It doesn’t get much more versatile than a grilled cheese sandwich. Crisp, buttery bread and a large glob of the melty good stuff? You can add a giant potato in the middle and still shamelessly manage your way through — whatever gives you an excuse to polish off that last bit of stringy, hot cheddar.

You can also add other things that taste good, too. Here you go, folks: the after-school classic, reinvented.

Note: To achieve a perfect, lightly browned and buttery outer shell, keep the temperature low. Always use a clean pan and never skimp on the real butter which, along with providing rich taste, also prevents burning.

1. Caprese: your favorite insalata — still fresh but hot and grilled.
On both inner slices of your bread, spread basil pesto. Begin to grill and immediately, on one slice, lay sliced mozzarella. On the other, lay fresh tomato slices and baby spinach. Check bread often and remove when lightly browned and crisp. Slice in half, and enjoy with a fine glass of that chilled, bottomless Franzia your roommate swore off and won’t touch.
Try with: thinly sliced ciabatta. 

2. Broccoli Cheddar: The soup you’ve always pretended to hate, plus buttered carbs.
Frozen broccoli will do. In not-quite boiling water, cook until softened — about five minutes. In this case, you’ll want the florets cooked past the usual al dente, borderline mushy. Thickly lay atop sharp cheddar on both slices of bread. The ooey-er and gooey-er, the better-er. Pair with a proud phone call to your mother.
Try with: sourdough, mmm. 

3. Autumn Grilled Cheese: Crisp bacon, thinly sliced green apple wedges, sharp cheddar and dijon. You already know.
Try with: lots of lit HomeGoods clearance Yankee fall candles and Dave’s Killer Good Seed bread for a nutty, honey-sweet taste. 

4. Grilled Kimcheese: American cheese and a Korean pickled delicacy. An international match made in toasty warm heaven.
Lay slices of American cheese on both pieces of bread. Drain kimchi and thickly cover one side. On the other, place thinly sliced crisp, green apples. If you’re one of those, slice and serve with a dollop (entire bottle) of Sriracha.
Try with: that soft, irresistible country buttermilk bread that sticks to the roof of your mouth.

5. California, on a roll: We’ll pretend it’s healthy.
On both inner slices of bread, spread a layer of cream cheese. Begin to grill and add pepper jack to both pieces, as well. Slice fresh avocado and cucumber (the outer skin, too) and place toward the end of cooking to avoid warming. Add alfalfa sprouts if desired.
Try with: whole wheat and an elliptical binge.

6. Spinach Alfredo: We won’t pretend it’s healthy.
In a small bowl, microwave (for 30 seconds) a small amount of Alfredo cream sauce with sprinkled black pepper — enough to thickly spread on both slices of bread. Do so and grill, and add sliced provolone to one side. On the other, place and press a large handful of baby spinach — the heat will wilt and significantly shrink it. For a dinner treat, grill, slice and add chicken.
Try with: sliced French bread, swiped with minced garlic. 

After school never tasted so good.