Up Your Avocado Toast Game with This Avocado Chili Corn Cheese Toastie

Call me basic, but I love avocado toast. (Yes, I live in California.) If I have extra slices of bread and an avocado on hand, you better believe I’m going to be combining the two for a quick breakfast, light lunch, or snack.

While I’ve topped my toast with fresh tomato, greens, or sliced radishes in the past, I often squeeze a little lemon or lime juice over top, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and call it a day. But there are so many possibilities when it comes to toast. Case in point: the Avocado Chili Corn Cheese Toastie by @thewickedvegetarian. Look at all of those words in front of toastie! Now that’s a toast.

You’ll need a few different ingredients to make this toastie, as it is all about the layers. Start with a slice of bread and top with a thin layer of spreadable onion and chive cream cheese. Chop half of a ripe avocado and mash it on top. Drizzle with garlic chili oil and top with a slice of cheese (she uses a Kraft single). Top with thawed frozen roasted corn (commonly found at Trader Joe’s) and broil until the cheese is nice and melty. And lastly, you’ll finish it off with chopped fresh cilantro and more garlic chili oil before serving.

While her video used what looked like plain white sandwich bread, I had sourdough handy so I used that instead. I made one for me and one for my husband for lunch. I broiled the toasties until they were super melty.

Get the recipe: Avocado Chili Corn Cheese Toastie

If you’re into gooey, cheesy things, then this is the toast for you. The creamy cheeses and soft avocado combine to make a very cheesy, melty toast. The corn adds a little texture and sweetness, and the chili oil adds a bit of heat.

As a person who loves texture, however, I found this toastie lacking in toastie-ness. Because the bread isn’t toasted first, the whole thing is very soft. I’d definitely toast the bread first next time to make it sturdier and give it a bit of crunch. I also found the cream cheese totally unnecessary. It’s hidden by the avocado and sliced cheese, so you could certainly skip it.

While I enjoyed the toastie enough to practically swallow it whole during my lunch break, my husband wrinkled his nose a bit at first. Then he added hot sauce. The next time I glanced at his plate, the toast had disappeared. I agree that the toast needs some acid, either from a squeeze of lime or a shake or two of a vinegary hot sauce. If you find your toastie a little bland, hot sauce it up!

1. Toast the bread. It is a toastie, after all! Toast your bread lightly on both sides before assembling. And consider using bread with a bit more texture and flavor, like sourdough.
2. Skip the cream cheese. If you’re a cream cheese lover and want to include it, then by all means! But if you don’t have any handy, there’s no need to go out and grab cream cheese just to make this recipe.
3. Swap the sliced cheese. If you love the ooey, gooey melt of Kraft singles, then go for it. If not, swap for a slice of sharp cheddar or pepper Jack cheese for more flavor.
4. Add some spice. While the chili oil adds a bit of heat, the toastie could still use a little oomph. Since you’re visiting Trader Joe’s to pick up frozen roasted corn, grab some Everything But the Elote seasoning or Everything Bagel seasoning and sprinkle it generously on top. If you’re a hot sauce lover, drizzle some on top before serving.