Classic Grilled Cheese Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

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I’ve made a lot of grilled cheeses in my life and over time I’ve discovered my perfect combination of bread and cheese. Even though I’ve eaten all sorts of fancy combinations of cheeses, fruits, vegetables, meats and breads, I keep coming back to the classic, which is and will always be: white bread and cheddar.

Classic Grilled Cheese Recipe · i am a food blog (1)

White bread and cheddar take me right back to my childhood, albeit back then the cheese was Kraft singles and the sandwiches were made in the toaster oven. Technically they weren’t exactly grilled cheese, but rather toasted cheese sandwiches. It was a revelation when I had my first real grilled cheese sandwich.

There is a huge difference between a toasted cheese and a grilled cheese. Buttered, grilled bread is far, far superior to plain toasted. Something magical happens when you put a cheese sandwich in a pan. The cheese gets extra gooey, the bread becomes a combination of soft and crisp and together the whole thing just brings me back to a simpler time. Sometimes it’s the simplest things that taste the best: bread, butter and cheese.

i am cheesy, i am grilled: i am grilled cheese!

Classic Grilled Cheese Recipe
makes 1 sandwich

  • 2 slices white bread
  • butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar (I used a mix of sharp and white)

Heat up a pan on medium-low heat. Butter one slice of bread and place in the pan butter-side down. Top with the shredded cheese. Butter the other slice of bread and place on top of the cheese, butter-side facing out. Cook slowly on medium-low heat until golden brown and toasty. Most of your cheese should be melted when it’s time to flip. Carefully flip your sandwich and continue grilling. The second-side grills a bit faster, so turn the heat down to low and keep a close eye on it. When perfect, remove from the pan, slice into your desired shapes and enjoy hot!

Classic Grilled Cheese Recipe · i am a food blog (2)

15 Comments

  1. Mandy says:

    April 18, 2012 at 8:05 am

    I recently read this article on Serious Eats that suggested buttering and grilling BOTH sides of the bread… I thought that sounded like a BRILLIANT idea! I’m going to give it a go for my next grilled cheese sandwich.
    http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/04/how-to-upgrade-grilled-cheese-sandwiches-recipes-additions.html?ref=carousel

    Reply

  2. Eileen says:

    April 18, 2012 at 9:39 am

    Oh, grilled cheese…I almost wish I were eating one for breakfast right now! I do still eat a lot of toasted cheese sandwiches from the toaster oven, though! They’re just usually open-faced and stuffed with lots of vegetables under the cheese, so they don’t really compare.

    Reply

  3. April 18, 2012 at 11:08 am

    I NEVER eat white bread – EXCEPT if it’s for a grilled cheese. For some reason grilled cheeses taste better with white bread…sigh…

    Reply

  4. April 23, 2012 at 1:00 am

    Pure grilled cheese is just a classic food that can’t be beat. It’s amazing with sourdough though as well, I got to say, but that just could be because that’s how my Mommy always made it as I grew up!

    Reply

  5. Sandi says:

    July 22, 2012 at 5:45 am

    I enjoy a mixed cheese blend of cheddar, provolone & mozzarella on buttered whole wheat grilled golden brown in a pan. Delicious!

  6. Robbie D says:

    December 10, 2012 at 1:13 pm

    Hi Steph, big fan of the blog. I love the pictures, fonts, and your insatiable love for food! My ex girlfriend gave me a great tip for grilled cheese… Dust the outside with a little bit of Parmesan cheese after you’ve buttered it. It caramelises upon contact with the pan and you get an extra dimension of cheese… Crispy, salty browned goodness. Give it a shot!

    Reply

    1. Joy says:

      January 19, 2018 at 2:59 pm

      I love grilled cheese and I think the parmesan dusting is a terrific idea!! Wow!

      Reply

      1. Cory R Cruzan says:

        October 2, 2019 at 8:07 pm

        2/3 mozzarella, 1/3 Parmesan
        Go ahead and throw 15 slices of pepperoni in there….
        A little sauce…
        Makes a Lotta Magic…..
        Enjoy!!!

        Reply

    2. Cory R Cruzan says:

      October 2, 2019 at 8:04 pm

      Sourdough bread all the way!

      Reply

  7. Asfora says:

    July 18, 2013 at 4:41 am

    looks very tasty nom nom, can’t go wrong with a classic! I made a cheese toastie bento

    Reply

  8. Juliana says:

    April 15, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    I adore grilled cheese! One “secret” I learned years ago was to smear mayo on the ‘to-be-grilled’ exterior sides of the bread. Although I *hate* the taste of mayo, something magical happens when you use it to grill– it creates this crispy, golden, crunchy goodness on the outside, with the warm, melty, buttery gooey grilled cheese on the inside.

    Another tip– when you flip the bread to the second side, you can put a lid over the sauce pan to help melt the cheese without burning. I use a cast iron skillet, that once heated w/the melted butter, I turn down and finish cooking low and slow… yum.

    Reply

    1. steph says:

      April 16, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Ooh, I’ve heard the mayo trick too, but I haven’t tried it yet!

      Reply

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Classic Grilled Cheese Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

Does grilled cheese taste better with mayo or butter? ›

Conclusion: On the outside of a grilled cheese sandwich, mayonnaise is more convenient and yields a nicer texture. However, the taste is not ideal. We still prefer traditional butter, but, if there's no butter softened on your counter, do reach for the mayo.

What makes grilled cheese taste better? ›

So here are my two golden rules for my very best grilled cheese:
  1. Use TWO types of cheese – mozzarella for stretch and another for flavour (gruyere and vintage cheddar are my favourites)
  2. Give your sandwich press a miss. Use a pan on your stove! Just look at the superior golden buttery crust you get to bite into! ↓↓↓
Jul 28, 2023

What is the difference between toasted cheese and grilled cheese? ›

Method of Preparation

Grilled cheese is usually made in a non-stick frying pan or a regular pan while toasted cheese is made in a oven. This is because, in a grilled cheese sandwich, the cheese is sandwiched between two slices of bread.

How to make grilled cheese Martha Stewart? ›

Divide cheese evenly on both slices. Top with remaining slices, buttered side up. Heat a large skillet over low heat until warm. Add sandwiches and cover; cook, turning once with a spatula, until the bread is golden-brown and the cheese has just melted, 5 to 8 minutes per side.

How to make the best grilled cheese according to actual chefs? ›

If you don't have a lid, Archibald recommended cooking grilled cheese “low and slow, turning and flipping often to really give a chance to get a full melt on the cheese and to get the bread evenly toasted and golden brown.” Pressing the sandwich down gently will help ensure that all the cheese inside melts and gets ...

Should you butter both sides of a grilled cheese? ›

Standard procedure for grilled cheese is to butter the outsides of the bread before placing it in the pan — for more flavor, butter both sides, inside and out. This works quite nicely, adding flavor to the sandwich, while also preventing burning and sticking.

What kind of butter is best for grilled cheese? ›

For good measure: While most recipes today call for unsalted butter, often so the cook can control the amount of salt in the recipe, the grilled cheese sandwich is clearly one place where salted butter belongs. It adds more flavor and helps turn the bread more deeply golden.

How to spruce up grilled cheese? ›

Grilled cheese sandwiches only require a few ingredients and are the perfect comfort food. Out-of-the-box kitchen staples like peanut butter can easily elevate your grilled cheese sandwiches. Avocado, tomatoes, pickles, and bacon also make delicious additions.

How do you amplify grilled cheese? ›

Crisp bacon, thinly sliced apple, caramelized onion, prosciutto, jam, roasted tomatoes, fresh herbs... there are tons of ingredients out there that can add sweet or salty (or both!) flavor to a grilled cheese sandwich. Play around with different combinations!

What do British call grilled cheese? ›

A grilled cheese may also be made in a sandwich toaster, particularly in the United Kingdom where the dish is normally called a toasted cheese sandwich or cheese toastie.

Is it better to have one or two slices for grilled cheese? ›

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.

Is shredded or sliced better for grilled cheese? ›

Shred Your Cheese: Do not, we repeat, do NOT use sliced cheese for grilled cheese. First, it is best to bring your cheese up to room temperature before cooking your sandwich. Then, shredding the cheese will help ensure that it melts faster and more evenly. Keep in mind, certain cheeses melt easier than others.

Who has made Gordon Ramsay cry? ›

White also once made a young Gordon Ramsay cry while Ramsay worked for him, and later said, "I don't recall what he'd done wrong but I yelled at him and he lost it. Gordon crouched down in the corner of the kitchen, buried his head in his hands and started sobbing."

What is in the quintessential grilled cheese sandwich? ›

The sandwich starts with “two thick slices of French Pullman Champagne Bread made with Dom Perignon Champagne and 23k edible gold flakes, buttered with grass-fed white truffle butter. It is filled with thick slices of rare Caciocavallo Podolico Cheese, made in Southern Italy from the milk of the Podolica cow.

What is Gordon Ramsay's famous recipe? ›

The Beef Wellington would enjoy a firm place in the English culinary scene, even making waves abroad (it was reportedly one of Richard Nixon's favourites!) But would gain the most popularity when Gordon Ramsay picked it up as his favourite, signature dish. Wanting to get a culinary career in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant?

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