Grilled Halloumi Cheese

Halloumi, a sheep and goat's milk cheese from Cyprus, is salty, squeaky, and perfect for grilling. Learn how to cook it with this simple guide!

Grilled halloumi cheese

If panzanella is my favorite summer dinner, then grilled halloumi cheese is unquestionably Jack’s. He doesn’t care how I serve it: in a summery grain bowl, in sandwiches, or just plated up with sliced tomatoes and a side of crusty bread. He loves its charred, salty flavor and rich, squeaky texture. I can’t blame him – I’m a big fan of it too!

What is halloumi cheese?

If you’re thinking, “Wait, cheese on the grill??”, I get it! A slice of cheddar or mozzarella would melt right through the grates. But not halloumi. This cheese, which hails from Cyprus, has a uniquely firm texture and high melting point, so it can stand up to all sorts of cooking methods: pan-frying, roasting, broiling, grilling, or frying. Depending on your chosen method, the outside sears and becomes crisp and charred or browned, while the inside becomes deliciously warm.

Sliced halloumi on a cutting board with knife and olive oil

Halloumi is traditionally made with a mix of goat’s milk and sheep’s milk, though today, you can find commercial halloumi made with cow’s milk as well. It tastes salty and savory, and it has a bit of a funk. Though I cook with halloumi all year round, I especially love it in the summer. It’s an amazingly flavorful, satisfying vegetarian protein that’s super easy to throw on the grill!

Sliced halloumi on a baking sheet drizzled with olive oil

How to Grill Halloumi Cheese

Ready to try grilling halloumi cheese? The process couldn’t be simpler! Here’s how it goes:

First, slice the halloumi into 1/2-inch-thick planks. Drizzle the planks with olive oil and use your hands to coat them on both sides.

Cheese on the grill

While you prep the halloumi, preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan. You want it to be nice and hot when you add the cheese! This helps prevent sticking.

Finally, grill the halloumi. Cook it until grill marks form on both sides. This shouldn’t take long – just 2 to 3 minutes per side. That’s it!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Grilling cheese next to basket of tomatoes and basil

How to Serve Grilled Halloumi

Grilled halloumi is pretty darn versatile, so I encourage you to have fun finding different ways to serve it. Here are a few of my favorites:

How do you like to serve grilled halloumi cheese? Let me know in the comments!

Halloumi cheese recipe

More Favorite Grilling Recipes

Loved grilling cheese? Try one of these easy grilling recipes next:

Grilled Halloumi

rate this recipe:
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 11 minutes
Serves 4
Learn how to make grilled halloumi cheese! It's salty, squeaky, and deliciously charred. Find my favorite ways to serve it in the post above.

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat a grill or grill pan to high heat. Slice the halloumi into ½-inch-thick planks. Rub both sides with olive oil and place on the hot grill. Reduce the heat to medium and grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until well-charred.

4 comments

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  1. Sabrina from newkitchenlife.com
    08.01.2022

    really nice alternative dish for me, great appetizer for a summer grill, as you write or just main dish, thank you!

  2. Nora
    08.01.2022

    I wonder. This seems as though it might be similar to a cheese that is popular here in Wisconsin – Juusto cheese. Perhaps it’s popular because we have a dairy that produces it and that’s how I discovered it. Juusto is a Finnish cheese; maybe not similar. Thanks for this recipe. I will keep my eye out for this here in the Midwest.

  3. Sarah
    07.31.2022

    This is also delicious in tacos!!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.