This grilled cheese sandwich recipe is a classic, truly the ultimate comfort food!
Skip the fancy add-ins – this grilled cheese recipe shares the secrets to a perfect bite with ooey, gooey cheese and toasty bread. Perfection.
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This Is a Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich Because..
- It’s a simple, unfussy classic made just as it should be.
- The bread is toasty, the cheese is melty, and it’s easy to make.
- I share the secret trick that food trucks and fancy bistros use for the perfectly golden brown and crispy bread.
- While this is a classic, I’ve added a few variations if you’d like to change it up.
Ingredients for a Classic Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Bread – Make your grilled cheese with any bread you like! This is a childhood favorite and I love a simple version with white bread or an elevated version with sourdough.
Cheese – My favorite cheese for grilled cheese is cheddar. Sharp cheddar has the most flavor while American cheese is extra creamy – I often include a slice of each.
Butter – Okay, hear me out. Instead of buttering the outside of the bread, I use mayonnaise. It has a higher smoke point than butter and makes the bread nice and crispy. You can use butter if you’d like but I highly recommend giving mayo a try.
How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Spread the mayonnaise over one side of each piece of bread and place (mayo side down) in a small skillet (recipe below).
- Top with cheese and any extras. Place the second piece of bread on top, mayo side up.
- Grill both sides until golden brown.
Holly’s Tips for Grilled Cheese Perfection
- Cook grilled cheese sandwiches on a ‘low and slow’ heat so the bread will toast and the cheese melts inside.
- Make the exterior extra crispy be replacing butter with mayonnaise.
- If your grilled cheese is ‘loaded’ with lots of goodies or extra cheese, place the bottom slice in the pan and leave it open-faced. Cover with a lid until the ingredients melt together, and then add the top slice of bread. Flip it over and cook until crisp.
Our Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwich Variations
Think beyond cheese and bread – add your favorite meats and flavors to make a new favorite.
What is your twist on a Grilled Cheese Sandwich? Leave us a comment below!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 slices white bread or sour dough
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise or salted butter
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese or American cheese, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat a small skillet over low heat.
- Spread the mayonnaise or butter over one side of each piece of bread. Place 2 slices of bread in the skillet, mayonnaise side down.
- Top the bread with cheddar cheese slices and the remaining slice of bread, mayonnaise side out.
- Cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until golden.
Notes
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.
You are correct: mayo is the key to a perfectly crisped outer crust. Gives the sandwich a nice little tang, too. I enjoy trying out different cheeses, but cheddar is my go-to favorite. Delicious!
I was skeptical about the Mayo but I gave it a try. Needless to say, I have a new permanent recipe for grilled cheese. Thank you!
Can’t go wrong with a grilled cheese except for when you use aged cheeses because they become SOOOO greasy when melted. YUCK!!! If you want an amazingly meltable cheese with ACTUAL good cheese, heat some evaporated milk in a pan, add a little pre mixed plain hydrated gelatin (soak with water first), add your grated cheeses and take off heat, mix With emulsion blender and put in a ramekin lined with cling wrap. Chill in fridge for a couple hours until sliceable… your welcome. it will have all the cheesiness and gooeyness of American cheese, no greasy mess and the taste of whatever you used. My fav is a combo of sharp cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere and a little Parmesan then add cherrywood smoked ham in between plus mayo on outside vs butter. Dipped in leftover Icarus lobster bisque is the best thing ever!!! Cheers to grilled cheese!
Thanks for sharing Jamie. Those cheese combinations sounds yummy.
No mayo please but the rest look delicious. Gonna try them.
I hope you love the recipe Sarah!
I am definitely going to try this.. interesting about mayonnaise.. will give you feedback..
I hope you love it Valerie!
Thanks Lori! We looove grilled cheese too! Glad you enjoyed the tips.
Trying it with mayo is a must Tammy! It gives you that perfectly browned exterior. Hope you love it!
Oh man, this takes me back to high school summers when I was a lifeguard, and my dad made me grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch! I love the simplicity of the traditional grilled cheese. There’s nothing quite like it
A perfect grilled sandwich is definitely a throwback for me too Karyl! There is just something about them!
Hi
What do you do with the 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar.
Sorry for the confusion, I add it to the outside of the sandwich and let it cook a minute or so until it gets crispy.
Mayo instead of butter! Yes, yes, yes! I’ve been making grilled cheese sandwiches with mayo for years and it really is the best way to make a sandwich. I’m so pleased to see that I’m not alone in this. :-)
We get you Rebecca! It just makes it so perfectly browned, we love it too!
I completely agree — absolutely NOTHING is more comforting than a grilled cheese sandwich! It’s our family’s favorite quick-fix, weeknight go-to. Great tips for making the perfect melty, cheesy sandwich!
Thanks Kelly!
Loving all the tips here, although being in Aus I have to say I go with real cheddar every time as American cheese just isn’t a thing here :) We love a good grilled cheese (toastie here) for lunch, always goes down a treat!
Thanks so much Donna!
I hope you enjoy the recipe Sharon!
I agree Jenni! They just seem to be the perfect pair.
Ok I NEVER would have thought to use mayonnaise instead of butter! Genius!! And I’ve always wanted to use a bunch of different cheeses in a my grilled cheese but just never have done it! I can’t wait to try this recipe with different cheeses and mayo instead of butter!
We love using mayo Amanda! It just makes it perfectly golden! Enjoy!
These are so delicious and grilled cheese sandwiches are totally my weakness Veena! Making these a dangerous snack…How many can I eat before I have to stop calling it snack? lol
Grilled cheese is one of those simple dishes, but isn’t always executed properly. Your tips are foolproof. I definitely will try the open faced and mayonnaise on the outside as well instead of butter :)
Thanks Heather! We are glad you think so too! Let us know how the mayonnaise tip works for you.
You are right using mayo in place of butter really stepped this up! I loved it! Also never knew using cheap bread wasn’t the best to use. I can’t wait to make this again!
Glad you think so too Des! Enjoy!
Outstanding ! ! Nuff said …
Thank you!! So glad you loved it!
Have you ever made them using homemade Pimento Cheese, on (either) Whole Grain or Oatmeal Bread…..pure ecstasy! Yes, the mayo on the outside of the bread makes it nice & crispy. I heard about this quite a while ago….it’s genius! There are SO many ways to make Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and they’re all tasty & comforting. Gruyere Cheese, mixed with other cheeses also works very well. What a terrific, quick & easy dinner after a busy day, served with Tomato Soup and a side salad!
Homemade pimento cheese sounds like such a tasty grilled cheese option Angelina! Yummy!