbon Cheese and coated with No. 5 Sunshine Cracker Meal.

While King's Food Host is no longer in business, you can head to Nebraska fast food eateries Amigos/King's Classic and Don & Millie's to get your cheese frenchee fix.