What does a raclette look like?

In a traditional raclette maker, like the one above and available on our site, a section of the wheel of cheese is fastened to the contraption’s arm, and its heat source begins to soften the surface. When it’s soft enough, you swing the arm out, scrape that molten goodness onto potatoes or bread (or whatever else), then swing it back to melt some more.

The traditional method is great for one or two people. But more than that, and you have a party, and for a raclette party, you want a raclette grill, which does much more than just melt cheese.

How do you use a raclette grill?

This is where the real fun comes in. Like fondue, a raclette dinner is great for a group. Most raclette grills are designed for up to 8–10 people. Also like a fondue (or even hot pot), the cooking implement goes right in the middle of the table. Step by step, here’s how you create a raclette party.

Gather up the food

What you’ll need:

• The raclette grill
• Raclette cheese, which can be found in the specialty cheese section of most grocery stores
• Bread
• Small potatoes, such as red potatoes, boiled with their skins on
• Sliced or skewered meats and/or seafood
• Grill-able veggies
• Plates for serving and eating

Since this is your first raclette party, start with beef and shrimp for the protein, as they take less time to cook. For veggies, try mushrooms, asparagus, onions, and peppers. Of course, don’t forget the traditional potatoes and bread. Keeping things simple, and keeping options low are a good way to start if you’ve never done raclette before.

Aside from boiling potatoes though, the only prep work you have to do is slicing everything else, including the cheese—all the cooking is done on the grill.

As raclette cheese can be expensive, you can also add other cheese to the mix, such as cheddar, brie, or mozzarella, anything that melts (and caramelizes) well.

Get the grill going

Underneath the grill top, you’ll see little shallow pans—these are for the cheese. Fill each one with some chunks of cheese and slide them in. They’ll sit under the burner, gaining that nutty crust while getting nice and creamy beneath the surface.

Those same pans can be used atop the grill to keep veggies together as they cook. Guests can also place meats and veggies directly on the topside grill to sear while they wait for the cheese to melt.

And just like fondue, guests are free to create their own combinations, scraping the bubbly cheese on top of whatever they’d like.

The best part of this meal: the casual camaraderie that emerges as you chat and cook and share your creations.

Where can I get a raclette grill?

Once you’re ready to throw a raclette party, check out the options on Groupon Goods.

My favorite is this raclette-fondue combo ($117.76; pictured above).