14 Creative Braaibroodjie Variations: Beyond Cheese, Tomato & Onion

**Chef's method:**

1. 🍌 Banana, Bacon & Peanut Butter Braaibroodjie : A sweet-and-salty braaibroodjie with banana, crispy bacon, and peanut butter — an indulgent braai twist inspired by the classic Elvis sandwich.*Sweet banana, salty bacon, and rich peanut butter — this one's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for anyone with a sweet tooth. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Peanut butter- Banana, sliced- Bacon, cooked until crisp
  
• 1. Butter the outer sides of both bread slices.

  2. Spread peanut butter generously on the inside of one slice.

  3. Layer over the banana slices and crispy bacon.4. Top with the second buttered slice, butter-side out.

  5. Braai over medium coals until golden and crisp, turning once — the peanut butter will melt into the banana for a warm, gooey center.

2. 🧅 Mayo, Cheese & Red Onion Braaibroodjie : A creamy braaibroodjie made with a buttery mayonnaise spread, melted cheese, and sweet red onion — simple, rich, and full of flavour.*Whipping mayonnaise into the butter creates an extra-rich, creamy base that pairs perfectly with sharp cheese and sweet red onion. *Contains onion — mark accordingly.*

• Whipping mayonnaise into the butter creates an extra-rich, creamy base that pairs perfectly with sharp cheese and sweet red onion. *Contains onion — mark accordingly.
• **You'llneed:**- Plain white bread- Butter, softened- Mayonnaise- Cheese, grated- Red onion, thinly sliced
• 1. Mix softened butter with a spoonful of mayonnaise until smooth, then spread over the outer sides of both bread slices.

  2. On the inside, layer grated cheese and red onion.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until the bread is golden and the cheese has melted through.

3. 🍅 Mozzarella, Tomato & Green Pepper Braaibroodjie : A fresh, veggie-loaded braaibroodjie with mozzarella, tomato, cheese, and green pepper —braai'd until melty and golden.*This one leans into fresh, garden-style flavours, with two cheeses giving you the best of both meltiness and sharpness. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Mozzarella, sliced- Tomato, sliced- Cheese (cheddar), grated- Green pepper, thinly sliced
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Layer mozzarella, tomato, grated cheese, and green pepper on the inside.

  3. Close with the second buttered slice and braai over medium coals until golden, making sure the pepper softens through.

4. 🥑 Avo, Green Pepper, Red Onion & Cheese Braaibroodjie : A creamy, fresh braaibroodjie loaded with avocado, green pepper, red onion, and melted cheese —a modern take on the classic braai sandwich. Creamy avo brings a modern, indulgent twist to the traditional braaibroodjie, balanced with crunchy pepper and onion. *Contains onion — mark accordingly.

• **You'll need:** – Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Avocado, sliced- Green pepper, thinly sliced- Red onion, thinly sliced- Cheese, grated
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Layer the avo, green pepper, red onion, and grated cheese on the inside.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai gently over medium coals — avo can turn bitter over very high heat, so keep it moderate until the cheese melts and the bread is golden.

5. 🥓 Caramelised Onion, Biltong & Chutney Braaibroodjie : A proudly South African braaibroodjie with caramelised onions, biltong, cheese, and chutney —rich, savoury, and packed with flavour.*This is braai country's answer to a gourmet toastie — sweet caramelised onion, salty biltong, and a hit of chutney tang. *Contains onion — mark accordingly

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Onion, caramelised- Biltong, thinly sliced or shaved- Cheese, grated- Mrs Ball's Chutney
• 1. Carameliseyour onions ahead of time in a pan over low heat until soft and golden, then set aside to cool slightly.

  2. Butter both outer slices of bread.3. Layer the caramelised onion, biltong, grated cheese, and a spoonful of chutney on the inside.

  4. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until crisp and golden, and the cheese has melted through.

6. 🍌 Banana, Apricot Jam & Cheese Braaibroodjie : A sweet South African braaibroodjie combining banana, apricot jam, and melted cheese — nostalgic, simple, and perfect for dessert lovers. Soft banana and sweet apricot jam melt beautifully with cheese for a nostalgic, dessert-like braaibroodjie. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:** – Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Banana, sliced- Apricot jam- Cheese, grated
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Layer banana slices, a generous spread of apricot jam, and grated cheese on the inside.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals, turning once, until golden and the filling is warm and melted.

7. 🍎 Mayo, Tomato, Apple & Cheese Braaibroodjie : A tangy-sweet braaibroodjie with mayonnaise, tomato, apple, and cheese — a fresh, unexpected combination that works beautifully on the braai.*The crunch of fresh apple against juicy tomato and creamy mayo makes this an unexpectedly refreshing variation. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Mayonnaise- Tomato, sliced- Green apple, thinly sliced- Cheese, grated
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the inside, then add tomato, apple, and grated cheese.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden and the apple has softened slightly.

8. 🍍 Caramelised Onion, Pineapple & Cheese Braaibroodjie : : A sweet-and-savoury braaibroodjie with caramelised onions, pineapple, and melted cheese — a tropical twist on a South African classic.*Sweet caramelised onion and juicy pineapple bring a tropical, Hawaiian-pizza-style twist to the braai grid.*Contains onion — mark accordingly.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Onion, caramelised- Pineapple, sliced (fresh or tinned, well-drained)- Cheese, grated
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Layer the caramelised onion, pineapple, and grated cheese on the inside.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden, making sure any excess pineapple juice has drained off beforehand to avoid soggy bread.

9. 🫐 Fig Jam, Feta & Black Pepper Braaibroodjie : : An elegant braaibroodjie with fig jam, creamy feta, and cracked black pepper — a gourmet twist on the classic South African braai sandwich.*This is the sophisticated one for the table — sweet fig jam against salty, tangy feta and a sharp crack of black pepper. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Fig jam- Feta cheese, crumbled- Black pepper, freshly cracked
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Spread fig jam generously on the inside, then crumble over the feta and finish with a good crack of black pepper.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden — feta won't melt like cheddar, but it will soften and warm through beautifully.

10. 🥓 Bacon, Banana, Mozzarella & Cheddar Braaibroodjie :: A loaded braaibroodjie with bacon, banana, mozzarella, cheddar, and a touch of mayonnaise — sweet, salty, and seriously indulgent.*Two cheeses, crispy bacon, and sweet banana come together with a touch of mayo for one of the more indulgent variations on this list. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Bacon, cooked until crisp- Banana, sliced- Mozzarella, sliced- Cheddar, grated- Mayonnaise (a light drizzle)
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread

  2. Layer the bacon, banana, mozzarella, and cheddar on the inside, finishing with a light drizzle of mayonnaise.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden and both cheeses have melted through.

🍍 Bacon, Pineapple, Mozzarella & Cheddar Braaibroodjie : A hearty braaibroodjie loaded with bacon, pineapple, mozzarella, and cheddar — like a Hawaiian pizza toasted on the braai.*Salty bacon and sweet pineapple with a double dose of cheese — this one eats like a Hawaiian pizza in sandwich form. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Bacon, cooked until crisp- Pineapple, sliced (fresh or tinned, well-drained)- Mozzarella, sliced- Cheddar, grated
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Layer the bacon, pineapple, mozzarella, and cheddar on the inside

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden, ensuring the pineapple is well-drained beforehand so the bread stays crisp.

12. 🌶️ Sweet Chili, Cheese & Apple Braaibroodjie : Description: A sweet-and-spicy braaibroodjie with sweet chili sauce, melted cheese, and crisp apple — bold flavours toasted to golden perfection.*Sweet chili sauce brings a gentle heat that plays beautifully off crisp apple and melted cheese. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:** – Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Sweet chili sauce- Cheese, grated- Green apple, thinly sliced
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Spread sweet chili sauce on the inside, then layer with grated cheese and apple slices.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden and the cheese has melted through.

13. 🍫 Chocolate & Banana Braaibroodjie : : A simple, indulgent dessert braaibroodjie with melted chocolate and banana — the ultimate sweet treat straight off the braai.*The simplest dessert on this list, and one of the most loved — melted chocolate and warm banana, straight off the coals. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Chocolate (slab or chips)- Banana, sliced
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread.

  2. Layer chocolate and banana slices on the inside.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over gentle coals, turning once, until the bread is golden and the chocolate has melted into the banana.

14. braaibroodjie with bacon, egg, cheese, and maple syrup or honey — sweet, salty, and perfect for a lazy morning braai.*Part breakfast, part dessert — this one brings brunch energy to the braai with a sweet-salty finish of maple syrup or honey. *Onion-free.*

• **You'll need:**- Plain white bread- Butter or margarine- Bacon, cooked until crisp- Egg, fried or scrambled and cooled slightly- Cheese, grated- Maple syrup or honey
• 1. Butter both outer slices of bread

  2. Layer the bacon, egg, and grated cheese on the inside, then drizzle over the maple syrup or honey.

  3. Close the sandwich and braai over medium coals until golden and the cheese

  has melted — the egg should be warmed through, not runny, so it holds tog

  when sliced.

Braaibroodjie Tips for Best Results

• – **Bread:**Stick to plain white bread — it grills evenly and won't overpower the fillings.

  – **Butter placement:** Always braai butter-side out. This crisps the crust and stops the sandwich sticking to the grid.

  – **Heat control:** Medium coals work best for most fillings; go slower and gentler for anything with fresh fruit or egg so the filling cooks through without burning the bread.

  – **Onion etiquette:** If you're serving a crowd, keep the onion and onion-free variations separate and label them — not everyone at the braai will thank you for a surprise bite of raw onion.

Which variation are you trying first? Whichever filling you choose, the golden rule stays the same: butter out, medium coals, and a little patience for that perfect braaibroodjie crunch.