Best Grilled Cheese Recipe

This Best Grilled Cheese recipe is easy to make and loved by everyone. It’s easily changed up, but this version is our go-to!

This Best Grilled Cheese is one of the kids’ favorites!! They’re also huge fans of Pigs in a Blanket, Chicken Tenders, and Pizza Casserole.

A Family Classic: Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Can we all agree that Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are THE BEST?!

It’s become a tradition in our home to make them every Sunday for lunch after getting home from church. We sometimes have homemade White Bread handy – even better!

While we love the classic, we usually change it up based on the kid and if they like it with just cheese or maybe a little ham.

No matter how you make it, I think it’s safe to say that this Best Grilled Cheese is an American classic – definitely a family classic for us. Serve it up with a bowl of soup, especially our favorite Tomato Soup!

The ingredients

Artisan bread. You can use anything from white bread to tight crumb artisan bread. Artisan bread covers many different types of bread, but in general, is used to identify rustic-looking homemade bread with a crusty exterior. Often you can find packages of bread labeled “Artisan Bread”.

Sourdough bread, challah, ciabatta, hearth, Italian, baguettes, rye, and brioche are just a few more of the many types of artisan bread.

Make it crusty. I do suggest that whatever type of bread you use is a couple of days old. The drier bread lends to a better-browned crust.

To speed along the process, briefly place the slices in a toaster just long enough to get them dry, but not long enough to toast. We actually used a few slices of our Easy Homemade Bread recipe – so good!

Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese

The best cheese. American cheese and Cheddar cheese are classic choices, but you can use pretty much any cheese that you love as long as they are within the “melting family”. I once came across a Gordan Ramsey recipe where he used a combination of romano with Pepperberry & Asiago cheese.

Some more ideas include:

• Mozzarella
• Gruyere
• Provolone
• Fontina
• Taleggio
• Raclette
• Muenster
• Colby
• Monterey Jack
• Swiss Cheese
• Brie
• Havarti
• Sharp Cheddar

How to Make Grilled Cheese

Making the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich is beyond simple!

ASSEMBLE. Butter up one side of bread (you could use mayo instead) and sprinkle with garlic salt. Lay the butter side down on the skillet or in a heated pan, add the cheese, and then add the other piece of buttered bread.

TOAST. Cook until golden brown (or desired toastiness) on both sides and the cheese is melted.

Make ’em mini. Smaller slices of bread are fun to use to create mini sandwiches. Mini bread slices are perfect to pair with various types of cheese to give guests a chance to sample them all.

Variations

• Add a spread onto the inside of the bread. Mayonnaise, deli mustard, or softened cream cheese are both yummy choices. Be sure to do a thin layer and wall-to-wall coverage with any spreads that you use.
• Minced garlic. Mix the softened butter with finely minced garlic before spreading it on the outside of the bread.
• Seasoning. Sprinkle with black pepper, garlic salt, or paprika.
• Add meat. Include a layer of pepperoni, ham, or bacon.
• Make it gourmet. For even more flavor, add a layer of caramelized onions or sliced apples.

Perfect grilled cheese tips

• Using a heavy-bottomed pan or an electric griddle really helps the sandwich cook and brown evenly. 
• A panini press is also a great option. Just be sure that the ingredients inside the sandwich don’t get squished out under the weight of the press. 
• Because the bread has a coating of butter, no need to worry about the pan having a nonstick coating.
• Start with a cold pan. This allows for the bread to create a delicious crust while the cheese melts. If you are making several sandwiches then reduce the pan heat between batches 

Serving and Storing

SERVE your Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a pickle and chips, or a classic bowl of Tomato Soup. Any of these soups would also be delicious:

• Cheesy Cauliflower Soup
• Sweet Potato Soup
• Carrot Soup
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Tomato Basil Soup

STORE. Wrap the cooled leftover sandwiches in aluminum foil. They can be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days.

FREEZE. Wrap each sandwich with plastic wrap then again with foil. Freeze for 1-2 months. 

To reheat. Reheating leftover Grilled Cheese on the stovetop works the best. You can also use a toaster oven, or a microwave if you’re in a hurry. 

• Stovetop: Heat up a heavy-bottomed pan. If the sandwich is frozen then only use low heat, otherwise use medium heat. Place the sandwich in the pan.
• Cover the pan with the lid, but be sure to place it on there crooked so that the steam doesn’t build up.
• Heat both sides of the sandwich until warm and the cheese is melty. 

For Even More Sandwiches:

• Monte Cristo
• Chicken Parmesan Sliders
• Mini Avocado Grilled Cheese
• Ham and Cheese Sliders
• Monte Cristo Sliders