Nothing is more comforting than a hot, melty grilled cheese sandwich. Grilled cheese and tomato soup are a combo made in heaven. It’s the perfect easy lunch recipe and great for even the pickiest of eaters.
The best grilled cheese always starts with a sturdy bread, lots of cheese and a smear of … butter mayonnaise on the outside!
The Best Grilled Cheese
Friends, there are NO wrong answers for making this lunchtime classic. As long as you’ve got bread and a generous amount of cheese, you’ve got the basis for the best grilled cheese sandwich.
Best Bread for Grilled Cheese:
This is what making grilled cheese is all about!
- Use whatever bread you love, but make sure it is sturdy enough to hold the cheese in.
- White bread and sourdough are the most popular, but even a thickly sliced boule will make a perfect grilled cheese!
- Dark rye and pumpernickel pair well with lighter cheeses like Gouda or Havarti (add a slice of pear or apple between the slices for a sweet crunch!)
What is the Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese?
Grilled cheese sandwiches are not the place for cheese judgement. Anything goes!
- A classic grilled cheese is made with American cheese and white bread (but I love sneaking in sharp cheddar too)!
- Real cheddar, a bit of provolone, creamy processed cheese, leftover brie from last night’s party. Any and all varieties work!
- Pick your favorite or all of them! Smooth, creamy and oh so dreamy!
How to Make Grilled Cheese
Most of us know how to make a grilled cheese sandwich, but do you know how to make an amazing grilled cheese? Here are my tips to make the best grilled cheese:
- Low Heat: Low heat allows the bread to get a golden crust while the cheese has a chance to melt.
- Open faced: If you’re filling it really full with cheese and other goodies, start by cooking it without a top slice of bread and covered for a couple of minutes. It won’t get soggy but the little bit of steam helps melt the cheese. Once the cheese starts to melt, add the top slice of bread.
- Get Cheesy: It really doesn’t matter what cheese you use as long as its one you love and don’t skimp on it! I cover every corner of the bread, nobody wants a grilled cheese without loads of cheese.
The BEST Tip for a Perfect Grilled Cheese
My friends, this is a must. I make grilled cheese without butter! Swap out the butter on the outside of the sandwich for mayonnaise. Cook mayonnaise side down in the pan.
Your grilled cheese will come out perfectly golden with a crust that doesn’t get soggy and is not greasy!
If the pan is too hot, the cheese won’t melt before the outside is cooked. If you notice the cheese taking awhile, cover it with a lid. The steam will help melt the cheese so it cooks evenly!
What Can I Add to My Grill Cheese?
Honestly, what can’t you add? Caramelized onions, sliced apples. or pears, bacon, and even a smear of crunchy peanut butter can take your grilled cheese sandwich to a whole new level!
Add pepperoni for a pizza grilled cheese and of course my all time favorite Dill Pickle Bacon Grilled Cheese!
More Cheesy Recipes
- Baked Mac and Cheese – so cheesy
- Gooey Cheese Sticks (Fried or Baked) – the best after school snack
- Ham and Cheese Sliders – an easy lunch!
- Crispy Bacon Grilled Cheese Roll Ups – great for kids
- Classic Tuna Melt – comfort food at its finest!
Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices white bread or sour dough
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese or American cheese
- 2 tablespoons shredded cheddar optional
Instructions
- Preheat a small skillet over low heat.
- Spread mayonnaise over one side of each piece of bread and place mayonnaise side down in the skillet.
- Top with cheddar cheese slices, black pepper to taste and remaining slice of bread, mayonnaise side out.
- Grill until golden, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and grill the other side until golden.
- Optional: Just before serving, add the shredded cheddar directly to the outside of the sandwich and grill an additional minute or so until it gets crispy.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
This is a really good recipe for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. Now that I use Mayo as you suggested, I have now started adding a little Garlic Powder and Shredded Parmesan cheese to the mayo before I spreading it on the bread. It makes a very crispy, flavorful sandwich. Thank you so much for your recipe with mayo……. your awesome!
I love this idea Dallas! Thank you for sharing your tips!
Hello! Just a question – when you say 2 tbsp of mayo and it serves two people, it would mean that 1 tbsp/person. So it would be 1.5tsp on each side of bread. I find that a bit hard to measure. Am I correct about these amounts?
Thank you!
Hi Samantha, yes you will use 1/2 tablespoon, or 1.5 teaspoons, of mayo for each slice of bread and only need to spread on one side. You just want a nice even layer of mayo on one side of each slice of bread so the bread gets nice and crisp in the frying pan! I hope this helps.
Never knew to use mayonnaise instead of butter. Wow a game changer!
My family loves our Inside-out Grilled Cheese Sammiches!!. After grilling to perfection the original grilled cheese, melt a little cheese of your choice in the pan to toast the out side of the chilled cheese with MORE GRILLED CHEESE!!!!!!
So delicious, Donna!
Delicious!!!
The best recipe I have ever tried! Thank you!
I’ve also been using mayo on my grilled cheese for years now. Spread thin on low heat so it’s not greasy. Also, I wait until I’m ready to put the top slice of bread on to spread the mayo on it. That way it won’t soak into the bread while sitting on the side.
I want my 30 yrs back of using butter vs mayo. I been doing this wrong the whole time…until today-so delicious and perfectly toasted bread!
The mayonnaise is life changing! Thank you for this recipe!
You’re so welcome!
Will Try!!
Cheese Grilled Sandwich