Quick & Easy Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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Here is my go-to grilled cheese sandwich recipe, with perfectly melted cheese tucked between two slices of golden-brown bread, buttered just right and cooked until crispy on the outside while staying soft inside.

This grilled cheese sandwich is my kids’ favorite rainy day lunch. I often make a few extra because they disappear so quickly at our house. Nothing beats that first bite when the cheese pulls into those long, stretchy strands, right?

What Kind of Cheese Should I Use?

The secret to a perfect grilled cheese lies in choosing cheeses that melt smoothly and taste great together. While this recipe calls for cheddar and mozzarella, you’ve got plenty of options to play with. Sharp cheddar brings the flavor while mozzarella adds that Instagram-worthy cheese pull. If you want to switch things up, try gruyere for its nutty taste, or go with fontina, provolone, or even American cheese – they all melt beautifully. Just remember to grate your cheese fresh rather than using pre-shredded, since freshly grated cheese melts more evenly and doesn’t contain the anti-caking agents that can make melting clumpy.

Options for Substitutions

Making a grilled cheese but missing some ingredients? Here are some easy swaps you can try:

• Sourdough bread: While sourdough gives a nice tangy flavor, you can use any sturdy bread like white, whole wheat, or rye. Just make sure the slices aren’t too thin – you want them to hold up to the melted cheese!
• Butter: No butter? Try mayonnaise on the outside of the bread instead – it creates a perfectly golden crust. Or use olive oil, though you might need to adjust the heat slightly to prevent burning.
• Aged cheddar/gruyere: Any good melting cheese works here. Try gouda, fontina, provolone, or even American cheese. Just avoid hard aged cheeses like parmesan alone, as they don’t melt as smoothly.
• Mozzarella: The mozzarella adds that nice stretchy quality, but you can replace it with other mild, melty cheeses like monterey jack, young gouda, or even more cheddar. Just keep the total amount of cheese the same.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making grilled cheese is cranking up the heat too high – cooking on medium-low heat allows the cheese to melt completely while giving you that perfect golden-brown crust without burning the bread. Another common error is using cold butter, which can tear your bread; instead, let your butter soften at room temperature for 30 minutes before spreading it evenly edge-to-edge on both outer sides of the bread. Using pre-shredded cheese can prevent proper melting since it contains anti-caking agents, so take the extra minute to grate your cheese fresh – it’ll reward you with that stretchy, gooey texture everyone loves. For the best results, cover your pan with a lid for the first 2-3 minutes of cooking to help the cheese melt thoroughly before uncovering to finish crisping the bread.

What to Serve With Grilled Cheese?

Tomato soup is the classic partner for grilled cheese, but there are so many other tasty options to try! A bowl of warm, homemade tomato soup isn’t your only choice – try pairing your sandwich with a cup of roasted butternut squash soup or creamy mushroom soup for something different. For a lighter side, a simple mixed green salad with a tangy vinaigrette helps balance out the richness of the melted cheese. You can also go the casual route with some crispy potato chips, sweet potato fries, or a handful of dill pickles on the side – the tanginess of pickles works really well with the melted cheese.

Storage Instructions

Enjoy Fresh: A grilled cheese sandwich is really at its best when eaten right away while the cheese is still melty and the bread is crispy. If you need to wait a few minutes before eating, keep it warm in a low-temperature oven (around 200°F/95°C) for up to 15 minutes.

Save for Later: If you have leftovers, wrap them in aluminum foil and pop them in the fridge for up to 2 days. Just know that the texture won’t be quite the same as fresh – the bread might get a bit soft and the cheese will firm up.

Warm Up: To bring back some of that fresh-made magic, warm up your leftover sandwich in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes on each side. You can also wrap it in foil and heat it in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. The microwave works too, but the bread won’t stay crispy.

Preparation Time	5-10 minutes
Cooking Time	6-8 minutes
Total Time	11-18 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 600-700
• Protein: 25-30 g
• Fat: 40-50 g
• Carbohydrates: 45-50 g

Ingredients

• 2 slices of sourdough bread, cut to about 1.3–1.5cm thick (approximately 0.5 – 0.6 inches)
• 2 tablespoons salted butter (30g) for spreading (or unsalted with a pinch of salt)
• 1/3 cup packed freshly grated aged cheddar or gruyere (or another cheese that melts well)
• 1/3 cup grated mozzarella cheese (30g)

Step 1: Prepare the Bread

Start by slathering butter on both sides of each piece of bread, making sure to cover all four sides completely.

This ensures a rich, buttery flavor and a perfect golden crust.

Step 2: Lightly Toast the Bread

Heat a heavy-based skillet or frying pan over medium low heat.

Do not add any oil or extra butter to the pan.

Place both pieces of buttered bread in the skillet and lightly toast for about 1 minute.

This step warms the bread through and creates a light crust, giving the cheese a head start when we flip it.

Step 3: Assemble the Sandwich

Flip one slice of bread in the skillet.

On the newly toasted side, pile on the cheddar cheese followed by the mozzarella.

Place the other slice of bread on top, with its hot toasted side in contact with the cheese.

This setup ensures the cheeses melt evenly for maximum gooeyness.

Step 4: Cook the Sandwich

Cook the sandwich for approximately 3 minutes.

During this time, press down lightly with a spatula every now and then to achieve an even golden crust.

If the bread is browning too quickly, simply remove the skillet from the heat briefly to cool down, then lower the heat.

Step 5: Flip and Finish Cooking

Carefully flip the sandwich over and cook the other side for another 3 minutes, or until the bread is golden and crisp, and the cheese is fully melted.

Keep an eye on the sandwich to ensure it doesn’t cook too fast.

Step 6: Serve and Enjoy

Once done, transfer the grilled cheese sandwich to a cutting board.

Use a swift motion to cut it in half and admire the delightful cheese pull.

Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious creation.