Grilled Cheese Sandwich
The American grilled cheese sandwich — two slices of bread, cheese between them, butter on the outside, cooked in a pan until the crust is deep golden and the cheese is fully melted. It is not a complicated dish. What separates a good one from a forgettable one is heat control, the ratio of cheese to bread, and the patience to let the crust build before you flip.
Nutrition
| Per serving | calories | protein | carbs | fat | satFat | fibre | sugar | sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| beginner | 477kcal | 19g | 31g | 31g | 19g | 2g | 4g | 662mg |
| intermediate | 511kcal | 21g | 30g | 34g | 21g | 2g | 3g | 569mg |
| expert | 512kcal | 21g | 30g | 34g | 21g | 2g | 3g | 593mg |
Per serving · Ava-estimated — a guide, not a clinical figure.
- 4 sliceswhite bread— standard sliced for beginner; thick-cut sourdough or country white for intermediate and expert
- 2 tbspunsalted butter— softened, for spreading on the exterior of the bread
- 120 gAmerican cheese or mild cheddar— pre-sliced, about 4 to 6 slices
- 60 gsharp cheddar— thinly sliced
- 60 gGruyere— thinly sliced or grated
- 60 gaged cheddar— 12 to 18 months, sliced thin
- 60 gComte— sliced thin
Standard sliced bread and pre-sliced cheese. Medium heat with a lid to help the cheese melt before the bread burns. Fast, forgiving, and exactly what you want at midnight.
Method
- 1
Lay out two slices of bread and place 4 to 6 slices of pre-sliced cheese (about 60g) on one slice, leaving a small border around the edge.
~ 1 min - 2
Top with the remaining two slices of bread.
~ 0 min - 3
Spread softened butter thinly and evenly on the outside face of each sandwich half.
If your butter is cold, microwave it for 10 seconds so it spreads without tearing the bread.
~ 1 min - 4
Heat a non-stick or cast-iron frying pan over medium heat.
~ 1 min - 5
Place the sandwich in the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
Lift a corner to check. If it is browning too fast, reduce the heat slightly.
~ 4 min - 6
Flip the sandwich, press down gently with a spatula, and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
If the cheese is not melting by the time the second side is browning, cover the pan with a lid for 1 to 2 minutes to finish the melt. Remove the lid for the last minute so the crust stays crisp.
~ 4 minTricky bit - 7
Remove from the pan, let rest for 30 seconds, then cut diagonally and serve immediately.
The cheese is molten. Wait the 30 seconds.
~ 1 min