I used to think a grilled cheese was simply bread, cheese, and butter—nothing more. Then one late night in college a friend at the Farmhouse fraternity showed me a better way. It turns out not all grilled cheese sandwiches are made alike.
Table of Contents
How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Start with good cheese and real butter. I like flavored compound butter—garlic and parsley—paired with a mellow Havarti, but any flavorful, meltable cheese will work.
Slice your cheese to an even thickness so it melts consistently. Choose cheeses such as Havarti, Colby-Jack, Cheddar, Swiss, or American depending on how sharp or creamy you prefer your sandwich.
Here’s the key: melt the butter in a hot skillet first, then place the bread directly into the melted butter so it soaks up the fat. This technique produces a crisper, richer crust than spreading cold butter on the bread.
Once the butter is fully melted and shimmering, place one slice of bread in the pan. Spoon a little of the butter over the exposed top of the bread so it absorbs even more flavor.
Layer the cheese on top of the bread while it sits in the pan. Put the skillet lid on for a minute to help the cheese start melting. Keep the heat low—this is a slow, gentle process to let the cheese melt without burning the bread.
When the cheese is beginning to soften, place the second slice of bread on top. Use a spatula to lift the sandwich, remove it briefly from the pan, and add the remaining butter to the pan to melt. Then flip the sandwich into the melted butter to toast the other side.
Cook for another minute or two without the lid so the final side crisps nicely and the cheese becomes gooey. Keep the heat low to avoid burning the bread while giving the interior time to melt.
Remove the sandwich from the pan, slice it in half, and enjoy a perfectly crisp, buttery grilled cheese with oozy, melted cheese inside.
What’s your favorite cheese to use for grilled cheese sandwiches?
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How to Make the Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 ounces cheese
Instructions
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Slice your chosen cheese evenly. Havarti, Colby-Jack, Cheddar, Swiss, or American are all good options.
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Heat a skillet over medium. When the pan is hot, melt about half the butter in the pan, then place one slice of bread into the melted butter.
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Layer the cheese on the bread in the pan and cover with a lid for a minute to encourage the cheese to start melting. Keep the heat low to avoid burning.
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Place the second piece of bread on top. Remove the sandwich, melt the remaining butter in the pan, and flip the sandwich into the butter to toast the other side.
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Cook another minute or two until the bread is crisp and the cheese is fully melted. Slice and serve warm.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 28 g
| Protein: 20 g
| Fat: 32 g
Linked to various recipe roundups and community posts.