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.
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!
15 Comments
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=carouselReply
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.
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Caroline @ Pink Basil says:
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…
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Rachel @ Bakerita says:
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!
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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!
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See AlsoGarlic Butter Scallops RecipeRobbie 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!
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Joy says:
January 19, 2018 at 2:59 pm
I love grilled cheese and I think the parmesan dusting is a terrific idea!! Wow!
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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
Cory R Cruzan says:
October 2, 2019 at 8:04 pm
Sourdough bread all the way!
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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
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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.
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steph says:
April 16, 2014 at 10:22 am
Ooh, I’ve heard the mayo trick too, but I haven’t tried it yet!
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