When it comes to the perfect grilled cheese sandwich, there’s only one rule you really need to know for how to make grilled cheese:

Low and slow, baby. Low and slow.

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty

When you take your time and toast your grilled cheese sandwiches over medium-low heat instead of hurrying them along, the cheese has plenty of time to melt thoroughly and the bread attains that gloriously, perfectly golden brown crispiness you dream of when you’re thinking of the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

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A few other things go into making the perfect grilled cheese, too. So how do you whip one of these bad boys up to perfection? Here’s how to make grilled cheese.

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How to Make Grilled Cheese – Step-by-Step

Here’s how to make the best, cheesiest, classic grilled cheese like mom used to make!

1. Start with great ingredients.

The bread

Starting with a great bread is important. But the best bread for grilled cheese is subjective! We most often buy a simple white sandwich bread from the bakery at our local grocery store. It’s got a chewy crust, fluffy interior and slightly sourdough tinge to it. And it really does make for a perfect super-classic grilled cheese just like mom used to make. But the bread is also a great place to mix it up! Freshly sliced bread like French or sourdough are also divine.

The butter

We use only real butter, and – this is important – it’s at room temperature so it’s nice and easy to spread. Then you’re not tearing up your bread with cold, hard butter and swearing over your sandwich. That’s bad juju, and nobody wants bad grilled cheese juju.

We use unsalted butter, but that’s only because that’s all we usually have in the house. But to be honest, in my opinion, the best butter for grilled cheese is salted, because that little hint of highlighted flavor on the golden crust of the bread is incredible.

The cheese

Now we’re really getting to the good stuff. What’s the best cheese for grilled cheese? Again, I’m going for classic here, in which case, I like a good medium cheddar – mild is too, well, mild, and sharp is just a little too potent for straight-up grilled cheese in my opinion.

We use Tillamook medium cheddar, which is just perfect.

Other cheeses that are glorious in grilled cheese are: Monterey Jack (or pepper jack for a spicier kick), smoked cheddar, gruyere, or even some slabs of brie which are insanely good. Grate a little parmesan on, too, for some extra goodness!

2. Butter the bread

Generously slather one side of each piece of bread with your room-temperature butter. The buttered sides will be on the outside of the sandwich, so if your bread is a crazy shape like mine was and you want the pieces of bread to match up when the sandwich is closed, plan accordingly.

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty

3. Add the cheese.

Turn the bread over, unbuttered side up. Add a single layer of cheddar sliced 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thick. Cover every last little bit of the bread, overlapping here and there if necessary.

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty

4. Close it up

Top the sandwich with the second piece of bread, buttered side up.

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty

5. How to Cook Grilled Cheese

If you’re using an electric griddle, set the temperature to about 275 degrees. Or use a roomy saute pan over medium-low heat.

Place the sandwich on the preheated cooking surface and let it cook for about 5 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure it’s not burning (it probably won’t at such low heat, but cooking surfaces vary from kitchen to kitchen). It’s tempting, but don’t press down on the sandwich! Unless you like your grilled cheese extra flat, in that case, go for it.

After the first five minutes, carefully flip the sandwich with a spatula and cook the other side for 5 minutes.

Flip and cook each side for a couple more minutes each. The bread should start to get golden brown and the cheese nice and melty.

After about 15 minutes of cooking over medium-low heat, increase the heat to medium and, turning every so often, watch the sandwich carefully until the bread is perfectly toasted a golden brown.

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty

6. Enjoy

Yes, this is a step. An important one!

Remove the sandwich from the heat, carefully cut in half if you would like, and enjoy your perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Now you know how to make grilled cheese!

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty

More Grilled Cheese Recipes

How to make a perfect grilled cheese sandwich | Kitchen Treaty
4.67 from 9 votes

How to Make a Perfect Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Author: Kare
Yield: 1
Ooey, gooey, melty, and cooked to pure golden bliss. There’s nothing quite as sublime as a great grilled cheese sandwich. Here’s how to cook them perfectly every single time.

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread (your favorite sandwich bread is perfect!)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (room temperature for easiest spreading)
  • 3 ounces of your favorite medium cheddar cheese (we love Tillamook medium cheddar)

Instructions

  • Generously slather one side of each piece of bread with your room-temperature butter. The buttered sides will be on the outside of the sandwich, so if your bread is a crazy shape like mine was and you want the pieces of bread to match up when the sandwich is closed, plan accordingly.
  • Turn the bread over, unbuttered side up. To one piece of the bread, add a single layer of cheddar sliced 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thick. Cover every last little bit of the bread, overlapping here and there if necessary.
  • Top the sandwich with the second piece of bread, buttered side up.
  • If you’re using an electric griddle, set the temperature to about 275 degrees. Or use a roomy saute pan over medium-low heat. Place the sandwich on the preheated cooking surface and let it cook for about 5 minutes, checking occasionally to make sure it’s not burning (it probably won’t at such low heat, but cooking surfaces vary from kitchen to kitchen). It’s tempting, but don’t press down on the sandwich! Unless you like your grilled cheese extra flat, in that case, go for it.
  • After the first five minutes, carefully flip the sandwich with a spatula and cook the other side for 5 minutes.
  • Flip and cook each side for a couple more minutes each. The bread should start to get golden brown and the cheese nice and melty.
  • After about 15 minutes of cooking over medium-low heat, increase the heat to medium and, turning every so often, watch the sandwich carefully until the bread is perfectly toasted a golden brown.
  • Remove the sandwich from the heat, carefully cut in half if you would like, and enjoy your perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

Notes

A note for vegetarians: If you’re concerned about rennet in your cheese, Tillamook’s cheeses are made with a vegetable-based rennet.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1sandwich, Calories: 695kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 53g, Saturated Fat: 33g, Cholesterol: 150mg, Sodium: 1019mg, Potassium: 185mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1552IU, Calcium: 690mg, Iron: 3mg
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