This Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich takes your classic pb&j recipe to the next level. The outside is golden brown, and inside the two slices of bread is gooey peanut butter combined with warm jelly.
Made like a grilled cheese sandwich (and our chicken grilled cheese) it’s cooked on the stovetop over medium-low heat, to get the crispy bread. It’s the perfect easy lunch idea or even a warm breakfast recipe.
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Fried PB&J
We all love the pb&j from childhood, and now, with this method, you can still have the famous sandwich but with a twist, with a delicious, buttery coating.
❤️ Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Crispy & Creamy: The texture of this sandwich is completely different than simply spreading peanut butter and jelly on two pieces of bread. The golden, crispy, outside texture combines perfectly with the inside, creamy texture.
- Restaurant Style: If you ever watch shows that feature fun and different recipes, this fried peanut butter & jelly feels like something you’d find at a “must-visit” diner.
- Ready in minutes: With a regular pb&j only taking a few minutes, don’t be intimidated by the extra step of frying or grilling! It will only take a few minutes to cook the sandwich on both sides.
🧾 Fried PB&J Ingredients & Variations
The beautiful thing about this sandwich is that you can use your favorite ingredients that you love using to make a peanut butter and jelly, and then add one more ingredient (butter).
- Bread – There are so many options for bread. Brioche, sliced white bread, wheat, or your favorite sandwich bread.
- Peanut Butter – Crunchy or creamy, or even a substitute like Nutella or your favorite nut butter will work too.
- Jelly – Strawberry or grape jelly work, or you can even use your favorite flavor of jam.
- Butter – Using spreadable butter is recommended so it slides across the bread easier. Or, if you have stick butter, melt it gently to make it smooth to spread easier. Salted butter is a great option because it adds that hint of salt with all of the sweetness.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make a Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
- Add Peanut Butter – Spread peanut butter on one side, of one slice of bread.
- Spread Jelly – Then, spread jelly on one side, of the other slice of bread.
- Butter the Bread – Place the coated sides of the bread together, so they form a classic pb&j. Next, coat the outside of both sides of the sandwich, with butter and place on a skillet, and cook over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes or until the side facing down, is a golden brown.
- Toast the Bread – Flip once golden, and cook the other side for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve!
Tip: Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar if desired for an extra sweet treat.
💭 Recipe Pro Tips
- Multiple Sandwiches – If making multiple sandwiches, make as many sandwiches as you need, up until the point of adding them to a skillet. Using a griddle (a much larger cooking surface) place all of the assembled sandwiches on the griddle at the same time, in a single layer, to cook them at the same time. This way, you’re not making one at a time, which can be time-consuming.
- Fun Additions. Love bananas on your peanut butter sandwich? Slice bananas to place on the peanut butter, or add other fun items like marshmallow fluff or honey or syrup like in our peanut butter and syrup sandwich, bacon, or even sprinkles!
📋 Recipe FAQs
They don’t have to be but they’re delicious when toasted. But frying them in a pan is ideal, rather than using a toaster because the jelly and peanut butter can melt out.
We think sliced white bread is the best for pb&j but brioche is a delicious option too.
This is a personal preference, however, crunch peanut butter can make the sandwich “unbalanced” so the bread can slip around more, due to the nuts.
Either one works but jam will slide on more smooth, as jelly can be a little “bumpy” causing the bread to slide around a little more.
🥪 More Sandwich Recipes
If you love classic sandwiches and fun recipes to make for lunch, you’ll love these reader favorites too:
📖 Recipe
Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread Your favorite sliced sandwich bread
- 1 ½ Tablespoon peanut butter smooth or crunchy
- 1 ½ Tablespoon jelly or jam
- 1 Tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Add Peanut Butter – Spread peanut butter on one side, of one slice of bread.
- Spread Jelly – Then, spread jelly on one side, of the other slice of bread.
- Butter the Bread – Place the coated sides of the bread together, so they form a classic pb&j. Next, coat the outside of both sides of the sandwich, with butter and place on a skillet, and cook over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes or until the side facing down, is a golden brown.
- Toast the Bread – Flip once golden, and cook the other side for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Sandra says
I could not be more thankful for your kindness of sharing such simple but delicious recipes, forever grateful ❤️
Jessica says
That’s so sweet of you Sandra! Thank you so much for taking the time out to say that.
Kristyn says
We tried this recently & we all fell in love! This is the best way to enjoy a pb&j!!
Jenn says
I might never make a regular PB&J ever again! I loved the crunch texture of this fried version. So delicious!
jess says
I would have never thought that this would be a good dish, but the melted butter and jelly and the buttery cripsy bread makes this just that much more delicious! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe
Megan says
I’ve never have had a fried pb&j but I’ve had toasted. I love the way the peanut butter melts. I bet this would be even better.
Jessica says
Oh yeah… the peanut butter is sooo ooey gooey when it melts! Aaaaand…. the butter on the bread, doesn’t hurt either. 😉
Andrea B. says
How is this even a thing? omg – I would probably want to make it every day. It looks soooo good.
You’re not alone. I’d never heard of it, and if I had I would have thought it was something you get at a festival or fair. 😉
Jessica says
LOL, I know, right!? It’s totally delicious. My husband WOULD eat it every day if I let him. 😉