Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipe for Crispy, Gooey Perfection

Recipe Ingredients

Below are the main ingredients and a few helpful notes to guide you.

• Bread. Rustic sourdough works best for flavor and texture. If using a whole loaf, slice about 1/2-inch thick pieces at home. Other rustic loaves such as Tuscan are fine; avoid breads like brioche that burn quickly.
• Cheese. A mix of American, mozzarella, and gruyere creates the ideal melty, savory profile. Any melty cheese can be substituted.
• Butter. Use softened salted butter on the outside of the bread. Mayonnaise is an acceptable alternative for spreading.

See the recipe card for exact quantities. This version yields two sandwiches.

How to make it

Follow these simple steps to build and cook perfect grilled cheeses.

1. Soften 6–8 tablespoons of salted butter. Spread butter on one side of 4 slices of sourdough. Grate 1/2 cup gruyere.
2. On the unbuttered side of two slices, layer 2 slices American, 2 slices mozzarella, and 1/4 cup shredded gruyere.
3. Top each stack with 2 more slices of American cheese, then close the sandwiches so the buttered sides face out.
4. Heat a large nonstick pan to just below medium. Add 2 tablespoons butter and, once melted, place both sandwiches in the pan.
5. Press the sandwiches with a spatula or a burger press to improve contact with the pan. Rotate and flip every minute or so, two to three times, for even browning without burning.
6. If the bread begins to darken too fast, lower the heat or remove the sandwiches until the pan cools slightly. When the bread is golden-brown and the cheese is melted, remove and serve immediately.

Top tips

• Don’t rush. Cook over medium-low heat so the bread browns slowly while the cheese melts. High heat risks burning the bread before the interior is fully melted.
• Use a nonstick pan. A good nonstick surface makes flipping and cleaning easier and helps prevent tearing the bread.
• Improve pan contact. Pressing the sandwiches—using a spatula, a smashburger press, or a foil-wrapped brick—yields a better, even golden crust.

More tasty sandwiches

If you enjoy sandwiches, try other classics for variety in your meal rotation.

• The Classic Monte Cristo
• The Ultimate Patty Melt
• Mozzarella en Carrozza (Italian grilled cheese)

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