Try A Different Bread
Try all kinds of different bread to buff up your grilled cheese sandwich. Use a tortilla to make a quesadilla or try it on flatbread. Challah bread, French and Italian bread all make awesome bases for grilled cheese. Keep in mindwith different breads your cooking time and temp might change, so play around to find what works.
Dress Up Your Grilled Cheese
I am no purist, and I put all kinds of stuff on my grilled cheese. Just dont overstuff it, or all the goodies will slip out. What goodies, you say? Some suggestions:
- Cooked greens: kale, mustard greens, or spinach
- Fruits and Vegetables: roasted red pepper, thin slices of apple or pear, tomato slices
How To Prepare Grilled Cheese In A Microwave
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Butter Your Bread Not The Pan
Instead of dropping a pat of butter into a hot skillet, butter the bread for more flavor and even browning. Generously spread one side of each bread slice with softened salted butter. Or, instead of butter, spread one side of each bread slice with mayonnaise. It will give your sandwich a slight tang and help it brown beautifully.
How To Make Easy Grilled Cheese: The Basics
To master grilled cheese making, you dont need much. Just:
- Bread
- Sliced cheese
The process is simple. First, you heat a frying or skillet pan on medium-low heat. Butter the bread on the outside and put a slice of cheese on the inside. Put the sandwich on the frying pan and cook until golden on one-side . Then flip and brown the other side . The trick is to cook it on low enough heat that the cheese melts before the outside gets too dark or burns.
Thats it! With those simple instructions, you can make a basic grilled cheese sandwich. Now its time to take it to the next level!
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The Best Cheese To Use
My top choice is sharp cheddar cheese because its combination of firmness and flavor. This cheese has a solid structure that holds together and stretches nicely when heated, and during its aging process, it undergoes complex flavor development as it ripens. Other fallback options with similar firm characteristics are swiss cheese, gruyere, gouda, Monterey jack, pepper jack, and mozzarella.
Plastic wrapped American cheese is a convenient choice, although its flavor tends to be saltier. Kids usually dont mind, but this may turn off some adults. Soft and spreadable brie while delicious, can get a bit greasy when melted. For a stronger flavored sandwich, you can sprinkle on Parmesan or blue cheese in combination with one of the mild-flavored firm cheeses.
Grilled Cheddar Cheese With Bacon Sandwich
Ingredients:
- 6 slices of pork bacon
- 4 slices rye sandwich bread
- 8 thin slices of cheddar cheese
- Some of the bacon drippings
Total time: 20 minPrep time: 10 min Cook time: 10 min Serves: 2 people
Directions:
1. Preheat your grill to high for 5 minutes with the top closed. Make sure the drip tray is in place. Have paper towels ready for the cooked bacon.
2. Place the bacon slices in a single layer on the grill. Close the lid and grill for 7 minutes. Check the bacon and continue to grill if necessary until it is crisp. Remove the cooked bacon to the paper towels.
3. Place 2 slices of cheese on each of 2 slices of bread. Break the bacon in half and place 6 halves on each sandwich. Place 2 more slices of cheese on top of the bacon. Add the second slice of bread.
4. Brush a bit of the bacon drippings on the tops of the sandwiches. Place the assembled sandwiches on the grill with the greased face on the bottom grill plate. Brush the top of the sandwiches with a little more bacon fat. Close the lid. Cook for up to 3 minutes until golden brown with light grill marks and the cheese has melted.
5. Cut the sandwiches in half and serve with hot tomato soup that you can dunk the sandwiches in.
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What To Pair With Grilled Cheese
I know that some of you may be thinking how is a dietitianrecommending a grilled cheese sandwich?!
To be honest, the ingredients used in this sandwich are simple and minimally processed. They provide a source of carbohydrates , protein + fat , and even dietary fibre and micronutrients .
I also think that being able to enjoy the comfort foods we love, without feeling stressed or guilty, is just as important for our health, too!
That said, if you want to up the nutrition factor of this grilled cheese, simply pair it with something else! Theres nothing like a grilled cheese paired with a warm veggie soup, like this Roasted Butternut Squash & Pear Soup or this Cashew Cream Tomato Soup.
Or, keep things light with a delicious salad instead.
The Best Cheese For Grilled Cheese
So how do you achieve the highly sought after moment that makes a cheese lover’s heart swoon? Also known as the gratuitous, cheese-pull?
It’s actually pretty simple. Fill it with your favorite melting cheese! Our favorite is American deli and sharp cheddar cheese. Common varieties of cheese that melt well are:
- American
- Harvarti
- Fontina
Hard cheeses such as Parmesan don’t melt well and soft cheeses like ricotta typically don’t have enough structure to hold up the bread. Not to say that you can’t add a hard or soft cheese along with a variety of melting cheese. There are no strict rules!
A good rule of thumb is – ½ of a cup of shredded cheese per sandwich or a 1 oz. slice, if you are using a standard loaf of sandwich bread. If you like to combine more than one type of cheese, shredded is easier to work with.
Adjust the amount of cheese used per sandwich to your liking. The amounts suggested are good starting points!
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Delicious Easy Grilled Cheese Recipes
Now the real secret to awesome, easy grilled cheese recipes is to mix up the fillings! There are literally a bazillion easy grilled cheese recipes out there but here are 42 delicious grilled cheese ideas to get you started!
When it comes to dressing up grilled cheese, the skys the limit! You can even incorporate leftovers like chicken, steak, vegetables and fruit. Try cherries with chicken and swiss, or shredded turkey with mozzarella and a spread of cranberry sauce! Go nuts!
1. American Classic: Kraft Singles, Wonder bread, margarine
2. Level 1: Cheddar , sliced bread , mayonnaise
3. Quesadilla: Monterey Jack, pepper jack or cheddar shreds, tortilla, margarine
4. Cheesy Tomato: Cheddar, Swiss or American, sliced bread, fresh tomato, margarine
5. Diner Classic: Cheddar or American slice, sliced bread, bacon, tomato slice, mayonnaise
6. Scrambled Egg: Cheddar or American cheese, bread, scrambled egg, margarine
7. Pickle & Swiss: Layer Swiss cheese with dill pickles and jam, sliced bread, margarine.
8. Maple Bacon: Thin layer of maple syrup , white cheddar, bacon, sliced bread, butter
9. Cheesesteak Quesadilla: Layer leftover steak with provolone and cream cheese in a tortilla, spread with margarine and grill
10. Bacon Guacamole:From Closet Cooking: Bacon Guacamole Grilled Cheese
11. Guacamole Quesadilla: Monterey Jack, prepared guacamole, tortilla, margarine
13. Shrimp Quesadilla: White cheddar, cooked shrimp, jarred roasted peppers, tortilla, margarine
More Ways To Cook Halloumi
There are a number of recipes available that can serve as inspiration for even more ways to enjoy halloumi. For instance, you can for an impressive appetizer.
Halloumi burgers are a nice vegetarian alternative and delicious with a smokey tomato jam and avocado crema. If thatâs not cheesy enough, try a sweet and spicy halloumi sandwich with roasted squash, raspberry harissa jam, and a brussel sprout slaw. You can even add warm halloumi to a green bean and potato salad, a recipe thatâs a British favorite in the summer.
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Best Cheese For Grilled Cheese
In order to make a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, youll want to choose high-quality and super flavourful cheeses. Typically, the longer a cheese is aged, the sharper the taste is.
For this sandwich, I chose to fuse the flavours of both a sharp cheddar and a rich, creamy camembert. While you can use any brand, I personally LOVE the flavours of this Coastal Cheddar.
Melted Butter Is A Must
The key to an evenly-greased and toasted bread is to brush the top and bottom of the sandwich with melted butter. You can microwave the butter and easily brush the liquid on each slice. This allows you to control how much of the fat is applied so it doesnt get too soggy.
Do this step right before adding to the preheated pan. If you have salted butter, that would enhance the flavor further. The milk solids in the butter transform into nutty, deep golden brown hues when gently heated and this elevates the taste and texture.
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How To Make A Better Grilled Cheese: 7 Tips For A Cheesier Crispier More Flavorful Sandwich
Of all the quick but delicious meals Ive leaned heavily on the past 18 months, grilled cheese is near the top of the list. I almost always have the basic ingredients around some type of bread, some type of cheese as well as some little extras to make the sandwich really sing. I suspect Ive rarely made the same one twice.
Whether youre a grilled cheese improviser or creature of habit, theres usually at least one thing you can do to help transform a good sandwich into a great one. Im not necessarily talking about overhauling your strategy. Instead, these are small tips for making a next-level grilled cheese.
I canvassed the Voraciously team, my food-loving Instagram followers and my own experience to compile this list of suggestions. Mix and match, or pick one to focus on. But most importantly, have fun trying them.
Wed love to hear your tips for the perfect grilled cheese! Share in the comments below.
The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
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Nothing is more comforting than a hot, melty grilled cheese sandwich. Grilled cheese and tomato soup are a combo made in heaven. Its 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!
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Start With Quality Ingredients
Use a hearty slice of bread, but not too thick. I find that 1″-1.5″ is best depending on the type of grilled cheese that I am making. Anything less than 1″ will make a flimsy, soggy grilled cheese and anything too thick will not allow the cheese to melt properly.
Thick-cut classic white bread that you find in the super market can work, but avoid Wonder Bread or similarly squishy bread. Some of my favorites include sourdough, brioche and farmer’s bread.
You may be tempted to grab those individually wrapped little processed orange cheese slices. They are quick and easy, but will not give you the best-tasting grilled cheese. Go for a block of natural cheese that tastes good and melts well.
My favorites are sharp cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere, and Havarti. Be sure to thinly slice or shred the cheese so that it melts evenly. DO NOT use pre-shredded cheese. It contains a coating that prevents the cheese shreds from sticking to each other, which is not ideal for melting.
Make Grilled Cheese Sandwiches For All Your Friends
Now that you are a master of grilled cheese sandwiches, you can fire up the best electric griddle and set that perfect griddle temp for grilled cheese creations. Your friends and family will thank you for your marvelous gift, and you will feel amazing after biting into that perfect sandwich. Get your ingredients and griddle away! Oh, and if you are up to, hereâs a few more grilled cheese recipes. Visit our The Perfect Griddle Temperature for French Toast And More for find out other cooking tips
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Tips For The Best Grilled Cheese
- Low heat it takes a little patience to make the perfect grilled cheese. Keep your heat on low to give the cheese time to fully melt while the bread gets golden and crisp. If browning too fast, turn the heat down.
- Butter generously the amount of butter may seem like a lot, but it is important for a crispy exterior.
- Use thick-sliced bread we love using Texas toast because its sliced about twice as thick as normal sandwich bread. You want bread that is about 3/4 to 1 thick, but also avoid bread that is too thick or your cheese wont melt properly. Using bread that is too thin will produce a flimsy and sometimes soggy sandwich.
An Important Note About Baking Time
The time it takes to make grilled cheese in the oven depends on several factors, including the bread type , the thickness of the bread slices, and the temperature of the cheese, as well as the general quirks of your oven. Keep a close eye on the sandwiches the first few times you try this method until you learn the best timing for your oven and choice of bread.
Id love to see how your oven baked grilled cheese sandwiches turn out Tag me on or use the hashtag #Unsophisticook so I can check it out. Enjoy!
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About Cheese Sandwich Recipes
Grilled cheese sandwich is one of our favorite quick and simple vegetarian recipes that only requires a few key ingredients. Its made with a good loaf of bread a tangy block of cheddar or mozzarella cheese, a bit of softened butter, and flavorful spices and herbs.
Below I share with you two different but equally easy and delicious recipes and tips for how to make a tasty cheese sandwich at home.
Both of these methods will make perfect grilled sandwiches with crispy toasted bread and warm, gooey cheese in every bite.
Simply choose whichever recipe you prefer based on whether you have an electric grill or not or give them both a try and see which you like best!
Best Bread For Gourmet Grilled Cheese
While there are some awesome, high-quality pre-sliced breads available, they just dont really cut it for the gourmet effect were going for in this recipe. I highly recommend picking up an artisan loaf of bread from your local bakery, if possible.
I always love a good sourdough for making a gourmet grilled cheese . If you can find one, I think a nice cranberry bread would add an even greater touch of flavour to this recipe!
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The Secret Ingredient For A Best
We can all agree that everyone loves new ways to improve on old favorites. Do you know how to make a perfectly round egg for a breakfast sandwich? Or how to make pie in a Mason jar lid? Now you do!
One of the latest and greatest kitchen hacks involves upgrading your grilled cheese with one simple secret ingredient: mayonnaise.
