There’s Grilled Cheese and there’s GREAT Grilled Cheese. Learn how to make the best Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a crisp, buttery exterior and gooey cheese center.
Try this combination of cheeses and the process for buttering and cooking the toast and you will be known for your Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. All you need is a Creamy Tomato Soup to dunk your sandwich into.
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We love hot sandwiches from our Crispy Chicken Sandwich to Philly Cheesesteak. This Grilled Cheese recipe is well-loved by the whole family. Who can resist that impressive cheese pull? Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is. All you need is a skillet and a spatula.
Grilled Cheese Video Tutorial
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What is Grilled Cheese?
Grilled cheese is a classic American sandwich that has been around since 1920. It is a hot sandwich made with buttered and toasted bread and originally filled with American cheese, but is now commonly made with one or more different cheeses.
Ingredients
- Bread – a thicker sliced bread such as texas toast works best
- Butter – use a generous 1/2 Tbsp of butter on each slice of bread. We use unsalted but any butter will work here.
- Cheese – we use a combination of sliced medium cheddar, gouda and Havarti cheese.
How to Make Grilled Cheese
- Butter the toast – spread 1/2 Tbsp butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Heat skillet – place a skillet over low to medium/low heat. A griddle should be at 275˚F. Immediately add 2 slices of bread with the butter-side-down.
- Add cheese – stack cheeses on one of the pieces of bread, cover with the other piece of toast and flip the sandwich over.
- Brown the toast – Continue sauteeing, flipping once, until both sides are golden brown and cheese is melted.
- Serve – cut the sandwich in half on the diagonal to serve.
How long to cook grilled cheese? Total cooking time for grilled cheese over low to medium/low heat is 6-7 minutes. That is enough time for the exterior to crisp and brown and allow the cheese to fully melt.
Tips for the Best Grilled Cheese
- Low heat – it takes a little patience to make the perfect grilled cheese. Keep your heat on low to give the cheese time to fully melt while the bread gets golden and crisp. If browning too fast, turn the heat down.
- Butter generously – the amount of butter may seem like a lot, but it is important for a crispy exterior.
- Use thick-sliced bread – we love using Texas toast because it’s sliced about twice as thick as normal sandwich bread. You want bread that is about 3/4″ to 1″ thick, but also avoid bread that is too thick or your cheese won’t melt properly. Using bread that is too thin will produce a flimsy and sometimes soggy sandwich.
Common Questions
You can use a cast-iron skillet or any non-stick pan. To cook multiple sandwiches at once, try a griddle or flat cooktop, or even a panini press.
Grilled cheese is not ‘grilled’ as the name implies. It can be grilled, but you would want to keep the heat very low to avoid burning your bread before the cheese melts.
We use a combination of medium cheddar, gouda, and Havarti cheeses, but you can use just one type of cheese. Monterey Jack or even American cheese also work.
While mayo might seem more convenient to spread on the bread, it will make your sandwich taste like mayo, which is why we prefer butter. If you don’t have softened butter, check out our tutorial on how to soften butter in 5 minutes.
Serve Grilled Cheese with
We love to serve Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup. The acidity and creaminess of tomato soup pair so well with a cheesy sandwich. You can also serve with:
- Marinara Sauce
- Coleslaw
- French Fries
- BLT Salad
- Potato Wedges
- Salad – especially fresh Green Salad
- Refrigerator Pickles
Reheating Grilled Cheese
You can make this sandwich ahead, just cool to room temperature then cover and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days. Ideally, you should reheat it the same way it was cooked.
- Skillet or Griddle – place on a skillet over medium-low heat, cover with lid or tent with foil, and heat until the cheese is melted in the center, flipping once. The lid traps the heat to melt the cheese. Remove the lid to crisp up the bread once the cheese is melted.
- Microwaving – our least favorite option because it can cause the bread to soften and get soggy.
More Sandwich Recipes
If you love this Grilled Cheese Sandwich then you won’t want to miss these popular sandwich recipes:
- Reuben Sandwich
- Smash Burgers
- BLT Sandwich (with Secret Sauce)
- French Dip Sandwich
- Juicy Burgers
The Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 8 slices Texas toast , or thick sliced sandwich bread
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 slices medium cheddar cheese
- 4 slices Gouda cheese
- 4 slices Havarti cheese
Instructions
- Spread 1/2 Tbsp of butter on one side of each slice of bread.
- Set a skillet over medium/low heat and place 2 slices of bread in the skillet with the butter-side-down.
- Stack cheeses on one piece of toast: cheddar, havarti, then gouda. Once the breads are golden brown, closed the sandwich with the crisp sides on the outside.
- Continue cooking until the bread is a rich golden brown, flipping once and press down lightly to help the bread stick to the cheese. Total cooking time should one 5-6 minutes. Keep the heat on medium low for the breads to toast slowly, giving your cheese a chance to fully melt and adhere to the bread.
- Once you see the cheese has melted and breads are browned, remove to a plate and cut in half diagonally to serve. Repeat with the next sandwich.
Hi Natasha,
First time ever made cheese grilled it was yummy my husband loved them too. So easy to make. Hello from Sydney Australia 👋
I’m glad to hear that, Rosie!
Made last night with tomato soup (naturally!). The best grilled cheese I’ve ever had!
Thank you for this very simple recipe. I have made many a grill cheese sandwich that were just O.K. I didn’t have all the cheeses so I just cut it thicker. This was so quick and easy. Went terrific with my tomato soup.
I is still rainy here so tomorrow I am going to try your version of Zuppa Toscana.
Thank you again. I am looking forward t exploring your website.
You’re very welcome, Thea. Thank you for your review and awesome feedback!
Simply awesome, oh sooo good’n gooey grilled cheese 🧀. The trio of cheese will get your salivary glands going for sure.
Thank you Natasha, your “Grilled cheese” recipe made our Valentine’s Day dinner perfect 😊. Paired perfectly with homemade creamy tomato basil 🌿 soup.
I’m so glad to hear that, Aaron! Thank you for the wonderful feedback.
This is the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had in my life! I followed the recipe exactly and made it on an electric griddle set to 275 degrees. AMAZING!
Hi Christine! I’m so happy you loved it.
Hi Natasha,
You and your recipes are so special to me, this grilled cheese is good, but the Junky American cheese is good too:) Sometimes that’s all I can afford. You’re the Best:)
Hi Melinda! Thank you, I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes.
Yes! Absolutely THE BEST Grilled Cheese Sandwich ever! I put a layer of Homemade Apple Chutney in it, it was so WOW! Served it with Butternut Squash Soup. My husband said one of the best dinners ever, absolute ‘comfort food’ for the Fall! Thanks for sharing your recipe, it’s now added to my favorites!!!
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Kim! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Best grilled cheese sandwich ever! Perfect texture, taste, and cheesy pull. We’ve made this twice now and won’t make it any other way going forward. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
You’re so welcome, Karen! I’m glad you love it.
This is a next level grilled cheese for sure. I add a little garlic salt to one side of the sandwich; everyone seems to love it.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing and for giving our recipe a review.
OMG! Made these last night and the family loved it! Our new way of making grilled cheese.
Thanks Natasha!
You’re so welcome! I’m very happy to know that your family enjoyed it!
Thanks so much for this recipe!! This method of making grilled cheese is easy, works every time and has amazing results. Crispy and golden on the outside and soft, gooey on the inside, and not too greasy. Beats all the local diners too, hands down my favourite grilled cheese ever.
That’s wonderful!
Just found your recipe. Thanks. Will have to try the cheese combination. Have you tried this using Real Mayo, (Dukes) instead of butter? It’s the only thing I will use.