28 Grilled Cheese Recipes That Are Basically Happiness (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to a good grilled cheese sandwich? ›

The popularity of the grilled cheese sandwich grew rapidly during the Great Depression, when people were struggling to make ends meet and had limited resources. Grilled cheese sandwich was a cheap and easy meal that could be prepared with basic ingredients, and it soon became a staple food in many households.

Butter goes in the pan not on the bread. To ensure golden (not burned) toastiness, the exterior of the sandwich should be slicked with mayonnaise, which has a higher smoke point and possesses the combined browning power of oil and egg yolks.

Use olive oil, not butter.

Many recipes recommend butter, but in the time it takes to properly toast the bread and melt the cheese, butter tends to burn, blacken, and smoke. Ick. I use olive oil instead – its higher smoke point is your friend here (and its flavor will enhance the sandwich).

For the ideal grilled cheese, look for bread with a soft-but-hearty texture with even slices of medium thickness (about 1/4 inch). Hearty sandwich bread, sourdough, brioche, and rye all work very well. Avoid rolls and loaves with large holes in the interior.

Using a cast iron-pan, add a touch of olive oil and get pan hot over medium-high heat and add sandwich. After about 30-45 second push sandwich so it crisps and cheese melts. Flip after about 2 minutes, once slices are nice and crunchy. Keep flipping and pushing down until cheese is melted.

For each grilled cheese, you'll need two slices of bread, at least 1 tablespoon of butter, and 2-4 slices of cheese (depending how gooey you like it). American, Cheddar, Swiss, muenster or Gouda all work well—feel free to mix and match your cheeses.

Low and slow is the way to go when it comes to making grilled cheese. Be patient so you can get the perfect crust and a nice melty interior. If you are making multiple sandwiches, you can use an electric griddle pan. Make sure you don't turn the heat up too high.

Velveeta's pristine ooziness and effortless melt-ability is exactly what I want in a grilled cheese. To balance out the one-note flavor of the cheese, this sandwich gets a light but substantial layer of parmesan cheese grated on the bread as it cooks in the skillet.

Fruity additions are practically limitless: melons with prosciutto and fontina cheese, peaches with gruyere, pears and melty Brie, strawberries and sharp cheddar. These sophisticated flavor combos will have the grown-ups cheering for more.